The term homemade has evolved over the years. Well, it evolved for me. Take vanilla pudding for example. When I was a kid, there was store-bought, instant, and homemade. Homemade meant the kind you cooked using pudding mix and milk. It was "the" pudding we used when we made banana pudding. Pouring the warm mixture over the cookies and bananas meant to get your bowl and spoon ready. We ate it warm and right after it was done.
Homemade pudding changed after I was married. My mother-in-law made her banana pudding for dessert. One bite and I knew something was very different. It was better than any I ever had before. What was the secret? It was made with actual, for real, from scratch homemade vanilla pudding. It didn't take any time at all before I got my hands on the recipe. It's so easy and there are only a few ingredients. Whisk, cook, stir, and chill are all it takes to make vanilla pudding.
This recipe makes four to six servings. Or maybe three if you count what actually happens at my house. My husband and I attack the bowl and the pudding may last overnight. I've tried divvying it up into small custard cups only to find it disappears just as quickly. We do not have any restraint with this cool, creamy, dessert.
Do you like recipes with few ingredients? If so, you will very much enjoy the list of recipes below. The Sunday Supper contributors are sharing ones with Five Ingredients or Less (not counting salt, pepper, or oil). It's a great resource to have when your pantry and fridge are bare. Special thanks to Alice of Hip Foodie Mom for hosting this event.
Vanilla is a classic and popular flavor. For more desserts showcasing it, take a look at Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, and Baked Custard.
Vanilla Pudding
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour*
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Dash of salt
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a saucepan (non-stick recommended).
- Slowly bring to a boil over medium heat stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
- Boil for 1 minute and remove from heat.
- Pour into a bowl and place plastic wrap directly on top of pudding to prevent a skin from forming.
- Cool to room temperature then chill thoroughly (at least 4 hours).
Notes
Are you looking for recipes with five ingredients or less? Here are plenty from Sunday Supper contributors:
Appetizers, Salads and Starters
- Chicken and Spring Greens Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette from Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Tuna, Burrata and Black Olive Salad from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Salmon and Cucumber "Noodle" Salad from girlichef
- Yogurt Dill Vegetable Dip from Melanie Makes
- Tomato, Avocado and Cucumber Summer Salad from My Healthy Eating Habits
- Fennel Citrus Salad from An Appealing Plan
- Kale-Had-a-Hard-Day Salad from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Guacamole Deviled Eggs from Ruffles and Truffles
- Tomato Soup from Run DMT
- Wasabi Cream Cheese Ham Salad from Neighborfood
- Latkes with Smoked Salmon and Caviar from Confessions of a Culinary Diva
Sides and Accompaniments
- Candied Apple Jelly from What Smells So Good?
- Grilled Steak with Garlic Cumin Rub from Cooking Chat
- Homemade Ricotta from Seduction in the Kitchen
- Indian-style Roasted Cauliflower from kimchi MOM
- 3-Ingredient Beer Bread from Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Potato Pancakes (Reibekuchen) from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
Main Dishes
- Smoked Turkey Panini with Roasted Red Peppers and Basil Pesto from La Bella Vita Cucina
- Slow Cooker Turkey Half Breast from Nosh My Way
- Easy Crock Pot Pulled Chicken from Flour On My Face
- Lemon Basil Carbonara from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Garlic Butter Shrimp from Savvy Eats
- Easy Beef Stroganoff from Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos
- Smothered Pork Chop Cups from Having Fun Saving
- Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas from Supper for a Steal
- Chicken with Olives from Noshing With The Nolands
- Salmon with Tiger Dill Sauce from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Greek Chicken Burgers from Country Girl In The Village
- Crock Pot Beer Chicken from Our Table for Seven
- Chorizo and Potato Frittata from Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Chicken and Potato Bake with Meyer Lemons from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Chicken Asparagus Roll-ups from The Dinner-Mom
- Spaghetti Squash with Simple Red Sauce from Momma's Meals
- Tropical Salsa Chicken from Kudos Kitchen By Renee
- Strawberry Red Wine Glazed Salmon from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Baked Asparagus and Eggs from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
- Grilled Caprese Salad Sandwich from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
- Beef Short Rib Bourguignon from Food Lust People Love
- Beans and Egg Sandwich from Basic N Delicious
- Honey Almond Salmon from Family Foodie
- BBQ Foiled Chicken from Meal Diva
Desserts and Beverages
- Flourless Chocolate Cake from Jane's Adventures in Dinner
- 4-Ingredient Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Sweets from Shockingly Delicious
- Vanilla Bean Honey Ice Cream from The Foodie Army Wife
- Coconut Crusted Chocolate Ganache Pie from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- 3-Ingredient Nutella Truffles from URBAN BAKES
- Chocolate & Peanut Butter Squares from Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Nutella Ferrero Cupcakes from Brunch with Joy
- 5-Minute Strawberry Sherbet from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Best Ever Coconut Macaroons from Hip Foodie Mom
- Chocolate Orange Ice Cream from Gluten Free Crumbley
- Orchid Panna Cotta from Manu's Menu
- Oreo Cookies and Cream Fudge from Alida's Kitchen
- Golden Oreo Rice Krispies Treats from Pies and Plots
- Vanilla Pudding from Magnolia Days
- Sopapilla Cheesecake Bites from The Weekend Gourmet
- Coconut Cream Mango Mousse from Sue's Nutrition Buzz
- Peanut Butter Buckeyes from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cherry Chip Cookies from Ninja Baking
- Raspberry Pina Colada Ice Cream from Try Anything Once Culinary
- Avocado Milkshakes from The Texan New Yorker
- The Ginger Sass Cocktail from Nik Snacks
- Baked Custard Cups from Soni's Food
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? Click here: Sunday Supper Movement
How wonderful, Renee that you are able to replicate your mother-in-law's recipe and bring joy to your husband. And you! Your photos are always so pretty and of course, make me want to try my hand at homemade vanilla pudding!
Thanks Kim and you know your sweet comments always make me smile.
I love a good home-made vanilla pudding! It is so comforting and simply irresistible... I totally understand how it doesn't last long in your house... it wouldn't in my house either! 🙂
Thanks Manu and so true of it be comforting.
Home made pudding sounds divine! Looks fabulous Renee!
Thanks Marjory and it is divine!
It's been WAY too long since I've made pudding. Yours sounds wonderful, Renee, and your photos are gorgeous (as always!)
Thanks so much Becca
I have to admit, I never made homemade pudding! I am putting this one on my list! I love how simple it is and vanilla is one of my all time favorite flavors.
Never made homemade pudding? Oh Jennifer, you need to make it soon. You will love it.
Oh man, I can just taste that banana pudding, it has my mouth watering! And so does this vanilla - I bet it's amazing. And yeah, stick to one large bowl since all dividing it into little ones does is make more dishes ;).
Yes, the less dishes to wash the better.
your old definition of homemade is the same as mine was growing up! lol This recipe for pudding looks SO perfect-it really is surprisingly easy to make it from scratch! Love the texture of yours, yummmmyyyy!
Thanks Kayle, and while my parents cooked a lot from scratch pudding wasn't one of them. So interesting you had the same experience.
You know serving size cracks me up because more often then not if a dish is really good it doesn't really spread out as thin as suggested. I won't lie while my dish should feed six it only fed 4 because some of us helped ourselves to seconds. 🙂 This pudding does look like I would be tempted to go for more as well.
I agree, sometimes the suggested serving size is not reality when it comes to food we love.
My hubby would be all over this, too! Homemade pudding is one of his favorite treats...and a 5 ingredient recipe is right up my alley!!!
Thanks Liz and I'm loving all the 5 or less ingredient recipes for this event.
What a great basic recipe. Sometimes we just need to take the fussy out of things and enjoy each small bite of wonderful vanilla flavour.
Yes, basic can be so good and so comforting too.
There are few things better and more comforting than homemade vanilla pudding. I want to grab a spoon!
And make it a big spoon too!
I adore pudding..this looks wonderful Renee! So simple..pinned 🙂
Thank you Erin and thanks for the pin.
I love homemade vanilla pudding. Your recipe looks more simple then mine and I'm definitely trying it out!
Thanks Heather and I hope you enjoy a simpler method. Simple is good.
Its amazing when we make something homemade that we used to buy as a package in the store and find out how incredibly delicious it can be. that's how I felt when I made a salsa verde for the first time.
Now there is making salsa verde on my to-do list. I have to admit I've never made it from scratch.
I don't think I have ever had homemade pudding!!! Crazy isn't it and I know banana is very popular!! I love your homemade vanilla, nothing better than the pure flavor of good vanilla!!
What? Never had homemade pudding? You need to remedy that soon.
I have never made actual homemade pudding...the closest I've come is panna cotta. This looks so creamy and lovely!
And I've never made panna cotta. Now I have something else on the to-do list.
so elegant and beautiful!! love this! you know I've never made pudding from scratch! this needs to change ASAP!
Oh Alice, you really do need to make pudding from scratch. You'll never go back to a mix again.
Renee, this is the perfect dessert to follow-up our Rouladen cook-off. Oh, yes it sounds just perfect. I will have to make it soon for my family with the usual adaptions but think it will work out just great!
I would love to see your adapted recipe without dairy that you make for your family. I always think your adaptions are so interesting and good too.
Renee
I love homemade vanilla pudding. It is so much better than anything that comes in a box.
I totally agree Arlene
Homemade pudding is the best! It's funny how most people don't realize how easy it can be. I love that you serve it in those pretty little pots, Renee. Even if it doesn't make it last any longer. 🙂
Thanks Stacy. It's really amazing how fast my husband and I can eat a batch of this pudding.
I love pudding and homemade has a certain something to it that makes it remarkable! Your pudding is beautiful. I couldn't trust myself around it unsupervised, not even for a minute.
Thanks Dionne and I can't trust myself around it either.
I think most people don't realize how easy to make custard from scratch. There's not much more to it than the boxed custard. And I'm like you too, not much makes it to the bowls.
It does seem that people don't know how easy it is to make homemade. I'll never go back to a mix.
Totally brings back memories of childhood 🙂
Thanks Sarah and I hope it brought back good childhood memories.
I totally needed a basic from scratch vanilla pudding recipe. Thank you! Pinned!
Thanks Courtney and I appreciate the pin very much.
Such a simple classic dessert. Vanilla pudding is always a favorite!
It sure is Shaina. Thanks.
Yes, nothing beats the really homemade pudding. Oh and now that you mentioned banana pudding with cookies? Ya I need to make that ASAP!
And I'm also craving banana pudding. I know I'll be making it soon.
Homemade pudding always tastes better! thanks for the recipe!
You are welcome Cindy
I hate to admit this, but I've never made pudding from scratch! However, I LOVE pudding and I should really do myself a favor and use this recipe, stat!
I hope you do make homemade pudding soon. You will really taste the difference.
Oh nothing can beat a dish made from scratch using fresh ingredients.Your mother-in-law's vanilla pudding looks every bit creamy,luscious and delicious 🙂
Thanks Soni and your custard cups look creamy and luscious too.
So simple, but so comforting because of the childhood memories it conjures up!
And happy childhood memories are the best. Glad this brought back some for you.
Nothing more comforting than warm vanilla pudding............YUM!!!
I completely agree Kelli. Thanks so much.
I just made this for my mom who is on a completely soft diet for a few days. She said this was the best pudding ever! She's not a fan of chocolate pudding and that's the only one I ever make so both of us thank you!
Oh Kelli, you totally made my day. Thanks for coming back and letting me know. I'm so glad your mom enjoyed the pudding so much (and you too).