Hot Chocolate Pudding

By Joelene

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix, plus more for sprinkling
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• Kosher salt
• 5 large egg yolks, beaten
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• Whipped cream, for topping

Preparation

Step 1

Heat 4 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
Meanwhile, whisk the sugar, hot chocolate mix, cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
Slowly add half of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking constantly until smooth. Gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the remaining hot milk in the saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened to a pudding-like consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Let the pudding cool slightly, stirring a few times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding and refrigerate until it has completely cooled and thickened, about 4 hours.
Before serving, whisk the pudding vigorously until it's smooth and creamy. Spoon it into serving bowls and top with dollops of whipped cream and a sprinkling of hot chocolate mix.