I love when my kitchen is full of hot sugar and warm milk that turns into caramel pudding.
I love when my kitchen is full of new friends (see Jill, above) who aren’t shy about going in for a giant dollop of whipped cream on their caramel pudding.
My new friend Jill, from The Dish’s Dish is absolutely obsessed with caramel pudding. Browned and nutty cooked sugar meets whole milk and sea salt and whipped cream? Yes. Definitely obsession worthy.
I invited Jill over. I organized the simple ingredients in pretty bowls mostly so I could trick my new friend into thinking I’m super profesh… and…
we started cooking sugar. If you’ve got a new friend in the kitchen, might I suggest that you cook some sugar together? It’ll really set a happy tone for the rest of your friendship. Seriously. Bond over scalding hot sugar. It’s the best.
While the sugar cooked and browned, Jill and I patiently waited, and chatted about our mutual obsession with Mt Everest books and shows, laughed at how strange we are, and took pictures of the stove.
Once we whisked the cold milk into the hot sugar things got a little chunky… and tense. Our budding friendship was put to the test. Would the clumped up caramel dissolve? Would the milk not curdle? Oooh goodness. Jill whisked. I nervously took pictures of the electrical socket.
It worked. Everything worked. Friendship in tact. Pudding ready to be strained.
Individually wrapped caramel pudding ready to chill. We licked the spatula. We licked the bowl . It was totally the right thing to do.
Ooh! I forgot to mention Jill’s awesome boyfriend Taylor. He’s a dearheart. He filmed our caramel pudding making shenanigans. Thaaaat’s right! A little video called Bake Out with Jill and Joy…. coming soon.
But first… let’s just concentrate on the pudding…
and the whipped cream and sea salt that are about to top that pudding.
and my Mom who couldn’t resist a bowl.
and my new friend Jill who, come to find out, eats whipped cream and frozen M&Ms like… every night. Let’s just concentrate on those things while our little video is in the editing shop.
Just look at these two. Too beautiful to be true… but they are… true. It’s crazy.
Jill. Taylor. We’ve made caramel pudding. We have the video to prove it. We’re friends for life… or at last our bellies are. I’m totally coming over for whipped cream and frozen M&Ms. Trust that.
Stay tuned for Bake Out with Jill and Joy. Coming soon to… you.
Deb’s Caramel Pudding
serves 8 small servings or 4 caramel pudding lover servings
Sweet. Smooth. Will force you to forget about boring old chocolate or vanilla pudding for the rest of your days. Topped with coarse sea salt and whipped cream… you might think you’re Sherry Yard and your kitchen is Spago. You’re not Sherry Yard and your kitchen is not Spago… but for a moment… ooh yes… it will be.
4 cups whole milk
6 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
coarse sea salt and whipped cream for topping
In a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of the milk with the cornstarch, vanilla and salt until smooth. Set aside. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar with 6 tablespoons of water and bring to a boil. Cook over moderately high heat, undisturbed, until a deep amber caramel forms, about 8 minutes. Be sure not to stir the cooking sugar. If anything, feel free to swirl the pan around a bit. Be patient but watch the stove like a hawk as caramel changes color quickly. This is no time for multitasking. Just stand there and enjoy watching your caramel cook.
Remove from the heat. Very gradually whisk in the remaining 3 1/2 cups of milk. As you begin whisking it in, the caramel will get very dark and begin to seize with the cold milk. Not to worry… everything will work out.
Return the pot to the stove and whisk over moderate heat until the caramel has dissolved again. Once again, watch this closely as the milk will foam up quickly as it comes to a simmer. Simmer over moderately low heat until the mixture thickens just slightly and deepens in color, about 10 minutes.
Gradually whisk the cornstarch mixture into the caramel. Cook again over moderate heat, stirring, until the pudding thickens, about one minute. The pudding may look and feel pretty loose, but will thicken nicely when chilled in the fridge.
Strain the pudding fine strainer set over a large measuring cup; if you are, you can skip this and nothing terrible will happen. Scrape the pudding into eight 1/2-cup ramekins and refrigerate until chilled and set, about 2 hours.
To avoid a pudding skin press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of each pudding dish as it chills. Top with a generous sprinkle of coarse sea salt and a big ol’ dollop of whipped cream.
hannah @ thepastrykook
wow that’s a lot of sugar, sugar (:
iga@thedelishdish
making caramel is so satisfying…every time i make it im fascinated by how heat can completely transform the sugar into something so delicious! this pudding looks fantastic!
carly
that looks delicious! And is that your new kitchen? It’s beautiful!
Jen-
I need a sugar and pudding friend….FAST!
Kristan Roland
Is it wrong that I now can’t stop thinking about whipped cream and frozen M&M’s….??? Pudding looks great, I’m glad you’ve found a baking buddy!!!
joythebaker
it’s not wrong. i can’t stop thinking about whipped cream and frozen M&Ms either. breakfast!? yes. kinda awesome.
Adriana
that pudding looks sinfully delicious… so you already got jill cooking with you and her boyfriend filming… for the next video… what about you and simon baking together and someone else can record… Isn’t he the best cupcake decorator ever? and you are both adorable… can’t go wrong! :)
joythebaker
that might be adorable, Adriana…. if we still went out… but we don’t. thanks for having like… the best memory ever.
Adriana
ouch… i’m so sorry :(
well, we’ll wait for mr. perfect to come along and i’m sure it’ll be the perfect video!
Wei-Wei L
Mmm… that caramel pudding looks fabulous! I wish there were more pictures of your gorgeous self :)
I can’t wait to see the video! Got to be perfect preparation for that cooking show you’ll be hosting soon…
I can’t get over how much you make me smile. ;)
Wei-Wei
joythebaker
i’m usually the girl behind the camera, so pictures of me are hard to come by!
Estela @ Weekly Bite
This pudding sounds delicious!
What a fun day for you two! Can’t wait to see the video!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
Whipped cream and frozen M&Ms sounds delicious!! So does this pudding…yum.
Kay
Oh, I want to make it now. :) Pudding skin, hee hee, it makes me laugh.
Syndie
Pudding skin, I -love- chocolate pudding skin and now I have to make this so I can have caramel pudding skin!
mirjam
Looks yummie!
Love the handwriting in the third picture!
jcy
Perfect practice for that baking show you’re going to host. You know, the show where you win the hearts of millions with your charming personality and your beautiful baking conquests. I can’t wait. :)
My Delicious
it looks so delicious! I love it!
Joe @ Eden Kitchen
That looks like a whole lotta fun… I gotta find me a cooking buddy too!