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!
Since Kraft stopped making their Strawberry Cream instant pudding I’m having the hardest time finding one to add to a cake mix. Do you think that I could take freeze dried strawberries and puree them into a powder and add it to this mixture to make homemade strawberry pudding powder? What are your recommendations? Thank you.
Yes, freeze dried strawberries is exactly what I was going to recommend!
I love this but I would like to know how I can make it in bulk and put in in canning jars for long term storage.
This is misleading. Instant always means no cook. And this requires cooking. Waste of time that could be avoided by simply not putting the word instantin the title. I have no other opinion since I won’t be using this recipe.
I keep this “on hand”…so good, I use vanilla powder and half the salt
oh…so many complaints…”needs to be cooked” “cooked isn’t instant”…people are so literal , so it needs to be cooked…still close enough to instant…boxed instant is really bad
Yes, people are literal. That’s the whole point of language. Instant means like right now, not after you spend time cooking and waiting for the pudd to cool. Recipes today are becoming totally muddled because people post recipes that are sort of like something else. Case in point besides instant is Quick as in quick breads … which are breads leavened with baking soda instead of yeast … quick because there is no time spent in kneading and letting the dough rise. And recipe after online recipe is merely copies of yet another, mistakes and all. Recipes should be correct, literally!
How much cocoa powder would you add to this to make chocolate pudding mix
I’m baking Amish friendship bread for a recipe, it needs instant vanilla pudding 5.1 Oz , so I’m that case do I use JUST THE DRY INGREDIENTS of this recipe or do I add all the ingredients?
Um – ‘instant’ means no-cook
Can I use va illa extract in place of the vanilla beans? As the beans are not always easily had or affordable for me.
To substitute extract for bean is about 3 teaspoons per bean.
So yes you can, but since it’s a wet ingredient you won’t be able to store any leftover for later use.
Or you can use vanilla powder at 1-2 teaspoons per bean. Powder is shelf stable, and if you split it with friends, it’s much cheaper than beans.
Good luck.
I went to the store today hoping to find instant vanilla pudding as I wanted it to make a cake. NO pudding anywhere. So tonight your recipe just popped up in my Pinterest feed! Were they watching my grocery list?? I’m excited – if I want to use the pudding mix in a cake do I add in 1/2 cup of the mix!!
What a miracle!
This pudding tastes like marshmallows. not sure why, but its sort of weird.
Always have this mix on hand. Gave as a gift to all my special friends this last Christmas. It is perfect. Thank you so much. I appreciate this so much.
Thanks for the recipe. One thing though is that you didn’t tell people to keep the vanilla bean seeds and use them because that’s the god stuff. The thought of vanilla seeds going in the trash bean makes me so sad :s
The request was for instant pudding recipe. As in you don’t cook it !
I was hoping for the no cook version too. What a disappointment. I need it for a few recipes that call for actual instant pudding. I already make cooked pudding from scratch all the time. Oh well. The search continues.
Hi, does this measure the same as a box of pudding mix? Like 3.5oz of your mix is the same as the box one?
Yes!
What can I substitute for the cornstarch in this recipe? I am allergic to corn.
Likely just about any starch. Can’t say for certain though as I always just use cornstarch.. You just need it to thicken. So try a potato starch. Flour can even be used in some cases, but you have to cook it longer to get the cereal taste out. If it can be used as a thickening agent it likely could work here to some degree.
Arrowroot.
I loved this recipe, was making a special Pumpkin Bread that called for Cook & Serv or Instant Pudding mix which i didn’t have. I live in a rural area so no hop skip & jump to store. Saved me from driving quite a distance in order to make my bread/cake recipe. Thank You so much!
I’m not hating on the recipe but this is not instant, this is “Cook & Serve”. Instant Pudding Mix means you mix with milk and stir until it starts to thicken, no cooking required. “Cook & Serve” Pudding Mix is the type you cook and then let cool to thicken. They taste different and not everyone likes the skin that forms on “Cook & Serve” pudding.
It’s a very nice pudding mix. But it’s cook and serve, not instant. You’d need instant cleargel for instant pudding mix, so it would thicken without cooking.
People can be so hateful. I’m pretty sure this is a substitute for the box of instant pudding mix you buy at the store. That you do have to heat and then cool for 5 minutes and then it’s ready. It doesn’t have to set up for hours in the refrigerator. It’s not instant as in already made and you pull the foil top off!!
Anyways, thank you for this!! Exactly what I was looking for!
Instant means NO cooking.
Not INSTANT if you have to cook it!🙄
Could I use a Splenda type sugar instead? Also, I have vanilla powder … would that work instead of the beans? Anyone know? Thanks!
For anyone interested I found this Instant No-Cook for Vanilla OR Chocolate here:
https://www.foodiewithfamily.com/homemade-no-cook-instant-pudding-mix-make-ahead-mondays/
I hate when someone posts a recipe, and fails to tell you, how much to use. An incomplete recipe is NO SOLUTION at all, to being out of something! The recipe starts out being a SUBSTITUTE for Instant Vanilla Pudding, as called for in a recipe…Then goes off the charts, giving a recipe for PUDDING! I’m in a bind here. I need a box of Vanilla Instant PUDDING for a cake recipe, BUT there is no mention at all, about how much of this mix, to use for the box, I DONT HAVE! ***And what if I don’t have vanilla beans? Then What? I gave recipe a 3 star, which is generous, considering an incomplete recipe is USELESS. VERY DISAPPOINTED!
fear Debbi,
Your review made some reasonable points in an unreasonably harsh way. Sounds like you were having a wretched day. Please take this as kindly as possible, from a quick tempered, regret -filled woman, don’t hit send on a message that you wouldn’t want to receive. Lambasting a stranger today will set the stage for harshness With people you love tomorrow.
well said, Heather.
A regular pudding box is about 3.4 oz I think, which would be just under 1/2 a cup of dry mix. Hope that helps!
You suck.
That was meant for Debbi Higgins…or Debbi Downer I should say.
Would you have the instant pudding recipe? The recipe you have so graciously shared needs cooking.
If you had the instant formula, could you share it?
Thank you
Tendrías la receta del pudin instantáneo? La receta que tan gentilmente has compartido necesita cocción.
Si tuvieses la de la fórmula instantánea podrías compartirla?
Gracias
How many grams does it mean when the recipe indicates 1 glass of sugar, 1 glass of milk powder, 1 glass of corn starch, given that each ingredient is different?
Thank you
¿A cuántos gramos se refiere cuando la receta indica 1 vaso de azúcar, 1 vaso de leche en polvo, 1 vaso de almidón de maíz, dado que cada ingrediente es diferente?
Gracias
Liliana
There is a button called “US CUSTOMARY – METRIC” in the recipe to push which will give you the gram amounts for all the ingredients. I agree with you, grams are better. I hope that helps.
Before finding your website, I’ve been making this recipe for years and my family loves it. However, this is not instant pudding, rather it’s a simple cooked pudding. Instant pudding requires no cooking, FYI. Does anyone have an instant pudding recipe?
Vanilla beans are horribly expensive where I live. Could I just add vanilla extract when I use the pudding mix in a recipe? Also, do you use the same amount of the mix as the amount in the boxed kind?
Add extract after cooking.
Think you could replace the vanilla bean with powdered vanilla?
I stir in a 1/2 tsp vanilla extract to the cooked pudding after removing it from the stove. Works perfectly. You can also make this a chocolate pudding by adding 2-3 T unsweetened cocoa powder during the cooking process. Add it with pudding mix and stir well until completely dissolved.
Thank you.
When using in baking, is it a 1 for 1 substitution as the boxed instant pudding mixes?
Can you substitute vanilla paste for vanilla bean? Would you add it at the end of cooking? Thank you
Can I use powder d sugar instead of granulated sugar? If so; does the quantity of sugar remains same or changes?
Hi April, I’ve never made that substitution, so I couldn’t say for sure how it would work.
This is a great recipe and hope you get a chance to make it. As far as the substitution, powdered sugar is essentially granulated sugar that has been ground to fine powder and includes cornstarch. To make powdered sugar, you generally pulverize 1 cup of granulated sugar and mix with 1 tbsp cornstarch. If making this pudding mix, I’d say removed 1tbsp cornstarch from 3/4c the recipe states. Also note when you use powdered sugar in cakes, your final product might be a little dense, but should be okay in puddings.
Powdered sugar already has cornstarch in it. It will affect your recipe differently if you use the powdered sugar. You may have to play with the amount of cornstarch you use in the recipe to find the right combo.