Rich Chocolate Pudding / Cream Pie Filling

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 cups milk; heat until it's just about to boil.
• 2 while the milk/sugar is heating, combine the remaining ingredients (egg yolks, sugar, 1/4 c flour, cocoa, salt, 1/4 c milk) except for butter and vanilla in a blender or mixer on low. the goal is to mix it absolutely smoothly without lumps, not add a bunch of air to it.
• 3 combine the two mixes and return to the saucepan.
• 4 adjust the heat to medium high and bring to a boil for five minutes, stirring constantly until thickened. (note: it never takes me five minutes to get to this point.).
• 5 remove from heat; immediately stir in 2 tablespoons butter or margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• 6 pour into (cooked) pie crust or pudding dishes and refrigerate.
• 7 note: if you're using this for a pie, a beautiful meringue can easily be made with the three egg whites you'll have left over from this recipe. i'd suggest looking up #28458 and referring to those directions for how to create it -- remember to leave your crust with about ten minutes left to bake so that you don't burn it while toasting the meringue.