Chocolate Pudding - October Secret Recipe Club

This is my first time participating in the Secret Recipe Club and I am so excited to present my dish! The idea behind the club is that each month you are assigned a blog to cook something from. You may adapt the recipe if you wish, but the owner of your assigned blog cannot know that you are cooking from their site.

My first assignment is from Dena's blog, Oh! You Cook!  It took me some time to narrow down which recipe to pick from.  About a week ago, I was craving pudding, and Dena had pudding, so that was the winner!  Her homemade Chocolate Pudding is so good!  I made the recipe without any adaptations.

Chocolate Pudding
adapted from Oh! You Cook!
makes 4 1/2-cup servings

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used dark chocolate, so my pudding was a tad more bitter)
2 Tb cornstarch
1/8 tsp. salt
2 cups whole milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
whipped cream, garnish (optional)

Beat egg lightly in a medium-sized bowl.  Set aside.
Whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in a 2-quart saucepan. Slowly whisk in  milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, until pudding is thick, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.

Add about a 1/4 cup of the chocolate mixture to the egg, whisking constantly to prevent egg from curdling.  Then whisk in remaining hot mixture.

Whisk in chocolate chips until they are melted and completely blended in (adding chocolate chips at this step aids in cooling off pudding a little faster).

Pour the pudding into small serving cups or shooter glasses.  Serve warm, or cover the surface of each of serving with plastic to prevent a skin from forming on the top of the pudding, then refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.  Either way, just before serving, top with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Enjoy!

P.S. Number 21 below is my recipe! Go check out Eat, Knit, Grow!