Vanilla Pudding Alton Brown Recipes

VANILLA PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
• Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Cool slightly, stirring a few times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding and refrigerate until completely cooled and thickened, about 4 hours.
• Before serving, whisk the pudding vigorously until smooth and creamy.
• Stir-ins:
• Cookies and Cream: Crush 20 chocolate wafer cookies, stir some into the pudding and top with the rest.
• Fresh Berries and Gingersnaps: Fold in 2 cups of fresh, mixed berries and top with about 12 finely crushed gingersnaps.
• Vanilla-Banana: Fold in 3 sliced bananas. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Fold in 24 crushed vanilla wafer cookies and top with more sliced bananas.
• Rocky Road: Fold in 1 cup each mini marshmallows and toasted chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips. Sprinkle with more chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter* and Jelly (See Cook's Note): Fold in 1 cup quartered red grapes and 1/3 cup each chopped roasted peanuts and peanut butter chips. Top with whole grapes.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• Place 1 3/4 cups of dry pudding mix into a medium saucepan. Add milk and heavy cream and whisk to combine. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a boil, continuously whisking gently. Reduce heat to low and cook for 4 minutes while continuing to whisk. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour the mixture through a sieve and into individual dishes or a 1 1/2-quart serving dish. Cover the surface of the pudding with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to chill completely before serving, approximately 4 hours.
• In a large bowl or plastic container with a lid, combine the cocoa, cornstarch, sugar, instant non-fat dry milk, and salt. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

VANILLA WAFERS

Steps:

• Position one oven rack in the top third of the oven and another in the bottom third. Heat oven to 350ºF. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and vanilla sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl after 1 minute. Add the egg and incorporate on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and milk and blend on low speed for 15 seconds. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just to incorporate. Chill the batter in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes before scooping.
• Scoop the batter in teaspoon-sized balls and arrange them on the prepared half-sheet pans, approximately 35 cookies per pan. Use the heel of your hand to slightly flatten each ball. Place both pans in the oven and bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pans to a wire rack to cool completely before removing the cookies from the pan.

BAKED BANANA PUDDING: RELOADED

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Toss the banana slices and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
• Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar, the corn starch, salt, egg yolks, and whole milk in the carafe of a blender. Blend on high for about 15 seconds. Pour the mixture into a 3-quart saucier and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 172° to 180ºF, 5 to 10 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and bubble around the edges. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla.
• Spread a small amount of the pudding in the bottom of an oven-safe 1 1/2-quart glass mixing bowl. Cover with a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by a layer of banana slices. Pour one-third of the remaining pudding on top of the bananas and repeat, ending with a layer of pudding.
• Whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue whisking until stiff peaks form, about 2 more minutes. Spoon the meringue over the warm pudding, being sure to cover the edges. Bake until the meringue is evenly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the pudding from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before serving. Cool completely before refrigerating. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

REFRIGERATED BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine 3/4 cup of the sugar, the cornstarch and salt in a 3-quart saucier. Add the eggs and egg yolk and whisk to combine. Add the milk and whisk until well combined, about 30 seconds. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 172 to 180 degrees F, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The mixture will begin to
• thicken and bubble around the edges. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 piece at a time, being sure each piece is fully incorporated before adding the next. Whisk in the vanilla extract. Cover the surface of the pudding with a round piece of parchment and refrigerate until the pudding reaches 45 degrees F, approximately 2 hours.
• Lay the vanilla wafers on a half sheet pan. Slowly and evenly pour the banana liqueur over the cookies. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Toss the banana slices with the lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
• Spread a small amount of pudding in the bottom of a 1 1/2-quart glass mixing bowl. Cover with a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by a layer of banana slices. Spoon 1/3 of the remaining pudding on top of the bananas and repeat, ending with a layer of pudding.
• Put the whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and whisk just until stiff peaks form. Spoon the whipped cream over the cooled pudding and spread to cover completely. Top with any remaining soaked cookies. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

BAKED BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Toss the banana slices and lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
• Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar, the flour and salt in a 3-quart saucier. Add the egg yolks and whisk to combine. Add the half-and-half and carefully whisk to combine. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 172 to 180 degrees F, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and bubble around the edges. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
• Spread a small amount of the pudding in the bottom of an oven-safe 1 1/2-quart glass mixing bowl. Cover with a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by a layer of banana slices. Pour 1/3 of the remaining pudding on top of the bananas and repeat, ending with a layer of pudding.
• Whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue whisking until stiff peaks form. Spoon the meringue over the warm pudding, being sure to cover the edges. Bake until the meringue is evenly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the pudding from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before serving. Cool completely before refrigerating. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• For the toffee sauce: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, then add the sugar, molasses, espresso powder and salt. Whisk to work out any lumps, then continue to cook over low heat.
• When bubbles appear at the edge of the pan, whisk in the cream and bring to a bare simmer. Remove the pan from the heat, cover and set aside.
• For the cake: Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Place 150 grams of the pitted dates and the boiling water in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the standard S-blade. Allow to soak for 2 minutes, then pulse 3 times.
• Add the eggs, butter, both sugars, the vanilla extract and espresso powder to the food processor and pulse 5 times. Follow with the flour mixture and the remaining dates and pulse 3 more times.
• Coat the bottom of each well in a 6-cup popover pan with 1 1/2 teaspoons of the toffee sauce. Follow with the batter, filling each cup 3/4 of the way full (see Cook's Note). You may have a few tablespoons of batter leftover depending on the size of your popover pan.
• Bake for 11 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven and tap either on the oven door or countertop 3 times to deflate. Rotate the pan 180 degrees and bake another 11 minutes or until the middle of the cakes reach 210 degrees F.
• Place the popover pan on a half-sheet pan and run a skewer around the outer rims to loosen the cakes. Pierce each cake several times with the skewer, poking all the way down to the bottom of the pan. Pour 1 tablespoon of toffee sauce over each pudding and let soak for 30 minutes.
• When ready to serve, heat your broiler to high and broil the puddings until bubbly, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and immediately run the skewer around the outer rims, cover with a clean sheet pan and invert to release.
• Serve with more toffee sauce spooned over each pudding.

VANILLA WAFERS

Steps:

• Position 1 oven rack in the top third of the oven and another in the bottom third. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and vanilla sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl after 1 minute. Add the egg and incorporate on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl. Add the vanilla extract and milk and blend on low speed for 15 seconds. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just to incorporate. Chill the batter in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes before scooping.
• Scoop the batter in teaspoon-sized balls and arrange them on 2 parchment paper-lined half sheet pans, approximately 35 cookies per pan. Use the heel of your hand to slightly flatten each ball. Bake, 2 pans at a time, rotating the pans halfway through the baking, until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pans to a cooling rack to cool completely before removing the cookies from the pan.

ALTON BROWN'S TAPIOCA PUDDING

Steps:

• Place tapioca in a medium mixing bowl along with the water, cover, and let stand overnight.
• Drain water from tapioca.
• Place the tapioca into a slow cooker along with the milk, heavy cream, and salt.
• Cook on high for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and sugar.
• Temper small amounts of the tapioca into the egg mixture until you have added at least 1 cup; add this back into the remaining tapioca in the slow cooker.
• Add the lemon zest and stir to combine.
• Cook for an additional 15 minutes, stirring at least once.
• Transfer the pudding to a bowl and cover the surface with plastic wrap.
• Allow to cool at room temperature for 1 hour and then place in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled.

ALTON BROWN'S VANILLA WAFERS

Steps:

• Position 1 oven rack in the top third of the oven and another in the bottom third. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and vanilla sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl after 1 minute. Add the egg and incorporate on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl. Add the vanilla extract and milk and blend on low speed for 15 seconds. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just to incorporate. Chill the batter in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes before scooping.
• Scoop the batter in teaspoon-sized balls and arrange them on 2 parchment paper-lined half sheet pans, approximately 35 cookies per pan. Use the heel of your hand to slightly flatten each ball. Bake, 2 pans at a time, rotating the pans halfway through the baking, until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pans to a cooling rack to cool completely before removing the cookies from the pan.

ALTON BROWN'S REFRIGERATED BANANA PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine 3/4 cup of the sugar, the cornstarch and salt in a 3-quart saucier. Add the eggs and egg yolk and whisk to combine. Add the milk and whisk until well combined, about 30 seconds. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 172 to 180 degrees F, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and bubble around the edges. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 piece at a time, being sure each piece is fully incorporated before adding the next. Whisk in the vanilla extract. Cover the surface of the pudding with a round piece of parchment and refrigerate until the pudding reaches 45 degrees F, approximately 2 hours.
• Lay the vanilla wafers on a half sheet pan. Slowly and evenly pour the banana liqueur over the cookies. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Toss the banana slices with the lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
• Spread a small amount of pudding in the bottom of a 1 1/2-quart glass mixing bowl. Cover with a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by a layer of banana slices. Spoon 1/3 of the remaining pudding on top of the bananas and repeat, ending with a layer of pudding.
• Put the whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and whisk just until stiff peaks form. Spoon the whipped cream over the cooled pudding and spread to cover completely. Top with any remaining soaked cookies. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.