Two-Minute Microwave Chocolate Pudding in a Jar
Sneak Preview: Make this easy microwave chocolate pudding in just two minutes! I love storing it in jars, but pretty bowls work, too. Check out fun variations like pudding parfaits with yogurt or microwave vanilla pudding!
Microwaves are a miracle in my book! They’re perfect for making silky-smooth sauces, gravy, puddings, or pie fillings—especially when you need smaller amounts.
No double boilers, tempering eggs, or endless stirring. Just mix chocolate milk, egg yolk, and cornstarch, microwave for two minutes until thick, then whisk in butter, chocolate chips, and vanilla. Done!
Have Fun Playing with This Microwave Recipe
- Two minutes to cook + an hour to chill
- Many variations suggested
- No unusual ingredients
Recipe Inspiration
I’ve been making pudding in the microwave ever since I did microwave cooking schools for appliance stores back in the 80’s. You can see similar recipes as part of my popular recipes for Mini Fruit Tarts, Banana Pudding, and this Microwave Chocolate Cream Pie. However, I got the idea to make individual servings from a Cook’s Country recipe published in October 2020.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- CHOCOLATE MILK:
- First choice: Fairlife for taste and more protein
- Substitute: Milk + 1 tbsp cocoa + 1 tbsp sugar
- CORNSTARCH:
- Produces a silkier texture than flour
- EGG YOLK:
- Large eggs
- Freeze the egg whites for later use (angel food cake.)
- SALT:
- Table salt, sea salt, or Kosher
- BUTTER:
- Salted or unsalted
- Firms pudding, adds smoothness and flavor
- CHOCOLATE CHIPS:
- semi-sweet or your favorite
- VANILLA EXTRACT:
- Vanilla or almond extract for added flavor
- COOKIE CRUMBS:
- Crumbs are optional but fun.
- Oreos, shortbread, cake crumbs, or leftover cookies.
- 📌Kitchen Tip📌 Chop leftover cookies and store in a sealed bag for easy use on yogurt, ice cream, or chocolate pudding parfaits. Crumbs are far less tempting than a single cookie sitting in the pantry!
- WHIPPED CREAM:
- Redi-Whip, Cool Whip, real whipped cream, or skip it and save the calories
Variations
I. How To Make a Yogurt Parfait with Chocolate Pudding
Since I always have homemade Greek yogurt on hand, combining it with pudding is one of my favorite treats, especially topped with leftover cookie crumbs. With just my husband and me , we appreciate small treats that don’t hang around all week!
II. How To Make Microwave Vanilla Pudding
Ingredients
- Milk: Use ¾ cup of white milk instead of chocolate milk.
- Sugar: Add 1-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
- Cornstarch: Increase to 1 tablespoon total.
- Chocolate Chips: Omit from the recipe.
More Variations
- Butterscotch Pudding: Add browned butter and ¼ cup butterscotch chips to vanilla pudding after cooking.
- Chocolate Mint Pudding: Swap chocolate chips for chocolate peppermint candies in chocolate pudding.
- Peanut Butter Pudding: Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter chips to vanilla or chocolate pudding after cooking.
Can I make this pudding on the stove?
Possibly, but it’s easier to use a stovetop-specific recipe. It will take longer and require more stirring.
How To Make Two-Minute Microwave Chocolate Pudding
Ensure the mixture is smooth before microwaving to avoid lumps, which will solidify when cooked. While a whisk may leave small lumps, an immersion blender yields better results in my experience.
📌Kitchen Secret📌 If your finished pudding has lumps, you can always push it through a cheap strainer.
How To Assemble this Recipe in a Jar
Parting thoughts: Have you ever done any real cooking in a microwave? If not, I hope you’ll give this recipe a chance. Since it’s small, feel free to double or triple it if you need more than two people can eat in a couple of days.
Recipe Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.
2-Minute Microwave Chocolate Pudding in a Jar
Video
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (170 g) chocolate milk (I like Fairlife and calculated the nutrition numbers with that brand.)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 large egg yolk
- pinch table or sea salt
- 1½ teaspoon butter
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 crumbled Oreo cookies
Instructions
Microwave Chocolate Pudding
- Use an immersion blender, a mini blender, a food processor, or a whisk to combine ¾ cup (170 g) chocolate milk, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 large egg yolk, and a pinch table or sea salt. Pour into a microwave-safe Pyrex glass bowl or measuring cup no smaller than 1 qt. size to prevent boilovers.
- Microwave on HIGH for two minutes or however long it takes for the milk mixture to become thick enough to heavily coat the back of a spoon. Whisk well.
- Remove from the microwave and add 1½ teaspoon butter, ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (broken into pieces), and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk well. Cover and refrigerate for an hour. (I like to cover the cooked pudding with a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper sprayed with vegetable oil and push it up against the top surface of the topping to prevent skin from forming.)
Assembling Chocolate Pudding in a Jar
- Place a spoonful of 4 crumbled Oreo cookies in the bottom of a 4-ounce Mason jar or a small bowl. Spoon a layer of chilled chocolate pudding into the jar. Cover with whipped cream and/or more cookie crumbs. Cover and refrigerate. Serve cold. If not serving in the next couple of hours, wait to add the whipped cream until immediately before serving.
Assembling a Yogurt and Pudding Parfait in a Jar
- Place a spoonful of cookie crumbs into the bottom of a small jar or ball. (I like the individual serving Mason jars that hold about 8 ounces.) Spoon ¼ cup of unflavored Greek yogurt on top of the crumbs. Then, add about ¼ cup of chilled chocolate pudding over the top of the Greek yogurt.
- Garnish with whipped cream and more cookie crumbs, if desired. Cover and refrigerate. Serve cold.
Notes
-
- Use ¾ cup of white milk instead of chocolate.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of granulated sugar.
- Increase to 1 tablespoon total.
- Omit the chocolate chips.
Equipment
Nutrition
All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com
Paula Rhodes, owner
As a retired home economist, I created Saladinajar.com to share my belief that you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Bread machines (used in an unconventional way), homemade yogurt, and quick microwave recipes are my specialty.