Caramel pudding has a deep, rich caramel flavor in every spoonful. It's warm, nostalgic, and comforting, yet still feels a little special.
Caramel pudding is one of those homemade desserts I crave every now and then. It's a creamy caramel cream pudding with just the right sweetness, simple, comforting, and surprisingly special. The caramel creates a rich, smooth base, while a touch of cinnamon on top adds a cozy finish. After a few hours in the fridge, it turns into a silky caramel pudding that feels like a little reward at the end of the day.
There's no oven or water bath needed, just milk, sugar, egg yolks, and a few extras whisked together on the stovetop. It reminds me of pudding with a deeper flavor and a smoother texture. This caramel pudding recipe doesn't just check the easy box; it truly tastes like something from a small café. I like to pour the caramel pudding into cups, chill it overnight, and enjoy it cold from the fridge. The taste and texture of homemade pudding always beat anything from a store-bought mix.
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⭐Why You'll Love My Recipe
- Made with Simple Ingredients: Just milk, sugar, egg yolks, and a few extras, you probably already have everything at home.
- No Baking Needed: The pudding thickens right on the stovetop, so no need to turn on the oven.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Chill it in the fridge, and it's ready whenever you are.
🧾Ingredients
You'll find the exact measurements in the recipe card, but here's a closer look at a few of the ingredients and why I use them.
- Milk & Sugar: I like using whole milk for a soft, creamy base and simple sugar that transforms into rich caramel. Together, they create that signature sweetness and smooth texture.
- Egg Yolks: It might seem like a lot, but those extra yolks make the pudding luxuriously rich, just the way a good caramel pudding should be.
- Vanilla & Cornstarch: Vanilla rounds out the caramel's depth, while a bit of cornstarch gently thickens the pudding without losing its silky feel.
- Cinnamon: A light dusting on top is my finishing touch. As it melts in, it adds a cozy warmth that brings all the flavors together beautifully.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Caramel Pudding
You can find the complete printable recipe with measurements below, but for now, here's a quick overview of how it goes:
1. Prepare the Caramel Base: Boil the milk in a pot, then melt the sugar in a separate pan. Slowly pour the hot milk into the melted sugar, stirring until fully dissolved. Let cool slightly.
2. Mix the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks with vanilla. Separately, dissolve cornstarch in a little milk, then combine both with the caramel-milk mixture, stirring until smooth.
3. Cook the Pudding: Pour the mixture into a pan and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, whisking constantly, until it thickens.
4. Set and Chill: Divide into dessert glasses, sprinkle cinnamon on top, and refrigerate the caramel pudding for 4 hours before serving.
📖Variations
- Add a Coffee Twist: Stir in 1 teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder with the caramel for a mocha-flavored version that's still creamy but with a subtle bitterness.
- Top with Crushed Nuts: A sprinkle of toasted almonds or pecans on top adds a nice crunch and balances the sweetness.
- Serve with Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream on top gives it that little extra softness and makes each bite feel even more special.
💭My Tips for Recipe Success
Keep the Heat Low: Once I add the eggs, I always turn the heat down to low. It keeps them from cooking too fast and helps the pudding stay smooth and creamy.
Strain if Needed: If the pudding isn't perfectly silky after cooking, I like to pour it through a fine mesh strainer. It takes just a minute and makes the texture beautifully smooth.
Storage: I keep any leftovers in the fridge, covered tightly with plastic wrap or in small containers. It stays fresh and creamy for up to three days.
🍮More Custard and Pudding Recipes!
Love this Caramel Pudding? You'll also enjoy these puddings:
- Flan Pudding with Heavy Cream
- Orange Custard Pudding
- Castella Cake Creme Caramel Pudding
- Arroz con Leche (Spanish Rice Pudding)
- Banana Foster Pudding
🍰More Dessert Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dessert recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Caramel Pudding
Ingredients
- 750 ml Milk
- 135 g Sugar
- 9 Egg Yolks
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 20 ml Milk
- 1 tablespoon Cinnamon Powder
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Place the sugar in a separate pan and melt until it turns into caramel.
- Remove the milk from heat and slowly pour it into the melted sugar, stirring with a spatula until fully combined.
- Turn off the heat and let the caramel milk cool down slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the vanilla extract until smooth.
- Slowly pour the caramel milk into the egg mixture, whisking continuously to combine.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with a little milk until completely dissolved.
- Pour the cornstarch mixture into the bowl with the egg and milk mixture, whisking to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a clean saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk.
- Continue cooking for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture thickens into a smooth pudding.
- Pour the pudding into 4 dessert glasses and let them cool to room temperature.
- Sprinkle cinnamon powder over each pudding and refrigerate for 4 hours until fully set.
- Serve chilled.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
These caramel puddings look absolutely divine! Can't wait to try the recipe.