I have to be real for a moment.
Sometimes, I get into a major baking/cooking slump. Lately, there have been a lot of recipe fails..which, inevitably, leads to frustration. I find that stepping back and letting other tasks distract me is just the thing that helps. I’ve been letting myself get lost in the task of making our rental house feel more like our own space. There have been paint samples, scheming up organizational solutions, and much online shopping.
My time spent in the kitchen has been limited to essential meals. Yesterday, however, I felt like getting back into it. Nothing fancy, serious, or time consuming. Enter pudding. There are few things so comforting and simple as pudding. Some milk, a few egg yolks, a little sugar and cornstarch, plus flavorings–in this case vanilla bean and malt. Add a bit of gentle heat, some attention to stirring, and done. Simple, comforting, non-failure…the perfect thing to climb out of that slump.
Vanilla Malt Pudding
adapted from Martha Stewart
3 cups whole milk
1 vanilla bean, split and seeded
3 egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
6 Tablespoons Malted Milk Powder (I used Carnation brand)
pinch of salt
3 Tablespoons butter, unsalted
In a medium sauce pan heat milk with vanilla seeds and pod until hot, but not boiling, remove from heat. Cover and allow to steep for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks to break up well. Set aside.
In a small bowl whisk together sugar, cornstarch, malt, and salt.
Remove vanilla pod from milk and discard. Whisk in a small amount of the milk into the sugar/cornstarch mixture and whisk that mixture back into the pot of milk to dissolve the cornstarch, making sure there are no lumps. Whisk in the eggs until incorporated well. Heat over medium-low, whisking constantly until mixture becomes thick and a bubble or two breaks the surface, continue to cook–whisking still–for another minute. Remove from heat and add butter, either whisking to combine or buzzing with an immersion blender. Divide pudding among cups, serve warm or cover and chill.
Yeah man. I totally hear you about the slump. It’s no fun.
But just know that I really want to eat this pudding. It looks like perfection! And that egg photo is just the loveliest!
thanks dude!
I’ve been in a similar funk myself. It’s hard when that happens but I agree that stepping back is the right thing to do. That and making pudding! 🙂 This looks delicious.
Yes, pudding always helps!
Sorry to hear about your slump! Way to turn it around with these little puddin’s!
Thanks Nicole!
Can you believe that I’ve NEVER made pudding? What is wrong with me?! I need to change that, stat!
PS. This may be a dumb question – but is malted milk powder sold in regular grocery stores?
Amanda, you need pudding in your life! And yes, you can buy malt powder in the grocery store–usually near the powdered cocoa mixes 🙂
Thanks for sharing this “realness” with us! We ALL have recipe fails, so you’re not alone. Glad you got back into the saddle! 🙂
Thanks Erica!
Lately I was in your shoes as well. We’re re-decorating the house and in the last couple of weeks we visited almost all the furniture stores in the area, tried lots of paint samples, shifted existing furniture around or from one room to another. I can’t wait for this project to be over with so I can find time to get back to my baking adventures.
Your pudding look great! simple but elegant!
I know exactly how you feel Roxana…and I’m only just getting started! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Where did you get these spoons???
I ordered the spoons from, Gilt. They are by Sabre. 🙂
Oh man this pudding looks wonderfully sinful! Just found your blog and I love it! Great photos 🙂
Great! Thanks Lindsay!
Made these first time, today. Put them in the fridge to set, but it is still runny after 3 hrs. Will these ever firm up like a pudding should?
They should firm up after a few hours, if not, next time try cooking longer until thicker. Sorry about the thin pudding, should still be tasty!
Hi I was wondering if a substitution of vanilla Extract is possible
You could just use 2 teaspoons of extract in place of the vanilla bean and skip the steeping step.