Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Chocolate Pudding (TWD)

As a little kid, I remembered how excited I got when I discovered a snack-pak chocolate pudding in my lunch. That little can (I think I just dated myself) was worth it's weight in gold on the playground, and I could trade that for almost anything in the other kids' lunch bags...most of the time, I kept it for myself and savored every bite (okay, I didn't know any better back then)!

I chuckle about these memories, with chocolate pudding as this week's Tuesday's With Dorie recipe. Selected by Melissa of It's Melissa's Kitchen, this simple and delicious dessert is often overshadowed by other "fancy" desserts. Until just a couple of years ago, I never knew how easy and delicious homemade pudding can be, and far superior to the packaged instant stuff.


The ingredient list for this recipe is short and simple, and you definitely want to use the best cocoa you can find (I used Scharffen Berger), as that flavor will be center stage in this dessert. Unique to this recipe is the technique. A food processor is used twice, first to temper the eggs with the hot milk and then at the end to whip the pudding once it is cooked. Dorie Greenspan states that this technique will give the pudding a smooth velvety texture...let's see if it does make a difference...

Once refrigerated and set, I topped the pudding with vanilla whipped cream and broken bits of a Flake Chocolate Bar. If you haven't had a Flake before, you must run out and try one...the sweet milk chocolate literally melts in your mouth as you eat these!!! I am digressing... Let's go ahead and dig in...
OMG...this pudding was light yet creamy, and it delivered a deep rich chocolate flavor!!! It definitely delivered on both counts of taste and texture. A very dangerous dessert indeed!

My only minor gripe about this recipe is the use of the food processor, as it requires one more thing to clean up. Also the transferring the mixture back and forth from the saucepan and processor could pose a messy proposition. Still, the results are worth the effort.

This luscious pudding was served with a couple of shortbread cookies. Click here if you are interested in reading about these delish cookies.
This recipe, and more importantly the technique is a keeper!! Dorie Greenspan has written about her pudding on her blog, and the link to the recipe is here. To see how the rest of the Tuesday's With Dorie gang fared with this dessert, check out the blogroll.

34 comments:

Melissa said...

Yours looks amazing!

Peabody said...

I too remember those cans of pudding...I guess I am dating myself as well. But I always gave mine away. Not a fan.
But a fan of this...I love the use of the Flake chocolate.

Engineer Baker said...

I love how you can make something as simply and homey as pudding look so classy and elegant. Great looking pudding.

Anonymous said...

I gotta find a Flake! This looks fantastic.

Bumblebutton said...

Yummy! The shortbread looks terrific as well!

Jayne said...

Ooh, Flake bar! What a great idea!

kimberly salem said...

ooh i haven't had flake in so long! your pudding looks delicious. love the pics!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, that looks amazing!

And can I tell you how jealous I am that you have Flake bars? I can only get them at international stores and they're super expensive! They're my favorite though.

Summertime said...

Your pudding looks incredible!

steph- whisk/spoon said...

that is beautiful pudding!! i lived in scotland for a year, and coffee shops would always serve hot chocolates with a flake bar--yum!

Steph said...

That looks amazing! I love your pudding and how you served it.

Christine said...

Your pics are amazing! I wish I could take pics like that. Great looking pudding!

Heather B said...

I love your pictures! yum! The pudding looks delicious! Great job!

Pamela said...

Oh wow...I remember those cans of snack pak pudding, too! I forgot all about them until you mentioned them. Your pictures are stunning.

Susan @ SGCC said...

I am literally drooling here! Your photos of that pudding are amazing! It all looks just gorgeous!

Bungalow Barbara said...

Wow, what gorgeous pudding pictures!

hoagiefest 2020 said...

Amazing pictures! Some of the best of the bunch this week!

Nickki said...

OMG!! I wish I thought of topping mine with a flake bar....I'm going to have to make this again now just to try that! Your pictures are mouth-watering.

PheMom said...

Beautiful photos! Your pudding looks gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

I remember those cans, too, and the fact that my mom would refuse to buy them or any junk food. I felt so deprived, getting only homemade stuff! Kids are funny creatures, aren't they?

LyB said...

Seriously, "Flake" is one of my favorite chocolate bars but I can never find them anywhere! I love that you topped your pudding with it, it looks delicious!

noskos said...

Nice looking pudding!

The Kitchen Vixen said...

where can i get my hands on one of those flake bars!? your pudding looks phenomenal!

Anne said...

That pudding looks so beautiful! I love your photos and the Flake chocolate looks wonderful on top. Great job!

Jules Someone said...

Yum! Fabulous! Yum! I want that pudding.

Passionate Baker said...

wowwww...this looks sooo great!!
good job! i looove ur pictures!
<3

Di said...

Your pudding looks fabulous. I used Scharffen Berger cocoa powder as well. It's definitely my favorite. We didn't get snack-pack pudding much, but I do remember it being in cans rather than plastic. =)

Nina Timm said...

Your version of the pudding looks so appetizing and also a nice big serving. My first visit to your site and if you don't mind, I'm going to browse a little.

Eleganza Strings/ The DeLadurantey Family said...

Very nice! I bet the cookies were a good contrast in texture..........

Chibog in Chief said...

oh my goodness, your photos are so addicting!!! this sounds so fantastic!!thanks for making my day :-)

Lynne Daley said...

Very elegant. I love the flake bar topping.

Anonymous said...

Great photos, and your presentation is fabulous. I wish I could get Flake bars here for something less than a king's ransom -- I ate a disgusting number of them when I was in England for a semester.

Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats said...

I'm salivating for a flaky bar - we could get them in S. Africa but here in the U.S. you have to go to a Brit type store. Your pudding looks delicious!

Dazy said...

My elder son is coming home next week from hostel. He is a fan of rice pudding. I think this would be just perfect for him. This sounds so tasty. And would keep me busy in the kitchen.

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