I had a busy day yesterday because I’m getting ready to start shooting more Food Network episodes on the ranch, and by late afternoon I had a little block of time alone in the house before I had to to run Bryce to the end of our road to meet Marlboro Man, who had to run him to his out-of-town basketball game, before I had to drive the other direction to our town to pick up Todd at basketball practice, just after my girls left for soccer practice in yet another town. And by the way, I have no idea what I was thinking when the kids were all babies and toddlers and I thought life was—ahem—“busy.” Oh my word, oh my word, oh my lands. The sports. The practices. The games. The driving. The coordinating. The remembering who is where. The praying you don’t forget to pick up someone, feed someone, or make sure they have clean underwear.
(I’m pretty good at two of those last three things. I won’t say which two.)
Anyway, during this small window of free time, I was struck suddenly with a massive craving for something sweet; as in, I had to have something sweet fast or I was going to start getting anxious. And I’m not quite sure how this happened, but as I searched for the perfect treat to eat, I discovered, to paraphrase the Good Book, that my kitchen was without sweets and void, and darkness was upon the face of my pantry. I’d been so busy getting groceries ready for real meals that I’d inadvertently let the dessert stores deplete, and I decided to make a quick batch of pudding. It was either that or grab the container of Nutella and a very large spoon.
I was originally thinking Chocolate Pudding, which is really just the Chocolate Pie Filling I always make, but then I decided to make Butterscotch Pudding instead! It requires the simplest of changes: rather than white sugar, I use brown…and I leave out the chocolate. Simple as pie!
I mean pudding.
I mean here’s how to make it.
Into a medium (preferably nonstick) skillet, throw in some brown sugar…
Then add some cornstarch…
And some salt.
Ooooh. Look how awesomely cool I am with my brown sugar lumps!
It happens.
And when it does, don’t let it break your spirit. Just rock those brown sugar lumps like you totally planned on them being there!
Ha.
Now, for the liquid: in a pitcher, measure 3 cups of whole milk. Now, this is where I had a panic episode (well, as much as a person can panic about pudding, which in my case is quite profoundly) when I discovered that all the whole milk was gone and I only had 2%. I’m really batting a thousand with stocking my kitchen, aren’t I? Anyway, everything turned out fine, but just know that using whole milk is always best when you make pudding because that little bit of extra fat really sends it over the edge, creaminess-wise.
Into the milk goes 4 egg yolks, then just whisk it together until it’s combined.
Pour the milk/egg mixture into the pan…
Stir it together…
Oh, and I also wouldn’t fault you if you added a tiny splash of booze (scotch whiskey, bourbon, even rum would be good) to the liquid.
(Just saying.)
Then turn the stove to medium heat and commit the next 8 to 10 (give or take) minutes of your life to gently stirring the pudding.
It will take a little while for the concoction to start to heat up. In fact, it will seem like forever, especially if you’re in the mood for butterscotch pudding, which I most definitely WAS yesterday.
But then, out of the clear blue sky, it will get hot enough to start to bubble violently and get thick. Let it cook/bubble like this for a good 30 seconds until it reaches pudding consistency…
Then remove it from the stove and stir in 2 tablespoons of butter until it’s all melted.
Spoon it into the dishes you want to serve the pudding in: Cute little dessert glasses, demitasse cups, ramekins, small bowls…whatever you want! Then refrigerate them, covered in plastic wrap, for a good hour—two if you can wait.
(Or, who am I kidding? Just eat it warm right out of the pan.)
(Or—how about this? Make a chocolate cookie pie crust and turn this into a Butterscotch Pie.)
Plain, unsweetened whipped cream is always a good idea. (The pudding is plenty sweet on its own!)
Such a treat, whether warm or cold! (And for the record, I ate it warm. I couldn’t wait. It’s the kind of gal I am.)
Here’s the handy dandy printable!
