Selfboost / Recipes / Desserts
Chocolate pudding
Smooth, rich chocolate pudding made with milk, cocoa and a little dark chocolate. Lovely warm, or chilled for later.
A simple dessert
From start to plate
Serving
About 15 minutes for warm pudding. For a cold, firmer dessert, allow about 2 extra hours in the fridge.
- Protein
- 7.9 g
- Carbs
- 39 g
- Fat
- 8.7 g
For one serving
What you’ll need
- Milk · 2% fat180 g
- Granulated sugar15 g
- Cornstarch · cornflour, not cornmeal8 g
- Unsweetened cocoa powder6 g
- Dark chocolate · 70–85% cocoa10 g
All listed sugar, butter, chocolate and toppings are included in the estimate. Any optional extras are separate.
Allergens to check
Milk. Dark chocolate may also contain soy or traces of nuts; check the label.
Always check your specific product labels.
Keep it simple
How to make it
Make a smooth base
In a small saucepan, stir the sugar, cornstarch and cocoa together. Whisk in a little cold milk to make a smooth paste, then gradually whisk in the rest.
Cook until thick
Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly across the base and corners of the pan. Once the pudding thickens and bubbles gently, cook for another minute while stirring. Lower the heat if it catches.
Add the chocolate
Take the pan off the heat. Add the chopped dark chocolate and stir until melted and glossy. Spoon into a heatproof bowl and let it cool to a comfortable eating temperature.
Warm or chilled
Eat warm, or cover and refrigerate promptly for about 2 hours until cold and firmer. Do not leave it on the counter to set. The whole recipe makes one dessert serving.
A useful detail
Use cornstarch, called cornflour in the UK. Yellow cornmeal will not thicken the pudding the same way. Stirring prevents lumps; a small whisk helps.
Make it work for you
A swap. A plan for leftovers.
Whole milk instead of 2% milk
Replace: 180 g milk · 2% fat.
Use instead: 180 g whole milk.
Use the same weight of whole milk for a richer pudding. Keep the cornstarch and cooking steps unchanged. Both versions contain milk.
Whole changed recipe · 1 serving
≈ 272 kcal · Protein 7.6 g · Carbs 39 g · Fat 10.9 g
Allergens: Milk. Dark chocolate may also contain soy or traces of nuts; check the label. Check your product labels.
This is a separate alternative, not a nutritionally identical exchange. The photo and estimate at the top still refer to the original recipe. These numbers include every listed ingredient after this one replacement; optional extras are excluded.
Preparing ahead & keeping leftovers
For cold pudding, cover and refrigerate promptly rather than leaving it out to set. Use within 48 hours, or sooner if the milk label requires it. Eat chilled or reheat only once. A skin may form on top; stir before serving if you prefer.
Keep chilled ingredients at 0–5°C and follow their use-by and after-opening instructions. Assembling a meal does not restart an ingredient’s storage time; use the earliest applicable limit.
For cooked leftovers, cool in small portions and refrigerate within 1–2 hours. Use within 48 hours or freeze, unless an ingredient’s instructions require a shorter time. Reheat only once, until steaming hot throughout.
Storage guidance: Food Standards Agency — chilling food. Reviewed 8 October 2026. Texture suggestions are Selfboost’s editorial advice; these recipes have not undergone shelf-life testing.
About these recipes and nutrition estimates
These are simple Selfboost recipe ideas, with one example serving each. Your appetite and energy needs can be different. A varied diet matters across the day and week; every meal does not need to contain every food group.
Calories and nutrients are calculated from the listed ingredient weights using the Food Library’s representative USDA records. Raw, dry, cooked and drained weights are marked separately. All listed oil is included. Optional seasonings and garnishes are excluded. Brands, cooking losses and portion sizes change the result; use a product’s label for its specific values.
Preparation times are estimates and include any ready-cooked ingredients noted in the recipe. Photographs are serving inspiration; follow the ingredient list for the recipe and portion.
Ready ingredient swaps use the same food database and recalculate the whole serving. They are culinary alternatives, not equivalent nutrient or allergy replacements. Collections group existing recipes by preparation and staple ingredients; no local price comparison has been made.
These desserts use ordinary ingredients, including sugar and butter where listed. They are not weight-loss recipes or a suggested daily dessert target. All listed sweeteners and toppings are counted; extra garnishes are separate.
- NIST apple crisp informed the fruit-and-crumble method. Our small portion, pecans and ingredient quantities are Selfboost adaptations.
- Oregon State University Food Hero banana pancakes informed the small-pancake method. Our flour, quantities and syrup differ; the estimate is calculated independently.
- Illinois Extension’s traditional pudding ingredient list informed the milk, cocoa and cornstarch base. Selfboost adds dark chocolate and uses a different portion. The cheesecake cup is our own soft, no-bake combination.
- FDA flour safety — do not eat raw flour or batter. FoodSafety.gov gives 71°C / 160°F for egg dishes.
Reviewed 15 October 2026. These exact portions and methods have not been kitchen-tested or endorsed by the linked organisations. Timing varies with equipment, ingredient size and chilling conditions.
- Food Library data notes — USDA food composition and its limits.
- NHS Eatwell Guide — variety and balance across meals.
- FoodSafety.gov cooking temperatures — chicken, fish and eggs.
- Food Standards Agency food safety guidance — handling and reheating rice.
- Food Standards Agency chilling guidance — refrigerator temperature and cooked leftovers. Ingredient labels may require shorter storage.
- Food Standards Agency reheating guidance — reheat leftovers only once, until steaming hot throughout.
Sources reviewed 8 October 2026. Recipe combinations and serving sizes are Selfboost’s editorial choices, not a prescribed meal plan or an endorsement by these organisations.
Another time, another idea
Something sweet for next time.
Everyday food. A little more understanding.
General nutrition information and estimates, not individual medical advice.