Winter

Chocolate Stout Pudding

by:
February 21, 2011
4.4
5 Ratings
Photo by Bobbi Lin
  • Serves 4 to 5
Author Notes

This one’s for the chocoholics and is inspired by my Chocolate Stout Cake recipes here in the Food52 archives. —mrslarkin

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Mrslarkin lives in Pound Ridge, NY and is known for her scones which she sells at local farmers markets.
WHAT: A rich dark chocolate pudding that puts the store-bought version to shame.
HOW: On the stovetop, heat a mixture of cocoa powder, sugar, and espresso powder with cream and cornstarch. Add milk, Irish stout, and tempered egg yolks. When the mixture is thick, remove it from the heat and add even more chocolate.
WHY WE LOVE IT: You can never go wrong when pairing chocolate with more chocolate. Where this pudding exceeds the choco-norm is in the depth of flavor created by the addition of crisp, slightly bitter stout. Each bite hits the perfect balance between sweet and bitter -- the only drawback is waiting for it to cool. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar, divided
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch, sifted
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup skim milk
  • 1/2 cup Guinness stout
  • 4 large egg yolks (additional white bits removed with a spoon)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ounces good quality smooth dark chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
  • Whipped cream, to serve
Directions
  1. Combine cocoa, 2/3 cup sugar, sifted cornstarch, salt, and espresso powder in a bowl. Set aside.
  2. In a medium saucepan, heat the cream on medium-low until just steaming.
  3. Stir in the cocoa mixture and continue stirring until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes.
  4. Add milk and stout to the cocoa/cream mixture. Increase heat to medium. Cook until good and hot.
  5. While liquid is heating, in a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, the remaining tablespoon sugar, and vanilla. Place a damp paper towel under your egg yolk bowl so it doesn't slip around the counter as you whisk.
  6. When cocoa/cream mixture is hot, take about a cupful and drizzle it into the egg mixture while whisking the eggs like mad. This is called tempering the eggs, so you don't end up with scrambled eggs, which would be yucky in your pudding. Here's where the damp paper towel trick comes in handy.
  7. Pour the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan to join the pudding party. With the heat still at medium, stir continuously until really thick and pudding-y, about 10 minutes. Small bubbles are okay, but you don't want it to boil, so adjust the heat if necessary.
  8. Move the saucepan off the heat. Stir in the chocolate pieces until melted. Stir in the butter.
  9. Let cool and pour into small ramekins covered with plastic wrap, if desired. Chill for a few hours or serve slightly warm with whipped cream.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • AntoniaJames
    AntoniaJames
  • FrugalCat
    FrugalCat
  • Shelley  Tucker
    Shelley Tucker
  • mrslarkin
    mrslarkin
  • fiveandspice
    fiveandspice

37 Reviews

AntoniaJames April 3, 2022
Excellent. One of the best chocolate puddings I’ve ever made, or tasted. A keeper, to be sure. ;o)
 
FrugalCat February 11, 2021
I made it with raspberry lambic (Lindemann's Framboise) for a superb chocolate raspberry flavor.
 
Barbara November 1, 2020
This is by far the BEST pudding ever. I have made it several times. I do sift the cocoa powder to avoid any graininess. Absolutely wonderful. !
 
Barbara November 1, 2020
This is by far the BEST pudding ever. I have made it several times. I do sift the cocoa powder to avoid any graininess. Absolutely wonderful.
 
Shelley T. December 23, 2016
I never buy skim milk. Can I use whole milk instead?
 
mrslarkin December 23, 2016
Sure!
 
mrslarkin January 30, 2015
Thanks so much, you guys!
 
fiveandspice January 29, 2015
Ohhhhh yes. I'm with HLA. But no lest, involved. I will eat the entire batch.
 
Dina M. January 28, 2015
This looks delish! The chocolate stout cake is a favorite in this house, and Pots de Creme is my personal favorite dessert--can't wait to try this! Congrats!
 
drbabs January 28, 2015
Congratulations!
 
cookinginvictoria January 28, 2015
Congratulations, mrslarkin! Stout makes everything better, doesn't it? Excited to try this recipe. :)
 
hardlikearmour January 28, 2015
Congratulations! I'm truly afraid to make this recipe, lest I eat the entire batch...
 
aargersi January 28, 2015
I just cain't quit you Chocolate Stout Pudding
 
mrslarkin January 28, 2015
:) Me neither. ( thanks Abbie!)
 
aargersi December 11, 2012
I truly madly deeply love this pudding and now I am pretty sure I am going to have to make another batch ... it's been a few months since I made it last (I have made it several times!)
 
mrslarkin December 11, 2012
thanks a! Yep, I think it's high time for me, too.
 
ody March 14, 2011
Made this yesterday, and it was wonderful! Nice and thick, silky-smooth, deep chocolate flavor. We served it with raspberries on top, and the combination was great.
 
mrslarkin March 14, 2011
That's so great to hear, ody! The raspberries on top sound really good, too.
 
checker March 4, 2011
I have been eyeing this longingly. It will be made soon.
 
mrslarkin March 4, 2011
yay! i hope you like it, checker.
 
Aliwaks February 22, 2011
YUM! I could have a theme night make this with my Chocolate stout sauced steak and then drink the rest
 
mrslarkin February 22, 2011
OMG yes!
 
Sagegreen February 22, 2011
This is a heady pudding: Yum!
 
mrslarkin February 22, 2011
Thanks Sagegreen!!
 
Sagegreen February 23, 2011
I just spied a double chocolate stout which I can imagine here, if only I were not reforming my diet for a healthy stretch!
 
mrslarkin February 23, 2011
Good girl! But there's always tomorrow, just in case.... Hopefully next week's theme will be something more virtuous. Like celery. Or iceberg lettuce. ;)
 
thirschfeld February 21, 2011
I am really liking this idea, but I am pretty sure I am going to have to tweak the beer amount to a 6 pack, drink 5 1/2 while and give up the remaining half to the pudding. Looks great.
 
mrslarkin February 21, 2011
Thanks, thirschfeld. Tweaking would be good here.
 
testkitchenette February 21, 2011
I like your thinking, thirschfeld!
 
Midge February 21, 2011
I agree, chocolate and stout are a killer combo and it looks like you've perfected it in pudding form.
 
mrslarkin February 21, 2011
Thanks Midge!!
 
kmartinelli February 21, 2011
Love! Beer and chocolate - what could be bad?
 
mrslarkin February 21, 2011
Thanks! It's pretty darn delicious!!