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DIY Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
Confession time. I really love the idea of making as much as possible from scratch. Not only do I know exactly what is in something, but 99.9% of the time, the homemade version contains significantly less processed ingredients (and usually none at all). From body scrubs to taco seasoning mix and hot chocolate mix, I’ve been working on transforming the convenience packages for homemade versions. The truth is, that the from-scratch versions of these things take literally minutes to make and are infinitely cheaper, not to mention healthier.
My search for a DIY instant pudding mix spun off of my search for a from-scratch version of a favorite family cake. The problem? The “recipe” was basically a box cake mix with a box of instant pudding and a few other ingredients. I knew I wanted to make the cake from scratch, but boy does that box of pudding do wonders to a cake, right? Makes it so moist and melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. I needed to somehow mimic those characteristics, when lo and behold, I actually found a formula for instant pudding mix!
Whether you want to make a cake that calls for pudding mix, banana pudding, an icebox cake or lush dessert, you’re going to love this DIY hack!
I was able to throw this together in 5 minutes, and now I have a stash of instant pudding for whenever I see a recipe that calls for a mix. Not only do I not have to run to the store, but I can keep from-scratch recipes just that.
MY OTHER RECIPES In addition to using it in your own recipes, this would make a great gift for the holidays. Maybe a basket of this, some homemade cocoa mix, homemade vanilla extract, and other goodies. I am working on a chocolate version as well, so stay tuned!
Now just wait until you see what I have up my sleeve. I think you’re going to love the cake that I used this mix in! It’s an oldie but a goodie, and reinvented to be completely homemade. Be sure to check back tomorrow!
If You Like This Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix, Try These Recipes:
One year ago: Deviled Eggs
Three years ago: Pigu (Italian Gougeres)
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- 1
cup
granulated sugar
- ¾
cup
cornstarch
- ¾
cup
nonfat dry milk powder
- 1
teaspoon
kosher salt
- 2
whole vanilla beans
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, milk powder, and salt; set aside.
Split open the vanilla beans and use the back of a knife to scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds to the sugar mixture, and again whisk well to evenly combine, using a fork or the back of the spoon to break up any chunks of vanilla bean seeds. Cut the empty vanilla bean pods into two or three pieces each.
Place the vanilla bean pieces into an airtight container or jar, and add the sugar mixture. Seal it, and then give it a few good shakes to distribute the vanilla bean pieces evenly. Store in a cool, dry place.
To make pudding: Combine 2 cups of milk with ½ cup of the instant pudding mix in a medium saucepan over high heat, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, and then immediately reduce the heat to a simmer and continue whisking until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 3 to 5 minutes). Let sit for at least 5 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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This is cool, it will make a nice gift to my friends!
Making your own pudding mix is a fine idea, but this is NOT instant pudding. If you have to cook it, it’s regular, cook and serve pudding. And you absolutely have to cook it with all the corn starch. It might not even work in a cake mix, since you aren’t incorporating enough moisture to counterbalance the starch. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but you can’t call this instant.
I agree it should read homemade cook and serve because there is a difference.
I agree…this looks exactly like my own recipe for Blanc Mange (a cooked pudding) but with some skim milk powder.
If you look at a box of Jell-O instant pudding mix, the first two ingredients that are listed are sugar and modified cornstarch. Using regular cornstarch, instead of modified, means that you DO have to cook it. However, this is probably fine for use in a baked product.
I use this in baked recipes calling for boxed instant pudding, exclusively. It works perfectly.
This is genius!! So many times I see a recipe that calls for just a little bit of pudding mix and I end up not making it because I don’t want to buy a box just to use a small portion then have it sit in my pantry. I need to make this asap then revisit all those recipes I pushed aside :)
This is amazing! I see so many dessert recipes that call for instant pudding mix and I always have to sadly pass them up because I’m so turned off by ingredients like that…but if I there’s a homemade version I don’t have to do that anymore! Thanks!
Thank you for this – will be trying it out for sure. I use vanilla pudding in several things that I make and I have a guilty conscience about using the packaged stuff.
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wow, this is really cool! I never thought of this as something you could make yourself, not sure why haha
This sounds so cool!! I’ve made many cakes but I’ve never made a cake that called for a box of instant pudding… Sounds interesting, but I’m definitely looking forward to seeing your version and I plan to try that out as soon as I get the chance!! Thank you for this post!
Awesome! There have been so many recipes that I’ve wanted to try – but don’t – because of the instant pudding factor. This solves it!
I think I’ll wait for the chooclate version which hopefully turns out!! So to clairfy, the vanilla bean pieces that are cut up stay in the jar the whole time???
Yep! It just continues to infuse the vanilla flavor.
so you sift them out when you are using the mix in something or cooking it as pudding?
I just leave them in the jar until I’m done with the mix. They’ll continue to infuse the pudding mix while in there. You don’t use them for the pudding, but they provide flavor.
Thanks for making me feel not so dumb! haha I thought I was the only one who didn’t understand this small part!
No, Kara, you weren’t the only one! I kept reading it thinking I missed something – straining, sifting…. Glad you asked!
I had the SAME question. Thanks for the clarification.
How long does the pudding mix keep for?
What a great idea! I like to know what is going into our bodies, too, so I love to make as many things as possible, too. I am so excited to make up a jar of this pudding. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I live in the UK where I can’t get instant pudding like in the US. There are so many cake recipes that call for instant pudding and I just can’t make them. Now I can! Looking forward to the cake tomorrow and the chocolate version of the instant pudding in the future!
Surely, you can just buy Angel Delight?
Definitely going to make a big jar of this! Hmm, I wonder how you would make it butterscotch flavour.
use brown sugar instead of white and get butterscotch pudding
I am from the UK too and was looking for a substitute to replace the instant vanilla pudding. But now I am wondering where I can get powdered milk? Do you know of some place that sell that?
Hi Laura, King Arthur Flour sells powdered milk, but I don’t know if they ship to the UK.
Hi Laura you can find powder milk in Tesco.
Here in the UK the co-op and asda sell dried milk =) hope this helps
I’ve been trying to figure out why all the DIY pudding mixes have dried milk in them when you add fresh milk to them to make them. Especially since I can’t stand fat free instant powdered milk, which is all that I can find around here- I just can’t stand the taste. :( There must be some way to do without the powdered stuff.
Try powdered coffee creamer. I use it in my cocoa mix and it gives a creamier taste/texture than powdered milk alone.
Laura any supermarket sell’s dried milk and have done for years.
I’m not going to lie, I use instant pudding mix a lot. But to have something homemade that is ready in the same amount of time is awesome! Great idea! :-)
I love vanilla pudding! Great idea!
What a great idea! I love this!!! This is so creative, I would never of thought of making instant pudding. Nice recipe!
Perfect! One should always have some at hand :)
This sounds like a delicious Cooked pudding mix, convenient and definitely cheaper. However…it’s not an instant pudding, those just mix with milk and chill and thicken, maybe with agar agar or superfine gelatin or something. I much prefer a cooked-old fashioned pudding though!
thank you for saying what i was thinking. :)
THIS is NOT an instant pudding mix such as the kind Jello makes — just add milk, stir, done. This is a cooked mix. To make a mix instant, you need a product called Instant Clear Jel. Example: “Homemade Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
Substitute with this for any recipe calling for a 3.5 oz box of instant pudding.
For chocolate, add extra sugar with the cocoa: use 1/2 cup cocoa and 3/4 cup sugar. Add an extra 1/4 cup of milk or so because of the extra dry ingredients.
1/3 cup instant dry milk*
2 cups cold milk*
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup Instant Clear Jel
1/4 tsp salt, optional
Combine dry ingredients.
Add 2 cups cold milk and 1-2 t. vanilla; mix well.
*Note: A secret of using instant clear jel is to mix it with the dry ingredients first before adding liquid; it’s less likely to clump. You can just shake it, or use a mixer, blender, stick blender.” from http://preparedness365.blogspot.com/2011/09/clear-jel.html
sold by amazon and by King Arthur’s – Instant clearjel
Thanks for that recipe!
I also found one and will keep both ideas – this one here and the other one, since they come out with different textures and flavours – haven’t tried either yet though:
http://www.foodiewithfamily.com/2013/01/21/homemade-no-cook-instant-pudding-mix-make-ahead-mondays/
Cheers and all enjoy their puddings :)
If your end product is going to be cooked (like adding to a cake recipe) then it doesn’t matter whether you use instant or cooked pudding. However, if you’re using the pudding for a cold application like a pastry cream filling, icing, or vanilla sauce (as is often done in German cooking) then you’d want it to be instant. Thanks for providing the recipe, I use Clearjel for pies and think it’s awesome! I never thought of using it for an instant pudding mix :D
How dare you.
yeah! This is “Cook ‘n Serve, not instant. Ya ninny.
What is clear jel made of.
I was thinking the same thing. Not instant, but still nice to have the recipe for COOKED pudding.
This is great! On a side note, is there anything that can be done with the leftover vanilla beans so they don’t go to waste?
Hi Sharon, Once your batch is done, you could use the vanilla beans to make your own vanilla extract, or put them in a container of sugar to make vanilla sugar.
I put all my scraped vanilla beans into a mason jar with lid and sugar. As you use it replace sugar…. Shake it every other day or so
Can’t wait to see the cake you made!! :)
This sounds so cool!! I’ve made many cakes but I’ve never made a cake that called for a box of instant pudding… Sounds interesting, but I’m definitely looking forward to seeing your version and I plan to try that out as soon as I get the chance!! Thank you for this post!
this is some brilliant yummy treat
new to your space..
excellent posts with stunning cliks
happy following you..:)
do stop by mine sometime
Tasty Appetite
This is awesome! I see recipes that call for pudding mix all the time and sometimes I’d like to just add what I’d call a “sprinkling” of pudding mix, not necessarily a whole packet. And now…I can. THANKS! for this post!!