Dark Chocolate Pudding

This recipe comes from the "FRIENDS" 1995 cookbook, of all places. Steve bought it for me once at the thrift store, as a silly gift, but it turns out to have quite a few delicious, from-scratch recipes! I LOVE this rich, dark chocolate pudding. It is really simple to make, so long as you have a few minutes to continually stir a pot on the stove. And it tastes SO much better than a Snack Pack. The flavor reminds me of a dark chocolate ice cream, with an entirely different, amazing texture. The boys like to call it "chocolate yogurt" because when it's cold, it has that thick and creamy consistency. :)

 Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

2 cups milk

2 ounces semisweet chocolate (About 1/3 cup of chocolate chips)

2 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Whisk the sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch together in a medium saucepan to break up any lumps. Slowly whisk in the milk and set the pan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring continuously, especially as the mixture thickens and becomes very hot. Simmer gently for one minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.

Stir in the chocolate chips and butter. When they have melted, remove the pan from heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the pudding into four custard cups or small bowls. Cool slightly, and serve warm if you like soft pudding, or chill in the refrigerator if you prefer cold and creamy pudding.

Do you see that pretty sheen on the top? 

Give it a try! :)