Homemade White Chocolate and Vanilla Bean Pudding
I’m buying Nilla wafers like it’s no body’s business. It’s a phase, I’m sure I’ll be over it soon. Or not. Maybe not, I’m kinda liking this phase – just like I liked my bright purple eye shadow phase. But right now I’m going through a “eat all the childhood classics” kinda thing and it’s getting stupid. Apples and peanut butter. Boxed macaroni and cheese. With ketchup. Don’t judge me. Nilla wafers and bananas. And pudding. My mom and I used to make the cook and serve puddings from a box as a kid and the best part was eating them still half warm, and peeling the solidified skin off the top and eating it right off the bowl. We’re just sick like that. But it was – and still is – the best. To continue with this eat-my-childhood phase, I went with a kinda classic made from scratch cook-n-serve style pudding that just made me want to faceplant into the bowl and eat my way out. So throw that box away and jump on this. Your inner child will thank you over this white chocolate and vanilla bean pudding. You’re welcome inner child.
For a minute I thought it would be a great idea to “healthify” the whole thing – but I realized after my first attempt that all I was going to do was to recreate the unmitigated disaster it was the first time I tried it. Just get over the whole “it has fat” thing in it and enjoy it. On the plus side – this doesn’t have all those funky chemicals, thickeners, additives, magic wishes and unicorn tears – so you can deal with some added fat if it means you can actually pronounce what’s in it. Fair? Fair.
And because we’re on the subject of childhood classics – if you don’t dip Nilla wafers into this or crumble it into the mix – I don’t know if we can be friends. It’s just what you do. Like breathing, sneezing when you look at the sun, squealing when you see a Corgi or sliding out of your chair at the cast of Magic Mike – it’s just what you do. I’ll go sit in a corner now, with a big bowl of pudding.

Take a peek at these sweet puddings of the custard and bread variety –
Spiced Pear and Chocolate Bread Pudding
Coconut Blueberry Bread Pudding
Print
Homemade White Chocolate and Vanilla Bean Pudding
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Chill Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 8, 1/2 Cup Servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
You’ll never go back to boxed cook and serve pudding after you try this homemade version! Crumble Nilla Wafers on top for added deliciousness.
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cup Half and Half
- 3 Egg Yolks
- 1/3 cup Sugar
- ½ Vanilla Bean, split and scraped of vanilla
- 2 Tbsp Corn Starch
- ⅛ tsp Salt
- 6 ounces White Chocolate, melted
- 1 Tbsp Butter
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Slowly whisk in the Half and Half and then the egg yolks one at a time until evenly combined.
- Add in scraped vanilla bean and add in vanilla bean husk. Lastly whisk in the melted white chocolate.
- Heat the mixture over the stove until it starts to gently boil, whisking constantly. Be sure to whisk and scrape the bottom and the sides of the bowl constantly for about two minutes, or when it becomes thick and can coat and stick to the back of a spoon.
- Remove from the stove and pour through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl to remove any curds, chunks and the vanilla bean pod.
- Cover pudding with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours or until set. Serve cold.
I want an enormous tub of this right.now.
This looks so rich and creamy and wonderful.
Ohhhhhh white chocolate is the way to my heart. Forever. I’ve got to make this! And buy some nilla wafers!
This looks perfect. So creamy! I want a big bowl!
I LOVE homemade pudding, and anything with vanilla beans. Can’t wait to try this!
Yum, this pudding looks so creamy and delicious!
I love this post! I get in that same mindset where I just want what I ate as a kid. I have a box of unopened Nilla wafers at home and now I know how to put them to good use. 😉
I’m not usually a big fan of pudding, but you went and added white chocolate so I am all in!! White chocolate is the best 🙂
Homemade pudding?! Gurrrrl this sounds fantastical!
Soooooo, I will be over in 2.2 nano seconds!! I adore homemade pudding. This rocks friend!
This pudding + Corgis + “Magic Mike” = Heaven. 🙂
I have like 16 boxes of those from work. haha. WAnt some more? Love this puddin’!
I need a big bowl of this today for sure!
Why healthify a perfectly good recipe? These pudding looks glorious.
I would totally devour this for dessert… and not share ANY of it! Muahaha.
oh my gawsh. I love white chocolate..I would inhale this! also, Kid meals are the best.
um yeah, Nilla wafers are awesome. I like them dipped in peanut butter, but I bet I would love them in this pudding!
This looks so dreamy!!
Love this! Vanilla is my all time favorite!
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came
to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to enhance my
site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your
ideas!!
This looks delightful 🙂 I love vanilla pudding!
Country Cleaver Homemade White Chocolate and Vanilla Bean Pudding » Country Cleaver
When do you add the vanilla? I couldn’t find it in the recipe (could be I just didn’t see it) so I added it when I put it on the stove. It worked, just making sure if wasn’t supposed to be somewhere else.
Not vanilla, I meant the butter. Its been a long day…
Hi KaraLynn!! Sorry I forgot that part! Thanks for noticing. The butter is the very last thing to go in – whisk it in right after the pudding comes off the stove and begins to cool. 🙂 Hope that helps!
Hey you, the butter is still missing from the directions. 😉
I tried making this tonight but due to my huuuge failures… messed it up. It tastes great, though! Next time I’ll make it with the proper ingredients. 😀
Oh and boo! No rating stars. I’d give it a 5 if I could.
Oh my gosh, I’m such a ditz. I will add the butter to the directions. It goes in at the last step right before you cover and refrigerate it. Thanks again and also glad it tasted good despite the issues!