Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Vanilla Pudding

Jun 25, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Beans Easy

Gluten-free dark chocolate vanilla pudding

Gluten-free dark chocolate pudding flavored with a whole vanilla bean. An easy recipe: 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus chilling; serves 4. Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 10 min

Cook 15 min

Chill 2 hr

Total 2 hr 25 min

Servings 4

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2 ½ cups (600.0 ml)whole milk
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
3.0 tbsp (24.0 g)cornstarch
3.0large egg yolks
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
¾ cup (130.0 g)chopped dark chocolate

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a saucepan off the heat, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks with a splash of the milk until smooth and lump-free.
Warm the remaining milk with the vanilla until it steams, then whisk it slowly into the yolk mixture.
Whisk the chopped chocolate into the warm milk until melted and smooth.
Set over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the pudding thickens and comes to a gentle bubble, about 5 minutes; it should mound softly on the whisk.
Off the heat, whisk in the butter until the pudding looks glossy and smooth.
Pour into serving dishes, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin, and chill until cold and set, about 2 hours.

Tips

Use chocolate between 60% and 70% cacao so its bitterness balances the vanilla's sweetness.
Don't toss the scraped pods: tuck them into a jar of sugar for homemade vanilla sugar.
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Choosing vanilla: Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky) suits this recipe best; Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy) is a great alternative, and any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla pudding?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hr chill. The recipe makes 4 servings.

How should I store vanilla pudding?

Refrigerate with plastic wrap pressed on the surface for up to 3 days.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This version uses 1 split vanilla bean. You can swap in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder instead; they're interchangeable at these amounts. Beans give the most visible specks and the fullest aroma.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 4 servings this recipe makes.

483 Calories / serving

25.7g Fat

57.8g Carbs

8.7g Protein

48.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (4 servings): ~1932 cal · 103g fat · 231g carbs · 35g protein · 192g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 483 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 91 min·5.3 mi·~10650 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 65 min·3.3 mi·~6500 steps
Moderate cycling 49 min·9.8 mi
Swimming laps 68 min
Jogging 47 min·3.9 mi·~7500 steps
Stair climbing 45 min·~4050 steps
Dancing 79 min
Bodyweight circuit training 49 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 112 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.