So there’s this thing about me.
I really really don’t like making Halloween treats. Tombstone cupcakes. Spider web cookies. Witch finger snacks. Please… just please. I can’t get into it. I don’t want things to look dead, or bugged, or dismembered.
I want things to look sweet and chocolatey and dripping with caramel… and not blood-colored caramel. Please!
I feel like I should come clean now, before you expect some sort of zombie cake.
Oh. Also… I don’t really have time to make tombstone cupcakes. I’m dedicating most of my time to planning my super slutty panda bear costume.
I’m kidding.
…. I’m so so kidding.
Right?
I have a wonderfully exciting, secret ingredient in this Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding. It’s Black Onyx Cocoa Powder. See how black it is!? Especially compared to the regular cocoa powder hanging out in the back. See!? Intense.
Let me tell you a little about this cocoa powder.
Black Onyx Cocoa Powder has been alkalized to the max. That means that it’s acids have been super neutralized. If you’re using this cocoa powder in a recipe, you’ll probably want to pair it with baking powder, as it doesn’t have the acid to react with the baking soda.
Still with me?
This cocoa powder has less fat than regular (lighter) cocoa powder, so it may produce a more dry end product. It’s been suggested that you use half black cocoa and half regular cocoa. Black cocoa powder is an intense chocolate flavor. It smells like crushed up Oreo cookies. It makes cookies, puddings and cakes as dark as midnight! I’m so into it. It’s perfect in this pudding because there’s no worry of over drying.
Black Onyx Cocoa Powder is an awesome way for be to act Halloween-y without making slutty witch fingers.
I love this pudding recipe because it’s thickened by both egg yolks and cornstarch. The yolks provide a nice richness while the cornstarch is a no fail thickener.
Look how luscious!
Wait… is luscious an awkward word?
A little.
It’s like art… but it’s just a dirty dish.
See that orange flower back there? That was my attempt at festivity.
Please say you’re proud of me or something.
Oh hey! One more thing. In case you’re thinking of dressing up as the slutty version of a random something this Halloween, can I please please please suggest that you NOT DO THAT!?
I might have to write a whole blog post about that.
Let’s just stick to pudding for now.
This pudding is rich, dark, unapologetic. It’s chocolate right in your face!
Of course you can make this recipe using regular cocoa and not the fancy Black Onyx… but, hey! Try a little darkness. It’s the season.
Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding
makes 4 servings
adapted from Tyler Florence
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (just 1/2 cup sugar if using regular cocoa powder)
1/3 cup black onyx cocoa powder
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean
1 cup heavy cream
2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 vanilla bean
pinch of salt
Place 2 cups milk in a medium saucepan with sugar and cocoa powder. Heat over medium heat until steaming and warm. You don’t necessarily have to boil the mixture, just heat it up and whisk it together.
In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining 1/2 cup milk, cornstarch, salt, egg yolks, and vanilla extract. Drizzle about half of the steaming hot chocolate milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. This will temper the eggs, making them a bit warm before they’re cooked over a flame. Return all of the chocolate, milk, egg mixture back to the saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking nearly constantly. Make sure the get into the corners of the pan where the pudding might stick and overcook.
When pudding starts to boil, continue to whisk and boil for about 2 to 3 minutes. Pudding will thicken. Remove from heat and spoon into 4 ramekins or jars. Cover with plastic wrap (on the surface of the pudding if you want to avoid pudding skin). Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
For the whipped cream, whip together heavy cream, sugar, vanilla bean, and a pinch of salt. Dollop over cold pudding and serve.
Lisa F.
Just found the BlackOnyx Chocolate at Savoy spice shop and am tooo exvited to begin! This was a perfect beginner syle way for me to use it without worrying over the acids and lack thereof as in using it in baked goods… Thanks for this recipe, my next attempt will be a chocolate walnut pie with my new found secret stash of Black Onyx!!
joythebaker
I’m so happy you found it!
Beverley veal
Just ordered some retro mason jars with handles so will defo do the chocolate pud
Jeanne
Oh man! I just saw this…and Halloween night I also made special dark chocolate pudding, sweetened with maple syrup instead of sugar. Such a wonderful treat after suffering all day at work as a beauty queen. I was Miss Adventure, and was joined by coworkers Miss Behaved, Miss Fortune and Miss Matched. The pudding was well deserved! Thanks for validating my need for that luscious treat!
EJ
Thank you for teaching us how to avoid pudding skins, Joy.
My pudding is in the refrigerator. I’m thinking of freezing some of it in my popsicle mold just to see what happens.
Jenn
Hahaha! The slutty panda bear costume?!! Miley must have copied your idea. I am so trying this choco pudding recipe for my book club dinner party next week. Love your writing and recipes. :)
Erica
Do you need cornstarch for this recipe? Or can I substitute something else?
Jen
Fell in love with this pudding the day you posted the recipe. Now my husband gave me not one, but two (!) containers of block cocoa for Christmas. I’m so making this tonight!
And I just want to add: your blog makes me so happy. Thank you for doing what you do and being who you are.
tara
Made this for Thanksgiving dessert (right down to the adorable Kerr jars), and people were *speechless*… literally just mmms and ughs of the best kind. Decadent deliciousness, and a few left over for the cook. Also made the salted caramel cheesecake, with similar reviews! (Heart) you Joy the Baker!
Peetu
Ahh, the joys of random internet search and stumbling on a fantastic blog! Love your posts..
erin
ok…… this looks out of this world. such a great post !! if i wasn’t so lazy i would make this tonight :)
Stephanie
I think I am going to have to use my small canning jars for pudding & jello. I bet it would be better than the little plastic bowls I typically use. I also feel like making layered jello in those jars now too with home made whipped cream. It’s midnight…..I should be in bed.
Carren
Such a fun post! I love the description “rich, dark, unapologetic.” :) Definitely season appropriate!
Hanna
looks really good (as always), but how long time does it take to make it?
joythebaker
about 30 minutes to make and 4 hours in the fridge to cool.
Rachel - A Cup of Flour
Yum! Pudding!
I love eating hot chocolate pudding with vanilla ice cream. So good.
I don’t think they have the black cocoa powder here in Japan (only tiny bags of regular cocoa), but I’m going to have to make this none-the-less.
And I like your orange flower. Very festive.
jessanna
I HATE the Halloween morbidness, in every aspect, but in food, its just plain upchuck in my throat. Just saying… I’m so glad you don’t do those kinds baking.. makes me love you all the more (an not avoid your blog during halloween season:0) x0
Cheap Recipe Blog
I’m totally making this tonight – and I happen to have black cocoa on hand. Thanks!
Mack
You made chocolate pudding look amazing!! Mad skills!
Ashlee
totally proud!
Tora
Looks outrageous. Delicious. Thank you, Joy!
Rach
If I say I’m proud of you for the flower, do I get to eat out of a mason jar?? I promise not to dress as a slutty anything!
The Starving Student
Chocolate pudding made from scratch is the best! Good-bye Jello pudding cups!
Gary
We’re working with Hotel Chocolat at uni to produce some chocolates. I’ve come across this cocoa powder, but never had the opportunity to use it. Hopefully, this’ll be my chance. x
Alyssa Goodnight
That looks so decadently delicious!
kellybeth
I’m proud of you.
Lisa
yummi yummi yummi i goot love in my tummy :D
Ruchika Agrawal
I am already drooling… cant wait to try this out.. super interesting!!
Patty H.
I am proud of you! These look wonderfully decadent, and this is the first I’ve heard of the Black Onyx Cocoa powder…pretty cool. Love this post – – it had me crackin’ up, and wanting chocolate pudding……
Run Fast Travel Slow
I’m not a huge pudding person… but I love your photos — the pudding looks awesome in those Ball jars!
jillian
Oooh, I was kind of maybe craving pudding the other day–and the kind in my mind was brown, but wow, the black stuff looks fabulous…the darker the better, when it comes to all things chocolate, right? And I love the mason jars, yes I do, well done!
homegrown countrygirl
I’ve been using this dark cocoa to make hot chocolate… it’s so smooth tasting! I didn’t know anything about it. I just bought it because it reminded me of dark chocolate. Thanks for teaching about it! (Also, I love your dirty dish art!)
Tanvi @ The Hathi Cooks
I can’t get over how amazingly dark that cocoa powder is! So cool!
Stefanie Kraloveski
Your dirty dish art reminded me of the artist Vik Muniz. He actually made the “Last Supper” out of chocolate sauce!
lynsimarie
Joy, I am proud of you. For your festivity, of course, but more for your stance on slutty costumes. Yay for dignity and self-respect!
Also, I just realized I haven’t eaten yet today, and I must have this pudding. NOW. I need the delicious.
Ambrosia
Holy. Cow. I must make!!!
Michelle Sexton
I really have to try this. this looks awesome.
Silvie
Just found your blog via Olivia of Everyday Musings. :)
Gosh you made me laugh so hard!! Following you from this instant! :)
*
Nicole
Well… this is awkward.
Er.
Well, I was…
Let me explain.
No, just say it.
Okay. Kay.
This is embarrassing. Full disclosure.
…I was a slutty panda bear last halloween.
Jenni
Oh, that looks awesome! I’ve been wanting to get some really good cocoa powder, I might have to spring for that!
I completely agree about the sexy constumes. It’s gross, I don’t understand it. The other day I saw a “sexy banana”….Um, really?
joythebaker
not ok.
Lucia
I love darkness. Night skies and bright stars. But then it’s not darkness. Well, let’s say that stars are like whipped cream on chocolate puddings ;-)
Jennefer
OMG!My favoritethings!
Cupcake Kat
I love Halloween but I don’t love the slutty costumes some choose to wear. This pudding looks so insanely good
Charis
It’s dark and beautiful! I have to try it.
Now if only i knew where to find this black cocoa!!
Mama Maria
Joy,
I am so freaking proud of you!
Where can we purchase black onyx cocoa powder?
I’m soooo looking forward to the post on slutty costumes! ha ha ha ha. :D
betty
it just looks delicious, I don’t mind to eat the whole jar…. or two
Becca
Oh my goodness gracious! That pudding looks so good right now; so thick and creamy, YUM! I’ve never heard of Onyx cocoa powder before, but now I want to know where I can get some. And I vote for dressing up in a full on panda suit if you’re going to be a panda for Halloween :)
Esther
slutty panda. ha! i actually wouldn’t be mad if someone did that because at least it’s original. and hilarious.
this looks ridiculously indulgent. love.
Kimberly
I tried to check out this post while I was at work but I couldn’t see any of the photos. Let me just say…
They were worth the wait.
Dang.
Amanda V
Yumm!! This is a lovely Halloween treat! I don’t like Halloween baking very much either; fake blood, spider web? No thanks.
Karen
@ Kristin
I teach as well and I always make my costume for the kiddies, no use in buying something that the kids might cover in cake and juice! However this year I think I’d like to be covered in black onyx pudding….I smell a cooking project in my school kitchen!
Kristin
So with you on the slutty costume thing. I teach at an elementary school and was hoping to update my rather lame rotation of costumes, but everything is either over $100 or super slutty, or both!
That pudding looks divine. I am developing quite a baking reputation at work and 90% of what I make is from your site. THANKS!
Lexi
Joy, I’m proud of you. Now that I said that….I want that black onyx cocoa powder…I WANT IT!!!! I’m totes with you on the creepy food. I’ve never been able to put it in my mouth. It just makes the appetizing completely unappetizing. I don’t actually make anything for my blog for halloween because I just don’t want to make food look unappetizing on purpose. It’s just not my thing. I’m so glad there’s someone else in the world who feels the same!
Jackie Grandy
OK, my mouth is watering. Totally going to make that! Yum!!
tracie
I’m so making this. soon. last night at the halloween store we saw high school girls trying on slutty strawberry shortcake costumes. Slutty Strawberry Shortcake! So so wrong!
Deena@StayAtHomeFOODIE
I am totally in LOVE with these. If I didn’t have a texture thing with pudding, I would make them tonight! But that said, these are going to have a place at our Halloween Party. Amazing looking. And I LOVE the mason jars.
Ellen
I need to get a hold of that cocoa powder. If anything for the goth girl in me that embraces all that is dark. Except for gross-out Halloween treats. I agree with you on that one.
Nur
And what can we use as a substitute, apart from regular cocoa,
to use for the black onyx if it isn’t available in our area?
StephanieK
Remember that scene in Mean Girls when she says Halloween is just an excuse for girls to dress all slutty or wear lingerie in public? This totally made me think of that. And the flower made my day. I love your attempt at festivity.
Jen
Love the Kerr jars! Making this for our pumpkin carving night…that’s about as crazy as we get for Halloween! And, thank you for the encouragement to not dress in slutty costumes…saw one the other day that made me gag…sexy teacher costume…really?!
Nancy
The jars are great, especially since you left enough room for the whipped cream! Sometimes when we mix the black and regular cocoa in frosting we get strange darker spots in it too. Still tastes good. Thanks for the great postings.
Katherine Marie
I’m proud of you or something
jen @ the baked life
Why is it that almost ALL women wear a slutty version of anything? I’m planning on going as a crazy cat lady, not the whore version, just the more-crazy-than-normal version.
This pudding/cocoa powder needs to be in my life. Anything called black onyx that involves chocolate sounds intriguing……
Amanda Leigh
Jen, you made my day with your “not the whore version” comment. I’m actually glad I wasn’t drinking something or my monitor might need a wipe-down. I’m totally with you on not understanding the slutty costume craze. Love you costume idea too. :-)
Gen
Oh my Gosh that looks absolutely delicious! Perfect for a chocoholic like me!
caitlin
so, a few years ago I was party to a conversation that went something like “how far can we push this whole halloween costumes for women must be ‘sexy’ thing?…” i think we ended up at “sexy ketchup bottle” (which I almost want to do, just to make the point of how absurd the whole thing is) but I think this trumps them all:
http://ratsoff.com/post/1420720874/a-sexy-halloween-costume-you-may-not-have
Mostly, as a resident of Wisconsin, I don’t understand why anyone wants to be running around in so little clothing at the end of October, all self-respect aside.
And A+ on that pudding, it looks amazing.
Meagan
I’m sooo glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t like dead-looking desserts Ew! I also don’t like foods that look like other foods(example a hamburger cupcake) I want my cupcake to look like a cupcake :)
sarah
Dear Joy,
This is a perfect blog post.
Also. Please write a post on slutty costumes.
Thank you for being awesome.
Love, Sarah
tom@morethanpepper
The jars are the icing on this cake
Carissa
I have a this stuff that’s labeled “jet black cocoa powder.” It’s the same color as the Black Onyx. I wonder what the difference is, if there is one. I should probably google that, but maybe you know! Either way, I love using it in brownies to make them super chocolatey.
Jeannean
This divine chocolate pudding would go great with my slutty costume. Brown leggings, brown turtle neck and a burlap coffee bag with holes for my head and arms. I am a bag of coffee. Am trying to figure out how to attach a coffee mug to my head. And that is as slutty as I get!!!!! But instead of a coffee pot I wll carry this pudding as my accessory!
MatthewR
Please tell me where you got those glasses. Or are they just repurposed sauce jars? I just moved, and ditched my old, cheap Target glasses, and I’m looking for something nice. Thanks! Oh and the recipe is killer, (as usual).
Mara @ Elemental Custard
AH! Finally someone who agrees with me about trashy female costumes! In previous years I have dressed up as an un-sexy leprachaun, and jelly fish. I like to make a point of NOT dressing like everyone else. I am considering making a Ms. Frizzle costume this year… Hmmmm.
Also- love chocolate pudding. I used to make the store bought box stuff on the regular as a child. This would be OH SO much better!
foodies at home
LOL This post cracked me up!! PLEASE PLEASE write a post about random slutty costumes! PLEASE!!!
P.S. Very proud of your orange flower and this delish looking pudding!
what katie's baking
luscious is totally an awkward word, but i’d describe this as luscious. it looks so good!
i’m so glad you said that slutty Halloween costumes are STUPID. i hate them!!!
Jessica @ The Desert Abode
Agreed. This is luscious pudding!
Amanda (onceuponarecipe)
I totally have a hate-on for slutty Halloween costumes too. I mean, seriously?! Where on earth has all of the self-respect gone? What ever happened to dressing up like a dice by painting a huge box white with black dots and sticking your head and arms inside it? Or being a clown? Or a fully-dressed witch? Gah…I feel like I could go on forever about this issue!
Emilie
Ok, I am so glad about this recipe, I can’t even tell you how much! I’ve been really needing a home-made-not-from-the-box chocolate pudding recipe. And this is just like sent from heaven! Thank you. As soon as the giant ginger cookies in my house have disappeared, I’m making this (ok, I’m probably going to make it before that)
Your design is great… but are the pudding cups resting on a crocodile or giant green snake?? Awesome!
Amie
Umm, YUMM!!
And I don’t plan on being “slutty ____” anymore for Halloween. Instead I am upping my geekiness. Last year I was Princess Leia, this year I am R2D2, next year, probably Robin, Wonder Woman or Black Widow….
Meredith
HA! Slutty witch fingers. Joy…you are a joy!
Stephanie
Luscious is totally appropriate here…. it’s all about context. For instance, if you used it to describe your halloween costume… that would be awkward. Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding… completely appropriate.
Moriah
first of all……THANK YOU for publicly lambasting the slutty halloween costume craze. I find myself incredibly puzzled by how people are able to turn strawberry shortcake or raggedy ann into a slutty adult version. crazy. mind-boggling. anyway, I am going to make this recipe TODAY. I have never posted on your site….but let it be known that I have tried at least a bazillion of your recipes……and I am usually consuming bourbon while doing it. yep. it’s one of my vices. thank you for your blog. it always brightens my day!
joythebaker
i love you i do!
Kym
I agree…. a whole post on the trashy female costumes is a MUST!! I loved the whole post and can’t wait to try the pudding. Thanks!
Kristine
King Arthur actually sells something called Black Cocoa Powder- darker than their Extra-Dark that someone else had mentioned here…it’s the same as this recipe’s Black Onyx. Love it- been using it for years and a little goes a long, long way. People are always amazed at how dark my chocolate treats look… I kind of hate to see it mentioned here….it’s been my secret ingredient (makes the most amazing deep, dark chocolate cupcakes- like a bakery). People always try to replicate my recipes using the Hershey’s Special Dark- and there is no comparison. Hershey’s Special Dark is brown…. not jet black like an Oreo. Black cocoa powder is the only cocoa that will achieve that. It’s also very hard to find- the only place I’ve ever been able to get it is King Arthur and then more recently through the company that she links in the recipe. Use it- you won’t be sorry….just don’t come clean with what it is that you are using- keep it a secret and you’ll amaze everyone.
Lynn @ I'll Have What She's Having
I love this! Do you know of any online stores that sell Black Onyx cocoa powder? I’ve never seen it. I would have bought it.
joythebaker
follow the link up top!
World of Sass
Ok, so I feel you on the dumbness of generic slutty Halloween costumes, but…shouldn’t women be able to wear whatever the hell they want? All the time? (Within the normal rules of propriety, which definitely don’t apply on Halloween.) For me, the main sticking point is the lack of imagination some people take in buying a slutty Halloween outfit. Out of a bag? For $36? Because you couldn’t just throw something together yourself to look slutty if that’s what you wanted? Lame.
DessertForTwo
AMEN to the no-slutty-halloween-costume rant!
My halloween costume is gonna be a shirt that says “NOT A SLUT.” The back will say “seriously.”
I’ve been trying to find black cocoa powder, where did you score it?
Kara
I love the word luscious! :) And these look delicious!
VA DE PAN
Looks so tasty!!!!!!
Maureen
Chocolate pudding…the ultimate on my comfort food list. Looks so inviting!
Maureen
Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen
Thank you Joy from the bottom of my dark chocolate loving heart. Even darker cocoa powder. I’m going to get right on this! (PS…slutty panda totally cracked me up.)
Rachael B
I’m right with you on the gory foods. The closest I’ve ever gone are gummy worms coming out of cupcakes donned with crushed oreo cookies. I love love love the extreme blackness. I wonder if I could substitute that cocoa powder when making cupcakes and make black velvet cupcakes? Is that possible? Off to find this cocoa powder, I’ll report back later on the success (or not) on the cupcakes.
Ammy
It looks just great! I think the taste too! Do you know how many calories in this dainty?
jess
Totally with you — who wants to eat things that look dead or bleeding or dis-membered?? YUCK. Go for the sweet looking chocolatey goodness :)
SamCyn
I can’t WAIT to try this!!!! ;-)
slaing
Im going as Gluten (slutty AND gold) for Halloween, seeing as it seems to be the scariest ingredient out there right now..
Love your blog joy, everything you make I want to make!
xx
Oh Sweet Escape
sexy panda costume…hilarious! i don’t know get how girls try to find the sluttiest costumes to wear on halloween. why oh why…
Anne
I… I don’t know you but I’m so proud of you. Sniffle.
Gerri Reid-Powell
I absolutely love your post. I especially loved your comment about making Halloween treat and tombstone cupcakes. I agree that around this time of year, treats and goodies can get a bit scary! Will you be posting a pick of your slutty panda costume??? HA HA HA!
Spring
Totally proud of you for the festive orange flower. Love the contrast! :)
Julie
Oh shut up. This is like the ultimate hot chocolate – so thick you have to spoon it! Thanks for sharing!
Sincerely Jill
This looks amazing! I’m down for a cookie in a non-gory shape, but I’m with you…. fingers and eyeballs and such… it’s just not something I want to eat.
Lois Lightweight
Joy, What are we going to do with you,I could not stop giggling over the Super Slutty Panda
Bear costume you are not going to were remark. You have such a way with words, love it , And I am
looking forward to making this Delicious Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding Yum Yum Yum, I for
one Enjoy Halloween the scarey movies,not the slasher one’s they are to over the top for me. And of
course any thing with CHOCOLATE it just complets me, Looking forward to your next blog, take Care.
sarah
haha, I think sexy big bird has to be the worst “sexy” costume I’ve seen. What happened to scary, or cute, or just interesting costumes? I might, however, have to make pudding AND witch fingers; delicious and festive :)
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
Chocolate right in ma face! This looks divine. Luscious. Nope, not an awkward word (at least that’s what I keep telling myself) ;)
Susan (Oliepants)
Okay two things: 1. I’m so happy you informed me about Black Onyx cocoa – I really love that I learned something new today about cocoa (I wish everyday were like that). 2. I could just jump into that whipped cream right now. That sounds creepy I know.
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
Haha. I’m laughing because I feel the same way…
Gwyn M
That looks divine!!!
Maya
That looks amazing. And I am totally with you on the slutty costumes. I usually try to be something extremely unattractive so as to balance out all the slutty/hot costumes.
Jen K.
Joy! YES! Spot on for creepy food and trashy female costumes!! Please oh PLEASE write a whole blog post (or series of posts…) about skanky versions of animals or professions (read: nurse, French house maid, etc) as female Halloween costumes. Please!
PS: If you really want to get fired up for said skanky-versions-of-normally-innocuous-things-as-costumes post, watch this clip on a movie that’s coming/just came out on the media’s role in these kinds of things: http://vimeo.com/28066212
Laura Adams
Ya know, I’m not really a fan of Halloween treats either. They’re so ugly! I like to make pretty treats for people to gawk at. And witch fingers just look gross!
I agree. No slutty costumes. Modesty is the best trick in the book to get a guy wonderin what’s underneath. My husband expresses to me all the time that he loves the way my clothes fit on me. Plus, why put yourself on display when some of the creepiest people are all out on one night?
Erin @ A Nesting Experience
These look so delicious. I love how dark the cocoa looks. Yum. Great recipe!
Sara
I love the look of these–the almost black-and-white contrast between the pudding and lovely clouds of white! I dry extra-dark cocoa powder from King Arthur and love it…I didn’t realize there was something beyond even that! Love the idea to use cornstarch AND eggs.
Jessica W
Slutty panda costume. bahahaha. This looks tasty and I’ve been craving some pudding. Now to find that black onyx cocoa powder!
bridge
Cripes! Now I wish I had pudding for breakfast! And luscious is totally a word best used to describe this. Might I also point out that the pudding with whipped cream would totally match a panda costume. You have to–HAVE TO–share your costume!
Lauren
Joy! Totally noticed you did a side shot today – nice work! The pud looks super yum. No-go on the sexy costumes. My husband and I were Mario and Luigi a couple years ago and I was the most UNsexy Mario you have ever seen. We were at a concert that night and ran into several super sexy Mario and Luigis but I was still digging my oversized Dickie overalls, heavy boots and mustache.
CobyLyn
Haha! I just read about that slutty pumpkin costume yesterday. Redunkulous! I admit I am making Monster Mash for the kids for Halloween, send me your address and I’ll send you a bag, it’s not gory, I promise, it’s cute, no bloody red whatsoever. BTW – Love that you finger up the pan left overs haha! Makes for some seriously artsy pan shots :D
*hugs*
Sarah D
This would be great to serve to friends, love the mason jars. Do you think Hershey’s special dark cocoa powder would get a similar color? It’s not as fancy, but it makes pretty dark cake and frosting.
Liz
Oh my goodness. I am going to have to find me some of that black cocoa powder! It makes the other stuff look totally lame. And good job on the orange flower – it’s one step closer than I am to making my house festive. :)
thescousewife
This dark and luscious (yes, it’s a good word!) cocoa powder is something that I need. Yes. Indeed. As for Halloween treats, we have 2 young boys (7 and 4) and they love for me to make strange Halloween foods. I’ve made Mummy Dogs, Ghosts (piles of mashed potatoes with peas for eyes) and this year I made them a snake — bananas covered in ganache, candies for scales and a fruit roll-up piece for a tongue. Nothing gory. Just silly and fun.
sherri lynn @ life of a wife
Now this is a Halloween treat I can get into! I also hate bloody and dismembered food. who wants to eat that?! Homemade pudding is sooo much better than the box and I could totally get into the midnight black.
kelley
Chocolate pudding + whipped cream is one of worlds greatest (and simplest) pleasures. The dark cocoa is especially beautiful in this pudding. Can’t wait to try it.
Robyn {Planet Byn}
you can’t trick me joy! you have a skeleton in your closet…because i know there is a halloween post in the archives with blood & bones!
Clara
Wow! I’ve never even heard of this stuff. Where did you buy it Joy?
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking
I’d love to see a slutty panda bear costume lol, can’t picture it in my head. I think it’s because I can’t get this pudding out of my mind!! Delicioso! I don’t know, I’m not even Italian. I was overtaken by the moment. ;-)
Julie @SavvyEats
I don’t want to eat any gross or creepy treats, either. Halloween treats that look like pumpkins or candy corn, on the other hand? That I can get behind.
And, typo alert!
” If you’re using this cocoa powder in a recipe, you’ll probably want to pair it with baking soda, as it doesn’t have the acid to react with the baking soda.” –> I think you meant to say you want to pair it with baking powder, not soda.
katie licht
i can’t deal with halloween themed treats either. but this pudding looks just right.
“sexy” costumes are so awful. one year I thought maybe I’d dress as a “sexy gorilla”: buy a full on gorilla suit, mask and all, and then wear a bikini over it. because that’s hilarious, right?
Brittany
I’m dressing up as Professor Snape. ie: covered in material head to toe and swapping my strawberry-blonde locks for greasy black. Will. Not. Disobey. Joythebaker.
Clair
This is so so beautiful. I love dark cocoa powder, but this is by far the darkest I’ve ever seen.
And I hate the pressure to do slutty costumes…especially as it’s COLD up here in Boston! The bf and I have decided to do Calvin and Hobbes this year and I’m going to be so comfy in my t-shirt and sneaks.
Cadence
You know…I actually think I saw a “slutty banana” costume, though how you can make a banana slutty is beyond me. Still…this pudding looks amazingly delicious!
Kim of Mo'Betta
I was so proud of myself last year for making awesomely gruesome witches fingers. I thought the kids would love them, turns out, they won’t eat anything that looks like green gnarly fingers with bloody fingernails. Go figure ;)
Sally
This looks like the perfect PMS pudding!
Mini
Oh my goooood these puddings look SO good…
I usually use this darf cocoa powder because if its stronger taste, I like that! It is much richer than the other.
And, with those Halloweenstuff…. I am with you, why should we make tasty food look dreadful and gross although we´re still going to eat it?! Weird.
You are right, your dirty dish really looks like art, very beautiful =D
Shelly (Kaye Syrah)
Sigh inducing, luscious, (not in an awkward way at all), pudding, jealous that onyx cocoa powder cannot be found where I live, and grateful that there was no posting of a slutty panda costume. Thanks for the laugh.
Abby
ooooo where can I find Onyx cocoa powder?
Heather (Heather's Dish)
i want that onyx cocoa powder so bad now! i don’t always love making halloween-y type stuff either…but i’ll eat this pudding any day!
lauren
this looks so yummy! i didn’t know they made cocoa powder as rich and dark like that! i thought they were only confined to the standard lighter color… the things i learn on this site, i’ll tell ya. thanks for another funny start to my day, and i’ll be sure to make this for my roomies! :)
Lissi
WOW! Black Onyx Cocoa Powder looks like the cocoa I’ve dreamed of since I was little! Thanks for letting me know about it, Joy!
Ami @ parsnipsandpears
must try! Why does anything in a cute mason jar always make my bookmark list ??!
Now if you will excuse me, I am off to work on my slutty elmo costume ;)
Pamela
didn’t read previous comments, but am with you re: this halloween garbage.
So NOT into it-can’t believe people still do this with their kids. I think they themselves want candy…
LOVE the black onyx cocoa and your recipe. I think that will be a treat for my hubby and I this weekend! Thanks, Joy!
Edel
This looks delicious. I cannot wait to try it. It’s the perfect chocolatey dessert xxx
chefroommate
Dude, I’m gonna be Gloria Steinem for Halloween. Fear me and my aviator sunglasses, slutty pandas. (At least be a red panda, they are way cuter.)
Lauren | Have Fork Will Eat
This was not the best post to read first thing in the morning. So hungry….for chocolate pudding! Also I’d never heard of black onyx cocoa powder before. Gonna have to get some and try it out. Thanks!
Kim (at www.loveumadly.com)
I just bought 2 cases of jars to make rainbow cake on (recipe on loveumadly), and I was looking for a more grown-up dessert in a jar. This is perfect. I vow not to dress slutty on Halloween. Now what should I wear? Slutty doctor, slutty cop, and slutty bumble bee were my only ideas. :)
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
This pudding does sound amazing! Rich chocolate= heaven!
Nettie Moore
Joy,
This is wonderfully perfect. I want to try the onyx cocoa powder.You are hysterical!
Nettie
Sasha
Did you mean to say that black cocoa should be paired with baking powder, not baking soda? Because you said baking soda twice and, well, that is exactly the kind of mistake I would make. :)
I’ve been thinking about making pudding lately, and now I am thinking about making your delicious Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding!
joythebaker
yes. thank you so much sasha!
Sue/the view from great island
I am so excited about the onyx cocoa powder—I hope I can find some!
Katerina
Ha ha! You’re definitely not the only anti-slutty out there. Here is the whole truth in a funny sketch http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemmacorrell/6240765065/in/photostream !
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles
I’m soooo glad that I’m not the only one! In fact, I really don’t like Halloween at all. nope not even one little bit. Yep, I said it. Oh well……. That being said, I would totally make this though!
Mags
I’ve always been sort of on the fence about Halloween things that look zombie-ish and even at this point I have no idea how I feel. But I think either way you can’t really go wrong with classy, and I think you can call any pudding with black onyx cocoa powder classy.
Shushmi
Once again I find myself nodding in agreement as I read your post! What’s with halloween being an excuse to dress sluttily – slut-Vampire, slut-witch, slut-nurse etc. I don’t get it! dressing up is yaaay but dressing like a sleazy-lady…a lot less yaay.
That black onyx cocoa looks amazing! i hope i can get some in the UK! :)
Cathy
I agree with the blood and guts decor of food being off-putting. But the really most horrible and so disgusting food presentation I ever saw (and refused to eat) was a Kitty Litter Box Cake. It was something like a Dirt Cake that was so popular at office pot luck parties some years ago. The Dirt Cake had gummy worms crawling through it, not so bad, but the KLB had Tootsie Rolls on top and half burried in it. When I got to the food table and saw the card in front of it, I almost threw up. It took me a while to pull myself together, before I couold go back for my lunch.
I love the idea of the black cocoa pudding. It looks stunningly delish.
Julie
I am so glad that I’m not the only one that dislikes those things about Halloween as well! My peeve is decorating the yard with disemboweled organs and graveyard scenes.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Mmm this sounds lovely! And the black is great for Halloween!
modcolumbian
What a great recipe – I can’t wait to try it!
modcolumbian.blogspot.com
Kathryn
I’m proud of you Joy. I love the colour of these, they look so rich and decadent. The acceptable side of Halloween desserts!
bakingaddict
This looks amazing! I wonder where I can get some black onyx cocoa poweder – i’ve never seen it before.
Jeff @ Cheese-Burger.net
This midnight black chocolate pudding will be a good alternative to my usual Halloween recipes. I think I’m gonna whip up some of this this Halloween.
Amelia
I really want to lick the bowl. That black onyx cocoa powder looks amazing. Think of all the delicious rich desserts. Creme brulee? Extra points for the orange flower. Festivity achieved!
Jessica Ann
Eyeball cookies?
Paula @ Dishing the Divine
I don’t do much with Halloween desserts either. Mostly, it’s because I start thinking about Halloween desserts around Oct 30. At that point, everyone has moved on to Thanksgiving. :) I think I’ll make this pudding for Black Friday. It seems fitting. :)
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
I don’t dig halloween-ish type desserts just like how I don’t do christmas sugar cookies. They just don’t taste good!
Twinkle
lol slutty panda bear. The pudding looks so yummy! And I love your nail polish!
kara
I love that you serve the pudding in mason jars! There’s something so practically clever about eating out of jars. aces
Nina @ Ambrosia
This. Looks. Soooooo. Good. Chocolate pudding is one of my favorite treats ever, I’m totally all over this! Definitely making it soon.
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
I am drooling just looking at this. Homemade pudding is one of my favorite desserts ever, and the addition of the dark cocoa makes it look even more luscious <– used your word. Haha…I don't think it's an awkward word, just accurate in this case!
aw
that really does look amazingly yummy. i know how you feel about making all the halloween-y stuff, its cool, but no thanks, not my style. i want my food to be wanted (and to know what it is hahaha). great post :)
lynn @ the actor's diet
i’m very into orange food so i like halloween-themed stuff. dressing up, though, i’m over it.
Frances @ The Foodess Files
Ohmygoodness!! I love the idea of this!! So much classy than just eating all the candy meant for the trick or treaters, and turning the light off early in shame. I will def hotfoot it over to Surfas and see if I can rustle up some of this cocoa powder for myself! Can’t wait. :)
sara
Oooh, this looks really delicious! So dark and chocolate-y. Yum!
Hannah @ Sparrow + Spark!
These look amazing! Oh yum to all that cream!
We don’t really do Halloween that much over here, so I have only ever dressed up as a cat and a witch- the most boring costumes ever!
Natashia@foodonpaper
Agree – don’t like the Halloween food, might be because we don’t do Halloween in Australia. So this pudding works for me, perfect in fact.
Maia
Man oh man… I am SO with you on the anti-slutty-costume movement. In high school, I went out of my way to dress up like totally unsexy men who dominated current events at the time. (Personal faves: Saddam Hussein & Bill Clinton.) One year, I did a *satirically* slutty costume by going as Lady Godiva (in a nude suit wearing a HIDEOUS, stinky, floor-length, synthetic curly blonde wig). And then there was college, when I got a little abstract as “baby corn” (all yellow + skullcap + pacifier)… cause, you know, baby corn is both cute AND scary. like a playboy bunny who’s been bitten by a vampire. (?? I have actually seen that more than once.)
Second, props to you for the orange flower in the background. Totally Halloweeny in a super classy, cute, and not panderingly gory or over-the-top way.
Anyway, your chocolatey pots look delicious. I can only imagine they taste as intense as they look!
Shushmi
I agree about the anti-slutty look! on halloween I always see ‘slut-vampire’…and the only vampy thing abt the outfit will be some fake teeth. SO funny to see. and soo overdone. Love the baby-corn costume – might be cute but you can always relate it back to Children of the Corn too! :)
Maia
After all these years, I had never thought of the “Children of the Corn” connection. Ha!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Joy these look stellar. Dark, thick, rich, luscious, amazing.
And I love that the whipped cream layer is equal in size to the choc layer. Great minds think alike on that one!
Ann P.
holy cannoli, this looks SO delicious, I can hardly stand it! If I make these (and I probably will), I’ll have about 3 per day… so wonderful! Not to mention, you’ve cracked me up once again. Awesome post, Joy!
Farmor
This sounds delicious! Love the color and am thinking a dash of rum couldn’t hurt?
Ann P.
Rum– GENIUS! :D
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
I’m with you on the Halloween-ish foods. It’s just not appetizing to eat something that looks like a witch’s finger. I don’t eat finger nails whether they’re really almond slices or not! I do eat chocolate pudding though ;)