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!
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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.
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:
- Banana Pudding
- Chocolate Pudding Recipe
- Best Butterscotch Pudding
- Pineapple Icebox Cake
- Grandma’s Icebox Cake
One year ago: Deviled Eggs
Three years ago: Pigu (Italian Gougeres)
DIY Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (96 g) cornstarch
- ¾ cup (96 g) nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 whole vanilla beans
Instructions
- 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.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Hello, if I intend to use this in a recipe that calls for instant pudding do I use the whole portion? Thank you.
Hi Deborah, No, do not use the whole thing. If the recipe calls for a 3.4 ounce box of instant pudding, use 2/3 cup of this mix.
This might be *the* dumbest question, but I have to ask…I bought nonfat milk powder from Wal*Mart-they only had their storebrand as an option, so that’s what I got. Upon mixing ingredients, I see that it says it’s Instant Nonfat Milk Powder. Is it all the same, or did I buy the wrong thing?
Help….
1. Dont have dry milk powder. Can I use coffee creamer with same measurements?
2. Vanilla extract for vanilla beans? What measurement would you recommend?
Thank You
Hi Maria, #1 – Yes! #2 – Use 2.5 teaspoons vanilla extract when you prepare the final product.
I live in the mountains. I don’t have access to vanilla beans…i have vanilla extract. Any ideas?
Hi Tami, 1 vanilla bean is equal to 2.5 teaspoons vanilla extract. You can just add the vanilla extract when you make the final product.
Please change the name of your recipe so that those of us that are searching for true “instant” pudding don’t keep finding these cooked pudding versions. I tried it and it was delicious but not what I needed. Instant pudding you don’t cook. Thanks!
Instant is NOT cooked. 😡😡😡
how is it instant if you have to cook it?
Can someone review if they have used this pudding mix. I was looking for an instant and popped onto this version of a cooked pudding. I think it is called instant because you don’t have to run to the store and buy it. But besides the naming issue… is it good???
This is not instant though. You have to cook it 😔
do you normally credit the source for your recipes? this seems to be a pretty carbon copy of a pudding mix and rum cake recipe posted earlier, and it seems kinda shady not to attribute the person who actually solved the problem of these homemade recipes…
I did credit the recipe; it’s linked directly underneath the recipe.
Why is this recipe called DIY Instant Pudding? I do appreciate this homemade version of boxed pudding but it’s not instant since it requires cooking. Instant pudding is whisked with cold milk and chilled for 10 minutes. Boxed pudding made in a saucepan on the stovetop is not “instant” and is never labeled as such.
This is not “instant pudding” mix, this is it’s brother, “cook and serve” pudding mix. Disappointing mislabeling.
This is a wonderful idea. Would you be able to email a copy of a cake recipe with this instant pudding mix? Thank you!
i’m going to try using this as a substitute for instant putting mix in my Christmas cinnamon buns I’ve scheduled the recipe down made only about a third of it without the powdered milk because I don’t have any .i’m going to add some vanilla and some milk to the butter mixture and sprinkle this pudding mix on top and hope for the best I’ll let you know how it turns out
What if I don’t have vanilla beans. Can I use vanilla essence when boiling?
Yes, that would definitely work!
I make a rum cake which requires instant vanilla pudding,, would this work as a substitute for boxed instant pudding?
Hi Claire, Yes, that would work!
I didn’t read all 278 comments on your blog so I don’t know if this issue was addressed. This is in regards to Melanee’s recipe for a no-cook version of DIY Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix, in which she uses Instant Clear Jel. Like you, I prefer to cook from scratch to avoid using processed foods and the “extra” ingredients that go into them. So I did a little research on Instant Clear Jel.
Ingredion website states that the ingredient in Instant Clearjel is modified food starch.
Modified starch on the Wikipedia website gave me an eyeopener (this is in addition to other information):
“Modified starch, also called starch derivatives, are prepared by physically, enzymatically or chemically treating
native starch to change its properties. Modified starches are used in practically all starch applications, such as food
products as a thickening agent, stabilizer or emulsifier, in pharmaceuticals as a disintegrant, as a binder in coated
paper.”
Modification methods include using hydrochloric acid, sodium or potassium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, etc.
Food & Water Watch website brings attention to the fact that 93% of corn is genetically modified organisms (GMO). Organic cornstarch might be preferable.
Be sure to check out “Modified Starch” on Wikipedia.
Susie
Hello, thanks for the recipe it saved me a lot!
How long would the dry ingredients stay in a cool dry place? I’ve made mine a couple of months ago, is it still safe to use?
Thanks again.
Hi Nora, It should still be fine; I’d say 6 months!
Technically, it’s not “instant” because “instant pudding” is mixed with milk and placed in the fridge to set. This is “cook-and-serve,” but I don’t really care, because it saves me money over any “no-sugar-added cook-and-serve” available (chocolate and vanilla) at the supermarket, and I can make any flavor I want!
If you have to cook it it’s not instant pudding.
People instant as in a instant mix weather you cook it or not. The powder can be dumped in a cake
The 2 cups of milk, mixed with 1/2 of the pudding mix, will serve how many ?
Were you ever able to work out a chocolate pudding mix similar to your vanilla mix? I have looked thru the homemade pudding recipes here, but would love to have a bulk mix recipe for chocolate, too. I take it that just adding cocoa to the vanilla pudding mix just does not work out.
I am so glad I ran across your recipes on pinterest and have fallen in love with your webpage. I am ready to start conversions to homemade mixes and find your ideas very welcome. thanks.
So happy you’ve found your way here! I haven’t done a chocolate version yet; I need to work on it ASAP!
WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE RECIPE FOR INSTANT PUDDING. WONDERING IF I COULD
MAKE IT SUGAR FREE? IF SO, WHAT SWEETENER WHEN YOU SUGGEST? AND, COULD I MAKE THE INSTANT PISTACHIO MIX? WE LOVE THAT. HOW WOULD I MAKE IT “GREEN” IN COLOR? THANKS SO MUCH.
PAM
Hi Pam, I don’t use any artificial sweeteners, so I’m not sure which would work best. For pistachio – you might want to see if you can find a powdered food coloring.
I am diabetic, and I use a product called Whey-Low in all of my cooking. It is real sugar made from Whey. I serve it to my friends and family, and no one knows. They have sugar for regular people, too. I can even make jelly with it!
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! This post is quite old & I’ve tried to search thru as much as I could to see had my question been answered. My mother makes German Chocolate Cakes from scratch. She has used the “Bakers Chocolate” German Chocolate Cake recipe far as long as I can remember. The cake is on the lighter side with a bit of density. It is a nice moist cake, but wonder if it could be even more moist like that of a box cake. I would also like to brown the butter (refrigerate until solid and then leave out to soften as I would regular butter) in addition to adding the homemade instant pudding to the dry mixture. Finally… my questions are the following: 1.) Should I reduce the flour by the same amount of instant pudding I am adding to the dry mixture to avoid a lack of moisture? 2.) Should I add more moisture to offset the dry instant pudding? The cake uses butter and buttermilk for moisture. If the latter is how I should proceed, how do I know how much more moisture (butter or buttermilk) I should add to balance the instant pudding I’ve added?
Hi!
I know there have been a lot of posts about recipes requiring instant pudding so I apologize for another. I looked at the ingredients on the box of jello pudding and there is no dry milk. Do you think if this was eliminated from the ingredients, it would matter? My recipe is for dough so I don’t need to make pudding, but the recipe says to mix the pudding with 2 cups of milk and add the rest of the ingredients to form the dough. Just didn’t know if the dry milk would change anything since I’m not making cake. Also, how much vanilla extract can I use as a substitute? 1 tsp? Thanks so much!!
Hi Tara, I would not omit the dry milk given what you’re planning to do with it. As for vanilla extract, anywhere from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon depending on your personal taste preferences.
I just discovered Pure Vanilla Powder that can be used as a substitute for vanilla beans and vanilla extract, BUT I’m not sure how much to use. Have you ever used pure vanilla powder in your instant pudding recipe?
Hi Amanda, What a great find! I have never used vanilla powder. I would check the packaging or the manufacturer’s website to see if they have conversions.
Hi I am making Magnolia bakery’s famous banana pudding, and the recipe requires instant vanilla mix. You have to beat condensed milk with water until well combined and then add the pudding mix and beat well. Then the mixture has to be refridgerated overnight so that the pudding will set. I was wondering if the pudding will set with your instant mix recipe? I am nervous that the pudding will not set since your recipe requires it to be cooked–will the recipe still work with your mix? I love making everything homemade so I hope I can use your recipe as a substitute for the jell-o instant mix! Thank you
I would be hesitant to encourage you to use it since it does need to be cooked :(
Also, is there a way to create instant banana pudding with this recipe? My guess is to add mashed bananas after the pudding is already made? Would crushing dried bananas in a food processor work?
Hi Heather, I’ve never experimented with banana! Crushing dried bananas might be a great solution… I’m not sure how they’d reconstitute, but certainly worth a try!
Hi! I am looking forward to trying this – especially since I have to watch my sodium intake and instant pudding is high in sodium. I saw you have salt in this recipe, can it be eliminated? A teaspoon in 2 and a half cups of mix may not be too bad. Do you have an estimation of how much sodium is in this recipe?
Thanks!
Hi Heather, I am unsure of the actual sodium amount, but you could cut down on the salt – it does help to balance the sweetness, so I would recommend doing a little pinch and not eliminating entirely.
Hi,
So apparently I didn’t read carefully enough and I did think it was Instant pudding.Any idea how much sure gel I should add to your recipe as I have already mixed it together. ( still dry in a jar) ? I make a type of frosting that calls for 1 pkg of Dream Whip and 1 package of instant pudding with 2 cups of cold milk. I really don’t like the yellow coloring and fake flavor of the packaged pudding so I was thrilled to find a substitute. I apologize if this question has already been asked and answered.
Hi Janet, I haven’t tried using SureJell, so I couldn’t give an amount, but if you play around with it, please stop back and share your results!