Every day I need a treat. I need a little something that says ‘Hey, I see you trying to get through this day standing on your own two feet and you deserve this special something just for you”.
Sometimes that treat is a whole milk cappuccino with extra cinnamon. Whole milk tastes like ice cream to me. It’s just too good. Sometimes that treat is a high-kick dance along to old school Beastie Boys… because, yea I’m still listening to Beastie Boys. Often times that treat is a piece of chocolate. A piece usually turns into a good portion of the chocolate bar… but then again, you knew that.
It’s Monday. We’re going to need a little something to savor. Reach for the chocolate… Or! Better yet, make these creamy, crunchy, salty, sweet, chocolate studded pudding cups! Actually… get someone to make it for you. That’s the real savor.
Let’s start by making the coffee-treat portion of this dessert cup.
Whole milk, sugar, and espresso powder will flavor our pudding. We use espresso powder instead of brewed coffee because the flavor is more pointed and direct. Eggs will add a richness to the pudding and also help thicken the mixture as it heats. Cornstarch does the heavy lifting when it comes to thickening the pudding, and a touch of butter and vanilla extract add a velvety smooth flavor and texture.
Pudding science.
The espresso pudding is cooked over a low flame until the mixture is juuust about the thickness of mayonnaise.
Weird, but true.
Butter and vanilla for that extra something-something!
Once the pudding is set to cool, it’s time to make the whipped cream.
How about a few options? Vanilla bean whipped cream or chocolate whipped cream.
Yep! Choose your own adventure!
(I chose vanilla whipped cream and ate the chocolate whipped cream with a spoon.) (Help…)
Assembly is totally the fun part!
Crushed vanilla cookies + chilled espresso pudding + vanilla whipped cream + Ghirardelli Intense Dark Sea Salt Soiree Chocolate + dry roasted almond bits.
I mean… talk about treat yo self!
A generous layer of cookies crumbs first. Pudding to follow.
Whipped cream and a whoa amount of chopped dark chocolate and chopped almonds to top!
It’s hard not to make a mess in this process. It’s also hard not to snack on the chocolate and almonds as you make these. It’s cool. Just go with it.
I like to get a bit of each later in every bite. It’s just a little game I like to play with my dessert and my spoon. The cookies soften slightly as they absorb the pudding. The espresso pudding is creamy and sweet, with just the right amount of coffee bitterness. Whipped cream is the extra creamy interlude to the grand finale…. Ghirardelli’s Intense Dark Sea Salt Soiree Chocolate with crunchy almonds and a pinch of sea salt.
It’s a whole lotta treat for a Monday.
Espresso, Almond, and Ghirardelli Chocolate Pudding Cups
makes 6 to 8 cups
pudding recipe adapted from The Joy of Baking
For the Pudding:
3 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons espresso powder
2 teaspoons pure vanilla etract
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
For the Whipped Cream:
2 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
pinch of salt
For the Topping:
2 1/2 cups crumbled vanilla wafers
2 bars (7 ounces) Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Soiree, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dry roasted almonds, coarsely chopped
pinch of grey sea salt
In a large, heat-proof bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, salt, eggs, egg yolk, and espresso powder. Whisk in 1/2 cup of milk. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the remaining 3 cups milk and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Whisk until the mixture begins to steam and bubble. Remove from the heat.
Gradually pour the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to warm the egg mixture. Mix until smooth. Transfer the pudding mixture back to the saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened to consistency of mayonnaise, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and butter. Transfer to a large bowl, pouring though a fine mesh strainer if you think you have any lumps in your pudding. Place plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding to prevent a pudding skin from forming. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
To assemble the puddings, add about 3 heaping tablespoons of crumbled vanilla wafers to 8 small glasses. Divide the chilled pudding into each cup. Top each pudding cup with whipped cream. Top each whipped cream mound with a generous amount of chocolate chunks, almond pieces, and a small sprinkling of sea salt.
Allow to rest in the refrigerator for a least an hour before serving. Pudding cups are best served within 2 days.
MCR
Hello! This recipe looks wonderful! I will definitely be trying it very soon. The images on your blog are beautiful and make it very easy for the reader to follow along. I am by no means a baker and you make it seem possible! Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to try the recipe and many other of your suggestions!
Lyndsay // Coco Cake Land
holeeeee bonknuts this pudding crunchy chocolateyness looks amazing. “pudding science!” ha… totally pinning this for future need-a-treat urgency… xo
Emma R
Mmm these sounds perfect – the mixture of chocolate and coffee is always guaranteed to be a good one. Bookmarked for my Dad’s birthday dessert!
Jodee
This sounds delicious…homemade pudding…wonderful! But this is so much more than just homemade pudding…it’s so full of flavor and my personal favorite, chocolate! Thanks for sharing!
Jewels Phraner
I cannot stop thinking about making these!
Jodi
I just turned the burner off and could hardly wait to get my spoon in this without burning my mouth. Absolutely amazing! I love and hate you simultaneously, and in equal amounts. Thanks for another great recipe. (Also always looking for dessert wine pairings and this one will be a winner.)
foyupdate
This is something you shouldn’t do unless you need to count carbs, like me since I’m gestational diabetic right now. If you make 8 servings out of the recipe there are 488 calories, 32 carbs, 17 grams of fat and 8 grams of protein. *Sigh* I guess I’ll put this recipe in the “after baby” folder along with all the delicious looking cocktail recipes. On the bright side it is better for me than a mini blizzard which has 45 carbs… Of course I can’t have that either.
Meredith
This would totally make any day better, so delicious!
naivecookcooks
These looks absolutely gorgeous!!
Marie
If this is Anywhere near as delicious as your Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding it will be on a regular rotation around here. Yummitty Yum Yum!
Chelsea
i will henceforth use “a whoa amount” as a legit measurement because yes.
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
These look mind-blowingly good.
Aimee
Yum! Two thumbs up! :)
Rocky Mountain Woman
I know someone who would love these…
joan
Uh, shouldn’t everyone still be listening to the Beastie Boys?!
joythebaker
yes… totally!
Shikha la mode
Layared desserts always looks so pretty, and this pudding is no exception! All about that chocolate whipped cream – you don’t need be to sorry for eating it!
Amalia
You had me at espresso.
lesley kim
YUmmm! that looks so good!
http://www.lesley-kim.com
Taylor
Wow! This looks seriously delicious! I’m the same way: I need a treat at least once a day. Most days that treat turns into a large portion of ice cream, but I may have to whip this up one day soon because it looks and sounds incredible!
xoxo
Taylor
Chandelle
That’s my favorite chocolate bar. I am all over this.
Gwen @simplyhealthyfam.blogspot.com
espresso & chocolate that you can spoon into your face? i.love.you.
joythebaker
too good, right!?
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs
My Monday DEFINITELY could have used one of these pudding cups — yum!
marcie@flavorthemoments
These pudding cups look so creamy and delicious, and that flavor combination…WOW! This would really make my Monday better. :)
P Cox
These look amazing!!
Rachael
I love reading this blog usually… but the last two posts just feel like commercials.
Carol
Yum beyond yum! Hope your adjusting to your new home.
cindyhgpv
You had me at pudding. The rest is just textural-flavor bonus goodness!
joythebaker
texture is key!
CakePants
Oh, these combine just about everything good in life into one little cup! Well, not really *everything*, but I do certainly agree that we all deserve a little treat every day for just getting through the day! Thanks for sharing the recipe :)
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
I mean, these look perfect!!
Elyse
I am certainly a chocolate everyday kinda gal!
Kim
You just became my favorite and least favorite person all at the same time. OMG
Emily P
These sound so good! I imagine chopped pistachios would be great on them as well.
LoveYourEgo
OMG hello to the next little thing that will have me running on the treadmill until all the calories are burnt :D I so need to try this recipe!
http://love-your-ego.blogspot.de
Kelly Mitchem
I’m not usually a big fan of pudding simply because of the texture. In this case I will make an exception, it looks divine and would satisfy my chocolate craving for sure! :)
DessertForTwo
Hello, gorgeous! I say you deserve a treat everyday! And plus, dark chocolate is a health food!
bakerkat
looks wonderful
Julia
A hunk of Ghirardeli dark chocolate is my go-to treat but taking it a step further with these pudding cups is pure geeeeenius! Thanks for posting this on a Monday – we could all use an extra something special at the beginning of the work week!
joythebaker
girl… you know it!
Rebekah {aCricketSang}
Wow! This look SO GOOD!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
These look so yummy!! Love it!
Hari Chandana
Looks so gorgeous and delicious.. thanks for sharing!!
foodlikecake
These are so elegant but cute! I love your photography :-)
Gry
I strongly believe in treating yourself every day. You don’t have to go all in every day, just a little something. Sometimes sweet, sometimes savoury. In fact, since I started doing that (about 8 years ago), it’s been easier to keep my weight, and also, it’s easier to keep an otherwise healthy diet.
Funny how you find words to describe things that are so true to me, too – like whole milk tasting like ice cream! I’ll make sure I’ll make these soon! Thanks!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
I live in Greece, Joy, and the local bakeries sell a lot of these little individual desserts in plastic cups. They are truly delicious and there are some quite creative options available, but how lovely to make my own! You’ve definitely got me thinking now!
Amy M
Hi Joy! Hope you are enjoying New Orleans. Question: if I wanted to make banana pudding from scratch (the kind with nilla wafers and bananas and all that jazz) could I use this pudding recipe as a starting point?
joythebaker
you absolutely could! just leave out the espresso powder.
Amy M
awesome! thanks!
Ellen
I just bought some espresso powder! Clearly a sign I should eat this. As for choosing my own adventure would it be ok to have BOTH types of whipped cream?! Making decisions has never been my forte.
joythebaker
you are so wise!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
There’s so much to love here! The rich pudding, the dark choc, with espresso, the Nilla wafers (mmm!)….and gorgeous images for what’s no doubt the best pudding ever! Pinned
Belinda Lo (Moonblush Baker)
I am a Monday dessert person too. I figure that surviving That terrible first day deserves to be rewarded with dessert. Nope and not sorry in the slightest! I like the way you think if you are rocking these today.