Name: Homemade Vanilla Pudding
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 502 min
Ingredients: ½ cup granulated sugar; 3 tbsp cornstarch; ¾ tsp kosher salt; 2 egg yolks (whisked); 2 cups whole milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste); 2 tbsp unsalted butter

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Silky smooth homemade vanilla pudding in minutes! Just milk, sugar, eggs, and vanilla for a dreamy dessert everyone will love!

Kaleb Wyse wearing black shirt with a tan background.

Why I Love This Vanilla Pudding Recipe

Whenever I was young and the milk was slightly on the edge of going bad, my sister Kelsey and I would rejoice because it usually meant that Mom would whip up a batch of pudding. And while this didn’t happen that often—we were a growing family and used a lot of milk—it was a fun dessert to look forward to.

Making your own vanilla pudding recipe at home sounds like it would be a lot of work, especially when the instant pudding mix version in a box is so easy to buy. But there really aren’t that many steps to making a perfect pudding from scratch. And the flavor is something that far exceeds anything that can be purchased.

For my recipe, I love to use vanilla bean paste as a swapout for vanilla extract. The thick texture of the paste, along with the vanilla seeds, makes for such an intense vanilla flavor. It truly is an amazing thing to experience!

Once you’ve made this pudding recipe, you can also use it for so many other things:

Spoon macerated fresh berries on top of the pudding
Layer the pudding between pieces of cake for a trifle-like dessert
Freeze them into pudding pops
Pour it into a pie shell for a pudding-like pie

I truly hope you’ll give this recipe a try so you, too, can experience how amazing a homemade vanilla pudding can be!

Glass filled with cream-colored vanilla pudding with a swirl on top.

Vanilla Pudding Ingredients

Seven easy ingredients are needed to prepare this vanilla pudding recipe:

Milk is the base for the entire pudding and is what provides the custard-like texture that everyone loves. If possible, use whole milk to provide the most flavor and creaminess.
Cornstarch is a thickening agent that activates when heated in liquid and contributes to the silky texture of the pudding. The great thing about cornstarch is that it’s very forgiving, unlike an egg-only custard, making this a foolproof recipe.
Egg yolks are a natural thickening agent that works alongside the cornstarch to thicken the pudding. The color of the egg yolks adds to the beauty of the pudding while also adding richness.
Sugar adds the sweetness that’s expected in any pudding recipe. If you want even more vanilla flavor in your recipe, try using vanilla sugar!
Butter adds even more creaminess, flavor, and glossiness to the pudding.
Salt is necessary to bring out the flavors in any recipe.
Vanilla extract is an essential component of vanilla pudding, as it helps to add that characteristic “vanilla” flavor. In this recipe, I love to swap out the extract for vanilla bean paste for even more vanilla flavor, as well as some vanilla seeds. If you want some of the best vanilla extract, you’ll want to learn how to make your own at home.

White marble surface filled with ingredients needed for vanilla pudding recipe.

The full amount of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Vanilla Pudding

There are four simple steps to make this vanilla pudding right at home:

Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients. In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt, and mix together.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the milk and egg yolks.

Metal saucepan with sugar, salt, and cornstarch with a whisk.

White marble surface with bowl of milk and eggs to make a vanilla pudding recipe.

Step 3: Cook the pudding. Add the wet ingredients to the dry in the saucepan and place over the heat for 5 to 7 minutes to thicken.

Vanilla pudding mixture cooking on a hot plate.

Thickened vanilla pudding mixture on hot plate.

Step 4: Add flavorings. Add the vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste) and butter. Stir until completely incorporated. Then place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming, and place in the refrigerator to chill completely before serving.

Creamy vanilla pudding mixture with unmelted butter and vanilla extract.

Vanilla pudding with creamy texture after mixing in butter.

Serving and Storage

To serve: While the pudding can be served right after it is removed from the heat, I prefer to let it chill completely before eating. The pudding will thicken as it sits and become even smoother and creamier. Serve it in individual dessert glasses with a dollop of whipped cream on top for a beautiful presentation!

To store: The pudding must be stored in the fridge. Any leftover will last for 5 to 7 days when placed in an airtight container.

More Pudding Recipes

Watch How to Make This Recipe

Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?

I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!