We have been on quite a chocolate pudding kick lately. This was most likely brought on by the cooler weather which has us wanting something warm-and-chocolately as opposed to summer's longing for cold-and-chocolately (that would be ice cream). In any case, I was making pudding so often I thought it made sense to make up a mix, making the preparation even faster and simpler. You can have a simple, homey, warm, chocolately, wholesome, all natural snack ready for your family in less than ten minutes (even faster than a quick chocolate cake) - what's not to love? Even the un-named doesn't-eat-things-that-shake person in my house gobbles up my chocolate pudding. And it's very handy to say to the family, "You clear the table and tidy things up and I'll make the pudding," and then you meet back at the table in fifteen minutes for pudding and reading aloud.
Homemade Chocolate Pudding Mix
1 pound box of corn starch
5 cups sugar
3 cups cocoa
I measure the ingredients into the bowl of my Kitchen Aid - I admit I based the recipe on using an entire box of corn starch to avoid having to measure it out, as the billowy stuff can be messy. Start with a very slow speed and mix until the ingredients are thoroughly combined and a uniform light cocoa color. I think the electric mixer is best for this, so you know everything is evenly mixed. Then I transfer the mix to a storage container. I keep a one cup measuring scooper in the jar for easy use.
To make pudding-
For a large family batch, measure approximately 2 1/3 cups of mix into a large pot (nonstick is nice). Stir in eight cups of whole milk and cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly. Cook until pudding begins to boil and is thickened - about 8 minutes or so. Stir in a tablespoon of vanilla. (Actually, I rarely remember the vanilla and I never measure.) Pour into serving bowls. This is how much we make for dessert for the nine of us (we like generous servings of pudding - not those little dainty dishes).
For a smaller batch, use about one cup of mix to three cups of milk.