15 Favorite Homemade Puddings to Make Staying Home a Lot Cozier

By Mackenzie Schieck

April 23, 2020

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Credit: Mackenzie Schieck

While everyone is staying safe and healthy at home, homemade puddings are a fun make-ahead dessert that can not only spark a little joy, but can also last you all week. Make a batch on a Sunday night, then let everyone help themselves when they have a sweet craving. You’ll find lots of flavor options below to ensure you can find one that matches the ingredients you have on-hand. And for puddings that are a bit healthier, a few adjustments will do the trick: Swap dairy milk with plant-based milks, cut the calories by reducing the sugar, and top with fruit and nuts!

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Panna Cotta

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Just five minutes of prep is all that’s needed for this traditional Italian custard. And LONGN has a great tip for perfect turn-outs: "I highly recommend trying a silicone muffin pan. They work great."

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Chef John's Classic Rice Pudding

Credit: Chef John

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"For whatever reason, rice pudding is usually not near the top when people list their favorite desserts,” says Chef John. “But despite that, it's a proven crowd-pleaser, and quite easy to make, especially using this simplified, one-pot method."

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Almond Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding

Credit: France C

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Homecook buttertash had a great idea for making this pudding into the perfect healthy snack: "I divided it into 16 small dessert cups, and that way it only amounts to 60 calories per cup!"

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Homemade Vanilla Pudding

Credit: LMihalov

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Keep it classic with what Leanna Brown Thorne calls "a winner!" She says, "Whisking the mixture while cooking is the key to avoiding lumps and cooked-on clumps on the bottom of the pan! You have to try this!"

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Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding

Credit: Deb C

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"This is heavenly and easy," says NikkysNiche. "Make sure you bring it to a boil. Mine JUST started boiling, but I was worried about it burning so I removed it from the heat. I think if I had let it boil longer it would’ve been thicker."

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Classic Tapioca Pudding

Credit: Cmryser

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"This recipe stands the test of time," says mellyb. "No tinkering needed, this is good old fashioned pudding at it's best. Thick, creamy, yum! Takes some time, but it's worth the effort!"

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Banana Pudding I

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Cacki says, "This was my first attempt at homemade pudding...it's WONDERFUL! And easy, to boot! I crushed Nilla wafers and sprinkled on top and it made a really pretty presentation."

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Avocado Dessert

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"This is incredible,” says MOLLE888. But consider yourself warned—it sounds like this recipe is addicting! "I have been eating this plain all night. Take a chance and try this, like I did! You will be amazed."

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Dairy Free Chocolate Pudding

Credit: Mackenzie Schieck

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Can’t do dairy? No problem! Veggiegoddess says this pudding is still very rich: "You can't even tell there's no dairy," she says. "It’s great for vegans like me, and even for all you dairy lovers out there!"

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Kelly's Butterscotch Pudding

Credit: shorecook

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Make one batch for the kids, and another for the adults like SHORECOOK did: "Awsome. I have been looking for a good butterscotch pudding for a long time! The only change I made was to add a bit of butterscotch Schnapps."

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Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Credit: Jennifer Baker

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"Absolutely FABULOUS dessert," says Bakegirl 13. And she has a couple of tips: "Allow the mixture to sit at room temp for an hour to speed up absorption, and microwave the milk for a minute before stirring it into the dry ingredients so they dissolve easier."

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ABC Pudding - Avocado, Banana, Chocolate Delight

Credit: Melissa Goff

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"This is such a delicious treat," says Nora. And her secret additional ingredient sounds like the cherry on top of an already-great recipe: "Sometimes I add a dollop of all natural peanut butter to give it a different flavor."

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Chia Coconut Pudding with Coconut Milk

Credit: Juraj

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This recipe is great as-is, but also very versitile: "My kids enjoyed this and kept eating more," says sagittaloha. "I added fruits like fresh pineapple, kiwi, pears, and granola since I didn't have strawberries. It's a keeper!"

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Coconut Tapioca Pudding

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Another take on a coconut pudding recipe. Zkracawl1 used this as a base, then dressed it up a bit: "I really enjoyed this recipe and so did the rest of my family. I added some toasted coconut, cinnamon, and nutmeg."

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Banana Quinoa "Rice" Pudding

Credit: lutzflcat

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"This banana quinoa pudding is amazing,” says Foodie456. "The texture and flavor are delectable. It has the perfect blend of banana and cinnamon, and it isn't overly sweet." Plus, made with quinoa, it also has a healthy dose of protein.

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By Mackenzie Schieck