Creamy Rice Pudding Dessert with Short-Grain Rice
Rice simmers in milk until it thickens on its own, so the stovetop does the work without any cornstarch. It's the traditional route to a plain, rich rice pudding.
no cornstarch needed
21 Homemade Pudding Recipes for Every Craving
Curated by Elara MaeveUpdated November 8, 2026
☰ Contents
A pot of milk left too long on the burner will skin over, and anyone who has stirred rice pudding knows the moment the spoon starts to drag. Homemade pudding asks for a little attention, and in return you get a dessert that tastes nothing like the shelf version.
This collection suits cooks who want a dessert with short hands-on time, and hosts who need something finished the day before a party. You'll find rice pudding, chocolate pudding, banana pudding, butterscotch and lemon, along with pudding pops, pudding cups and a few baked recipes that use pudding mix.
Some recipes take ten minutes of stirring and a few hours of chilling. Others bake a custard in the oven or freeze pops in molds. The sections below group them by method and occasion so you can match a recipe to the time you have.
What Is Homemade Pudding?
Homemade pudding is a sweet, spoonable dessert set by one of three things: starch, eggs, or rice that softens slowly in warm milk. Cornstarch puddings firm as they cool, and pressing plastic wrap onto the surface keeps a skin from forming. Egg-based custards set more gently and need steady, moderate heat.
This collection covers stovetop puddings, chilled layered cups, baked bread and brownie desserts, and frozen pudding pops. Some recipes start from scratch and others use instant pudding mix. Expect a mix of short stovetop work and recipes that need several hours in the fridge or freezer.
How to Choose the Best Homemade Pudding
For a dessert that's ready within the hour of hands-on time, the stovetop chocolate, lemon and butterscotch recipes are the most direct route. Bread puddings bake while you clean up, and the brownie-style recipe is the simplest oven option.
If you're planning ahead for a party, a chilled banana pudding or layered cup gains from several hours in the fridge.
Pudding pops are the answer for hot afternoons, but they need a full freezer stretch. Chia pudding is the no-cook choice: stir, cover, and let it set. Match the make-ahead window to your schedule before you match the flavor.
Rice Pudding Dessert Recipes
Rice pudding relies on the grain itself to thicken the milk, so patience at the stove matters more than any added starch. The two recipes here take different routes. One simmers rice in milk until it turns creamy on its own, while the other softens the rice in water before the milk goes in.
Both are stovetop desserts that need regular stirring.
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Arroz Con Leche Rice Pudding Recipe with Evaporated Milk
Water first, milk second: the rice cooks before the dairy goes in, so the pot is less likely to scorch. Condensed milk gives this Mexican version its sweetness.
water-first simmer
Stovetop Chocolate Pudding Recipes
Stovetop chocolate pudding is mostly a matter of heat control, because cocoa and sugar scorch faster than plain milk. One version sets with cornstarch and gentle heat, the usual route to a glossy, spoonable pudding. The other drops starch entirely and lets egg yolks do the thickening, which gives a richer custard body.
Whisk constantly as it nears a simmer.
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Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder
Cornstarch and gentle heat set this chocolate pudding without extra stabilizers, so the cocoa flavor stays deep and rich.
cornstarch-set chocolate -
Silky Chocolate Pudding Recipe Without Cornstarch
Without cornstarch or flour, this custard relies on egg yolks for body, which gives a rich, spoonable texture. Heat it gently and keep stirring.
no cornstarch or flour
Pudding Cups and Layered Chocolate Desserts
Pudding cups and layered desserts are built in glasses or small cups, so the chilled layers are the point. Dirt cups use whipped topping to keep the chocolate pudding firm enough to hold cookie crumbs on top. The layered version uses an Oreo crust and chills in stages, so each band of pudding stays distinct.
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Layered Chocolate Pudding Dessert with Cookie Crust
Oreo crust and cocoa pudding layers are assembled in a glass, and chilling between layers keeps each band distinct. It's the one to build for individual cups.
layered in a glass -
Oreo Pudding Dirt Cups with Gummy Worms
Whipped topping stiffens the chocolate pudding enough to hold cookie crumbs on top. These are the cups to set out for a kids' party, with gummy worms as an optional finish.
cookie crumble topping
Banana Pudding Recipes
Banana pudding splits into two camps. Chilled versions layer wafers, bananas and pudding, while the baked version finishes with a meringue that browns in the oven. Whipped cream or Cool Whip keeps the chilled layers light. Bananas darken quickly once cut, so slice them just before layering.
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Southern Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers
Whipped cream and condensed milk give this banana pudding a light, cloud-like texture. The wafers soften into a cake-like layer as the dessert chills.
whipped cream base -
Classic Southern Banana Pudding with Cool Whip NoBake Bliss
No-bake banana pudding built from vanilla wafers, sliced bananas and a creamy base. Cool Whip keeps the topping simple, so assembly is mostly layering.
no-bake layered assembly -
Old Fashioned Banana Pudding with Toasted Meringue
Baked custard under a meringue topping gives this banana pudding a different texture from the chilled versions. The vanilla wafers still anchor the bottom layer.
baked meringue topping
Vanilla Pudding Recipes and Chia Pudding Options
Vanilla pudding and chia pudding both end up cold, but they get there differently. The vanilla recipe is a cooked custard thickened with egg yolks and cornstarch, spooned over berries once chilled. The chia version thickens without heat, so it comes together in a bowl and sets in the fridge over several hours.
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Whisked Vanilla Pudding with Fresh Berries
Egg yolks and cornstarch thicken this vanilla custard, which is chilled and then spooned over fresh berries for a fruit-forward finish.
egg yolk vanilla custard -
High Protein Chocolate Chia Pudding
Chia seeds thicken the milk without cooking, so this chocolate pudding sets in the fridge over several hours instead of on the stove. Plan it the night before.
no-cook high protein
Lemon and Butterscotch Pudding Recipes
Lemon and butterscotch are two directions for stovetop pudding, one bright and one deep. Lemon cuts through a milk-rich custard, while the butterscotch version gets its color and flavor from brown sugar rather than a candy thermometer.
Both reward attention to order, because the lemon recipe depends on adding ingredients in the right sequence to keep the milk smooth.
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Homemade Lemon Pudding
Lemon's tang cuts through the milk-rich custard, and the order of adding ingredients keeps the milk from curdling. A simple pick for a weeknight dessert.
tangy lemon custard -
Homemade Butterscotch Pudding with Brown Sugar
Brown sugar builds the toffee-like flavor here, so the butterscotch base comes together without a candy thermometer. It suits a relaxed family dinner.
brown sugar base
Baked Bread Pudding Recipes
Baked puddings rely on the oven to set the custard, and stale bread or brownie-style batter gives the dessert its structure. Two bread puddings soak in custard before baking, one with white chocolate and one with butterscotch. The brownie-style recipe skips bread entirely and bakes in the oven alone.
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Brioche White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Stale brioche soaks up the white chocolate custard and holds its shape, so the bread pudding bakes evenly without falling apart.
white chocolate brioche -
Butterscotch Bread Pudding with Brioche
A long soak lets the butterscotch custard reach every crumb, so the center stays soft. It's the one for a holiday dinner table.
butterscotch brioche -
Ina Garten Chocolate Brownie Pudding Recipe
Brownie-style batter bakes entirely in the oven. There's no stovetop step, so it's the simplest route to a warm chocolate dessert.
oven-only brownie pudding
Pudding Pops for Hot Weather
Pudding pops are a frozen version of stovetop pudding, set in molds rather than bowls. Whipped air in the base keeps them soft instead of icy, and both recipes depend on that step. Plan for several hours in the freezer, and expect the pops to soften slightly once they're unmolded.
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Guilt-Free Homemade Pudding Pops
Whipped air in the dairy base keeps these pops creamy instead of icy. Plan on several hours in the freezer, so they suit a summer weekend.
whipped air dairy base -
Chocolate Jello Pudding Pops
Pudding mix and whipped topping give these frozen pops a creamy bite rather than icy crystals. Freeze them for most of a day before unmolding.
Jello mix, whipped topping
Pudding Mix in Cookies, Cakes and Monkey Bread
Instant pudding mix does more than add flavor in baking. The mix in cookie dough keeps the centers soft, the poke cake takes chocolate pudding through its holes, and the monkey bread glaze thickens into caramel. Each recipe uses the mix differently, so read the method before you swap in another brand.
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Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies with Vanilla Pudding
Instant pudding mix in the dough keeps these cookies soft in the middle, a texture that's chewy rather than cakey.
instant pudding in dough -
Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake with Cake Mix
Holes poked into the baked cake let chocolate pudding seep down, so every slice has a moist, pudding-soaked middle. It's the cake to make when you want chocolate in every bite.
pudding-soaked poke cake -
Butterscotch Monkey Bread with Pudding Mix
Pudding mix thickens into a caramel glaze that holds the dough pieces together. It's a pull-apart brunch bake built on butterscotch flavor.
pudding mix glaze
Storage and Food Safety Tips for Homemade Pudding
Most homemade pudding is dairy- and egg-based, so it belongs in the refrigerator once it has cooled. According to the USDA, perishable food generally shouldn't sit out for more than two hours.
Banana pudding and anything topped with whipped cream should stay chilled, especially at an outdoor party where the table is in the sun.
Stovetop and egg-based custards are generally best eaten within a few days, and cornstarch puddings usually keep a little longer when covered tightly. Pudding pops should go back into the freezer once they're unmolded.
Discard any pudding that smells sour, has separated into watery layers, or has been out longer than two hours.
Quick Comparison
| # | Recipes | Best For | Time | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Creamy Rice Pudding Dessert with Short-Grain Rice | plain rice pudding without cornstarch | 45 min | stovetop |
| 2 | Arroz Con Leche Rice Pudding Recipe with Evaporated Milk | Mexican-style rice pudding with condensed milk | 2 hr 50 min | stovetop |
| 3 | Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder | classic cornstarch chocolate pudding | 4 hr 20 min | stovetop |
| 4 | Silky Chocolate Pudding Recipe Without Cornstarch | cornstarch-free chocolate pudding | 2 hr 20 min | stovetop |
| 5 | Layered Chocolate Pudding Dessert with Cookie Crust | individual layered cups with an Oreo crust | 4 hr 55 min | chilled assembly |
| 6 | Oreo Pudding Dirt Cups with Gummy Worms | kids' party cups | 1 hr 15 min | chilled assembly |
| 7 | Southern Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers | make-ahead banana pudding with whipped cream | 4 hr 15 min | chilled assembly |
| 8 | Classic Southern Banana Pudding with Cool Whip NoBake Bliss | no-bake banana pudding with Cool Whip | 2 hr 20 min | no-bake |
| 9 | Old Fashioned Banana Pudding with Toasted Meringue | baked banana pudding with meringue | 1 hr 30 min | baked |
| 10 | Whisked Vanilla Pudding with Fresh Berries | vanilla custard served with fresh berries | 2 hr 20 min | stovetop |
| 11 | High Protein Chocolate Chia Pudding | no-cook, high-protein chocolate pudding | 4 hr 10 min | no-cook |
| 12 | Homemade Lemon Pudding | tangy lemon pudding for a weeknight dessert | 2 hr 25 min | stovetop |
| 13 | Homemade Butterscotch Pudding with Brown Sugar | brown sugar butterscotch without a candy thermometer | 5 hr 5 min | stovetop |
| 14 | Brioche White Chocolate Bread Pudding | white chocolate bread pudding with stale brioche | 1 hr 35 min | baked |
| 15 | Butterscotch Bread Pudding with Brioche | butterscotch bread pudding for holiday dinners | 1 hr 30 min | baked |
| 16 | Ina Garten Chocolate Brownie Pudding Recipe | oven-only chocolate brownie pudding | 1 hr | baked |
| 17 | Guilt-Free Homemade Pudding Pops | frozen chocolate pudding pops for summer | 6 hr 15 min | frozen |
| 18 | Chocolate Jello Pudding Pops | frozen pops made with pudding mix | 5 hr 15 min | frozen |
| 19 | Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies with Vanilla Pudding | chewy cookies made with pudding mix | 38 min | baked |
| 20 | Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake with Cake Mix | poke cake soaked with chocolate pudding | 4 hr 55 min | baked |
| 21 | Butterscotch Monkey Bread with Pudding Mix | pull-apart brunch bread with caramel glaze | 1 hr | baked |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does homemade pudding need to chill?
Stovetop puddings usually need a few hours in the fridge to set fully, and layered desserts typically chill for several hours before serving. Pudding pops need a longer stretch in the freezer, so plan for them earlier in the day.
Can I make pudding cups and layered desserts a day ahead?
In most cases yes, and many layered desserts hold up well when made the day before. Wafers and cookie crusts soften the longest, so add any crunchy toppings just before serving.
Why does my stovetop pudding turn lumpy?
Cornstarch clumps when it hits hot liquid dry, so whisk it into cold milk or sugar first. Keep whisking over medium heat until the mixture bubbles, and strain it if small lumps remain.
Can I make pudding without cornstarch?
Yes, egg yolks can do the thickening, as in the chocolate pudding without cornstarch recipe. They need gentler heat and steady stirring, because yolks can curdle if the pan gets too hot.
What is the difference between rice pudding and bread pudding?
Rice pudding thickens as the grains break down in simmering milk, while bread pudding is an egg custard poured over bread and baked. Bread pudding is usually served warm, while rice pudding can be eaten warm or chilled.
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