This is lick-the-spoon-and-pot-out-delicious and tastes exactly like ‘homemade’ pudding with the pure flavors of deep, dark chocolate, vanilla, and creamy milk.
Clearly, we are not at the “last minute” time frame…yet.
But we inevitably get there, and every year I need at least one ‘last minute’ gift for a piano teacher, ballet instructor, or my farmer-friend who dropped veggies off on my doorstep all summer. (Yes, I’m making mental notes here.)
That’s why I plan to do a little early ‘shopping’ with this month’s theme for The Recipe ReDux: DIY homemade mixes. I’ll be coming back to this post for the whole month of December for more fun gift ideas to make in the kitchen. Several will likely be fun projects to do with the kids. And if I start now, I could try a bunch of different gift options this year! (Of course saving at least one sample for our family; so I’ll have a pantry-full of healthy quick mixes to start the new year.)
For my homemade pudding mix, I adapted a recipe I found in a cookbook from the ‘70’s; sorta the first wave of ‘anti-processed food,’ ‘granola’ movement. And while the recipe notes that the pudding isn’t quite as fast as the boxed version and doesn’t set up quite as stiff, I’m telling you this stuff is lick-the-spoon-and-pot-out-delicious and tastes exactly like ‘homemade’ pudding with the pure flavors of deep, dark chocolate, vanilla and creamy milk.
I made one version of the mix without cocoa to see how a Vanilla Peppermint Pudding turned out. Of course, it was delicious (and a pretty pink color,) but it was a little less thick than the Chocolate Peppermint Pudding.
Check out our other favorite Holiday Food Gifts here including one of our most-Pinned recipes Rich Hot Cocoa Mix; then scroll down to ‘shop around’ to discover the creative ReDux members’ ideas below!
PrintChocolate Peppermint Pudding Mix
This is lick-the-spoon-and-pot-out-delicious and tastes exactly like ‘homemade’ pudding with the pure flavors of deep, dark chocolate, vanilla, and creamy milk.
Ingredients
- Pudding Mix
- 2 3/4 cups powdered milk
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups cocoa (such as Hershey’s Cocoa Unsweetened)
- 5 crushed candy canes
- TO MAKE PUDDING
- 1 cup milk mixed with 1/2 cup water
- 3/4 cup of pudding mix blended with 1/2 cup water
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 crushed candy cane for garnish
Instructions
Pudding Mix:
- Blend all ingredients and store in airtight container, or divide into 2 pint sized glass jars and 1 half-pint glass jar. Top with additional crushed candy canes. (Or for the look in this photo, leave the cocoa out of the mix and only add cocoa to 3/4 cup of the vanilla mix; then place 3/4 cup vanilla mix on bottom of jar, top with crushed candy canes and top with 3/4 vanilla mix mixed with 1/4 cup cocoa.)
DIRECTIONS FOR COOKING PUDDING:
- In a medium saucepan, heat milk/water mixture until hot but not boiling; whisk in pudding mix blended with water.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber scraper, until mixture just boils. Immediately remove from heat. Scoop out 1/3 cup of hot pudding mixture and slowly pour into egg, whisking constantly. Pour egg mixture back into hot pudding mixture and heat until boiling and boil 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into 4 or 5 serving dishes and top with crushed candy cane.
Do you DIY gifts – or just purchase your fave food gifts? Share your favorites!
I want pudding! This mix is perfect and I can think of a lot of people on my holiday list that would love this. Thanks!
Meal Makeover Mom Janice recently posted..A DIY Homemade Mix for Chocolate Almond Cookies {Recipe Redux November Challenge}
I made homemade pudding last night and wish I had thought to use that for my post today! I would be so happy to receive this as a gift. Yum!
Joanne recently posted..Curried Chickpea Stew with Rice Pilaf #RecipeRedux
There’s NOTHING like homemade pudding, right Joanne…and really great for planning as you stare off into space while stirring the milk for a few minutes, right? (:
Great DIY gift idea! I could dive into that chocolate pudding.
dianeboyd recently posted..Gifting for Muscles
Yum! I love pudding, and would not have thought to do pudding as a jarred gift! Good idea!
Kelly @ The Pretty Bee: Cooking + Creating recently posted..Cranberry Almond Steel Cut Oatmeal – Gift in a Jar.
pinning this recipe right away.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health recently posted..Homemade Taco Seasoning #reciperedux
i am a die-hard sucker for chocolate, peppermint & pudding so i’m LOVING this. i’ve been wondering what to give my boy’s teachers as a christmas/we’re-moving-so-thanks-for-being-his-teacher gift next month… think i know now.
gretchen | kumquat recently posted..Recipe Redux: Coconut Birthday Cake Sugar Scrub
It’s a good thing my 7yo doesn’t read food blogs, b/c he’d probably be clamoring for me to make this RIGHT NOW. Great, classic flavor combo in this thoughtful gift.
Kat @ Eating The Week recently posted..Recipe ReDux: The merriment of mixes – chocolate chip banana scone gift mix
Hey…my 8 y old doesn’t have much interest in blogs either. Can’t figure out why?!
Looks delicious! I love hot mint chocolate, such a great gift!
I know one of the classic combos right!
Christmas in a jar! I actually think the best part of this gift would be opening the jar for the first time and having that minty-chocolatey smell hit you.
How did you know Nina?! You’re right! It’s Christmas aroma in a jar!
I love the idea of giving pudding mix. Pudding always brings me back to my childhood. Who doesn’t love that.
Christie – Food Done Light recently posted..Chai Hot Chocolate Homemade Gift Idea – The Recipe Redux
I hope my kids remember homemade pudding when they grow up….because it makes me think of childhood too1!(:
My kids are going to absolutely LOVE this! Me too 🙂 And thanks for the reminder to have a gift ready for the piano teacher. My daughter’s teacher eats gluten-free, so I need to make her some of my gingerbread pancake mix! Love this redux!!!
ea-hespicyrd recently posted..{Recipe ReDux} Gingerbread Pancakes & Gingerbread Pancake Mix
Thanks EA. Boy, your daughter’s teacher is a lucky lady! Mmmm you pancakes look amazing!
Serena this will really come in handy! Thanks for the recipe!
Cindys Recipes and Writings recently posted..FFF Brunch Linky Party!
Who doesn’t love pudding! Delicious idea….brilliant!
Thanks Robin! We make a lot of homemade pudding at our house. This shortens the process a bit.
Love the mental checklist teachers etc…..mine has made it to notes on my iphone but not progressed very far. Miss 11’s teacher is from Boston and I know he would love this Serena. x
Emma Stirling recently posted..Recipe ReDux: Salted honey, rosemary roasted chickpeas – by Emma Stirling
If I blog about it for all the world to see my gift list, I darn-well better follow through and get all those gifts done, right?! (: Good luck on your list!
Great idea. Love trying puddings not in a box. You can never go wrong with chocolate peppermint, yum. It makes me hungry.:)
This was such a great topic for the Recipe Redux this month, I’ve gotten so many ideas for food gifts for a lifetime of gifting! I’ll be coming back to this particular link-up for years I believe.
This chocolate peppermint pudding mix is a perfect example of a gift people couldn’t resist, you can’t go wrong with this classic dessert 🙂 Absolutely divine, thanks for sharing the recipe with us all.
Ally @ Om Nom Ally recently posted..Smoothie OTW Link-Up (Week 3), November 24th, 2013 + Grape & Honeydew Blender Juice
Wow, thanks Ally. I totally know what you mean. Isn’t it great to have our one-stop-‘shopping’ spot picked out for years to come!
Oh my goodness! I’m a hopeless chocoholic, and this pudding is screaming for me to grab a spoon and make it! I suppose I should be nice and make up some gift jars of it for a few friends, too 😉
Becca from It’s Yummi! recently posted..Festive Potato Pancakes Recipe for Holiday Entertaining
I’ve noticed quite a few chocolate recipes on your blog Becca! (: And of course they all look delicious!
Wow this looks so delicious! My boyfriend and sister would absolutely love this!
Thank Sarah! Hope you get a chance to package it up for them!
Chocolate and peppermits is such a great combo for the holidays!
The best combo ever!
Oh wow! I really love this Serena! I’ve got plenty of people who will now be getting this as a Christmas present! 😉
Oh I’m so glad. I need to get on making it myself for all my kids’ teachers!