This quick and easy homemade vanilla pudding mix takes just 5 minutes to make and it's the perfect substitute for Instant Jello Pudding Mix when you want to bake cookie or cake recipes that call for using a box of vanilla pudding. Plus, it's made without all of the highly processed and unnatural ingredients you find in most of the store-bought varieties (including unnecessary food dyes, flavorings, and preservatives).
Instead, this DIY "instant" pudding mix contains just 5 ingredients (and that includes salt). Keep it in a jar in the cupboard for an easy weeknight dessert for the kids, or use it to make that addictive Butter Wine Cake 100% from scratch. Watch the how to make vanilla pudding mix video to see just how easy this recipe is to make.
Jump to:
- Do You Have To Cook This Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix?
- Why You'll Love This Easy Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix
- DIY Vanilla Pudding Ingredients vs. Jello Pudding Ingredients List
- Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix Ingredients (100% Made From Scratch)
- How to Make Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix -- Measure, Stir & Store.
- Easy Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix recipe step-by-step photos
- Watch the How to Make Pudding Mix Video
- When Vanilla Pudding Has Thickened Properly, It Will Coat the Back of a Spoon (Below)
- How to Make Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix Without Cornstarch
- How to Store Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix
- FAQ
- More Thanksgiving & Christmas Dessert Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
Do You Have To Cook This Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix?
If you're here because you're looking for an instant pudding mix for the sole purpose of eating homemade pudding on the fly with zero cooking involved, this is not that recipe. You'll need to cook this vanilla pudding mixture with milk for 5 minutes, or so and refrigerate it before enjoying it.
That's because there isn't any modified cornstarch or other chemical agent in it that would produce a simple mix-and-serve pudding like Jello Instant Pudding. If a truly instant pudding mix recipe is what you're after, you'll need to replace the cornstarch with Instant ClearJel.
Also, this pudding mix recipe is not intended to make the most delicious homemade vanilla pudding you've ever eaten. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty good considering it doesn't even have eggs in it.
But the main reason I keep this pudding mix in my pantry is to have it on hand for holiday cookie and cake recipes that call for adding a box of instant pudding (like Mr. Bobby's famous wine cake...more about Mr. Bobby's wine cake another time).
Why You'll Love This Easy Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix
- Makes the best instant vanilla pudding mix substitute for cake and cookie recipes
- It's a vanilla pudding without eggs (for anyone with allergies)
- Uses 4 basic pantry ingredients plus salt
- It's ready from start to finish in 5 minutes using a whisk and a bowl
- It's a dessert recipe kids can easily make
- It uses real vanilla beans, but I provide less expensive substitutes
- You can adjust how much or how little sugar is added
- Easily turn this into a vegan homemade vanilla pudding mix with a couple of substitutions
DIY Vanilla Pudding Ingredients vs. Jello Pudding Ingredients List
Instant Jello pudding showed up a few times a year in our house when I was growing up (pistachio being my favorite flavor). Vanilla was typically used to make homemade banana pudding. But these days, it tends to be a little too sweet for my adult taste buds, and it contains 10 out of 11 chemical ingredients that I'd prefer not to be eating.
Take a look at the homemade vanilla pudding mix ingredients versus Instant Jello Pudding ingredients below:
Biting at the Bits Vanilla Pudding Mix Ingredients List
Sugar, Cornstarch, Dried Milk Powder, Vanilla Beans, and Salt.
Instant Jello Pudding Ingredients List
Sugar, Modified Cornstarch, Contains Less than 2% of Sodium Phosphate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Artificial Color, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.
Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix Ingredients (100% Made From Scratch)
Make easy eggless vanilla pudding mix with just a handful of ingredients.
For the pudding mix
- sugar
- vanilla beans
- cornstarch
- dried milk powder
- salt
To make the pudding
- whole milk (or plant-based milk)
- pure vanilla extract
- unsalted butter
Something to consider: You may add more or less sugar than the recipe calls in order to suit your taste preferences and/or lifestyle. If you want a vanilla pudding mix that's as sweet as Jello vanilla pudding, you may want to add ¼ cup (60g) or more sugar to the mix.
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix -- Measure, Stir & Store.
If you've ever wondered how to make pudding without eggs or you just need a vanilla pudding mix that you can use as a substitute for instant Jello Pudding in your baked dessert recipes, wonder no more! This pudding mix is really easy to make, and it's great to have on hand, especially for your holiday baking needs.
- To make the pudding mix. Split and scrape the vanilla bean pods and add the seeds to a large mixing bowl with the sugar and stir well to combine. Cut the vanilla beans into 2-inch pieces and add them to the sugar mixture. Add the cornstarch, milk powder, and salt and stir everything until combined. Use right away, or seal in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 6 months. Enjoy!
- To make vanilla pudding. Add ½ cup of pudding mix (including one piece of vanilla bean pod) plus 2 cups of whole milk to a medium pot set over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil whisking constantly and cook for 5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove the vanilla bean pod and then remove the mixture from the heat. Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter and whisk until smooth. Cover with sustainable cling film or parchment paper and allow to cool completely. Refrigerate until cold and serve.
Easy Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix recipe step-by-step photos
Watch the How to Make Pudding Mix Video
When Vanilla Pudding Has Thickened Properly, It Will Coat the Back of a Spoon (Below)
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix Without Cornstarch
Make homemade vanilla pudding without cornstarch by simply substituting arrowroot in place of the cornstarch in this vanilla pudding recipe.
How to Store Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix
Store vanilla pudding mix in a glass canning jar or other airtight container for up to 6 months.
FAQ
If you've ever wondered what makes instant pudding thicken, the main ingredient is modified cornstarch. Modified cornstarch is a gelatinized cornstarch that allows the mixture to set without needing to heat or cook any ingredients first. There are also chemical food dyes, artificial flavorings, and preservatives in most commercial instant puddings.
Yes, you can add other extracts to vanilla pudding after you've cooked it to impart a different flavor (coconut, strawberry, rum, orange, lemon, etc.). You can also add a couple of tablespoons of chopped chocolate to the still-hot pudding mixture to help improve the flavor and texture of this homemade pudding.
There are slight weight variations between different flavors of Instant Jello Pudding, which range from 3.4 to 3.99 ounces (96g-113g) for the small boxes. The large boxes of instant pudding weigh between 5.1 ounces to 5.4 ounces (145g to 153g). To substitute 1 small box of Instant Jello Pudding mix (3.4 to 3.99 ounces/96g to 113g), use the same amount of this homemade pudding mix. To substitute 1 large box of Instant Jello Pudding mix (5.1 to 5.4 ounces/145g to 153g), use the same amount of this homemade pudding mix.
More Thanksgiving & Christmas Dessert Recipes
Below are just a few of our favorite easy holiday desserts to make. If you're trying to get a head start on baking, these are definite crowd pleasers!
- Candied Pecans Anyone Can Make (Easy, Holiday Party Nuts)
- Ultimate Cherry Pie Filling Recipe (10-Minutes, Homemade)
- Best Strawberry Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust
- Triple Coconut Cream Pie with Mile-High Meringue Topping
- Easy Pecan Tassie Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust
- Aunt Betty's Pecan Tassies (Mini Southern Pecan Pie Cookies)
- Bakery Style Pan-Banging Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin Bread Recipe (Easy, No Mixer, Super Moist)
- Biscoff Peanut Butter Cups (Even Better than Reese's)
- Easy Apple Rum Cake with Pecan Crunch
- Best Chocolate Cupcakes (Devil's Food Cupcakes w/Chocolate Ganache)
- Fudgey Biscoff Brownies w/Cornflake Crunch
Let's get started!
Made this Recipe? We'd love for you to rate ⭐️ it and tell us how it went for you!
Print📖 Recipe
Homemade Vanilla Pudding Mix (For Using in Cake & Cookie Recipes)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This 5-minute quick and easy homemade vanilla pudding mix is the perfect substitute for Instant Jello Pudding Mix when you want to bake cookie or cake recipes that call for using a box of vanilla pudding. Plus, it's made without all of the highly processed and unnatural ingredients you find in most of the store-bought varieties (including unnecessary food dyes, flavorings, and preservatives).
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 2 vanilla beans, split and seeded (grade A or B) (sub 3 teaspoons vanilla bean powder)
- ¾ cup cornstarch (100g) (sub arrowroot)
- ¾ cup dried milk powder (100g)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (4g)
- 2 cups whole milk (or plant-based milk) (470g)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (9g)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (15g)
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- To make the pudding mix. Split and scrape the vanilla bean pods and add the seeds to a large mixing bowl with the sugar and stir well to combine. Cut the vanilla beans into 2-inch pieces and add them to the sugar mixture. Add the cornstarch, milk powder, and salt, and stir everything until combined. Use right away, or seal in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 6 months. Enjoy!
- To make vanilla pudding. Add ½ cup of pudding mix (including one piece of vanilla bean pod) plus 2 cups of whole milk to a medium pot set over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly, and cook for 5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Remove the vanilla bean pod, and then remove the mixture from the heat. Add 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, and whisk until smooth. Cover with sustainable cling film or parchment paper and allow to cool completely. Refrigerate until cold and serve.
Notes
- You may add more or less sugar than the recipe calls in order to suit your taste preferences. If you want a vanilla pudding mix that's as sweet as Jello vanilla pudding, add ¼ cup (60g) or more sugar to the mix.
- If you use regular table salt or sea salt instead of Kosher salt, reduce the amount of salt by ¼ or ½ teaspoon.
- When using this mix to make vanilla pudding you may omit the butter if you want to cut calories. The pudding won't be as rich in texture or flavor, but it will still fill a sweet craving.
- For the best flavor, I recommend making pudding 1 to 2 days in advance and stirring or whisking well before serving.
- For the best pudding texture in an eggless pudding such as this, I recommend re-whisking the pudding until smooth just before serving it.
- Flavor the pudding in various ways by either adding extracts to the vanilla pudding after you've cooked it to impart a different flavor (i.e. coconut, strawberry, rum, orange, lemon etc.). Or add a couple of tablespoons of chopped chocolate to the still-hot pudding mixture after removing it from the heat. This will help improve the flavor and texture of this homemade pudding.
- To substitute 1 small box of Instant Jello Pudding mix which weighs 3.4 to 3.99 ounces (96g to 113g), substitute the same amount of this homemade pudding mix.
- To substitute 1 large box of Instant Jello Pudding mix which weighs anywhere from 5.1 to 5.4 ounces (145g to 153g), substitute the same amount of this homemade pudding mix.
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Substitute 3 teaspoons vanilla bean powder for whole vanilla beans.
- Sub arrowroot 1:1 for the cornstarch if you have allergies to cornstarch.
- To make this a vegan vanilla pudding mix recipe, substitute coconut flour for the milk powder and substitute non-dairy milk like almond, coconut, or oat milk for regular milk when making vanilla pudding.
- If you don't have vanilla beans, omit them from the dry mix. When you want to make vanilla pudding simply add 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla extract to the thickened mixture after removing it from the heat. When you want to use the dry mix in baked recipes such as cakes or cookies, add 1 to 2 teaspoons more vanilla extract to the recipe in addition to what's already listed in the ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Mix & Stir
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3.4 ounces/100g
- Calories: 185
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Hidayah says
Can I substitute cornstarch for gelatin?
Is the weight the same as cornstarch?
Kelly says
Hi Hidayah! This is a great question:) While gelatin cannot be substituted into this dry mix for the same make-ahead convenience, you can try this test substituting the cornstarch with gelatin when making the full recipe all at once. Here's how:
Modified Method for Gelatin-Based Pudding:
Omit the ¾ cup cornstarch from the dry mix
For 2 cups milk, use 1½-2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder (1½ tsp for softer pudding, 2 tsp for slightly firmer)
Directions:
Bloom the gelatin: Sprinkle gelatin over ¼ cup cold milk and let sit 5-10 minutes until absorbed
Heat remaining 1¾ cups milk with the dry mix ingredients over medium-low heat, stirring constantly - do NOT boil (temperatures above 212°F deactivate gelatin's setting properties)
Remove from heat when hot (around 160-180°F), add bloomed gelatin and whisk until completely dissolved
Add butter and vanilla extract, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer
Pour into serving dishes and refrigerate 4+ hours (or overnight) to set
Why gelatin can't go in the dry mix: Unlike cornstarch (which activates when heated in liquid), gelatin must first be bloomed (soaked) in cold liquid for 5-10 minutes before being added to warm (not boiling) ingredients. If added directly to hot liquid, it clumps, won't dissolve properly, and loses efficacy.
Important note: The texture will be different from cornstarch pudding - softer and more custard-like, similar to a creamy panna cotta rather than traditional pudding. It won't thicken on the stove and will only set after chilling in the refrigerator.
I haven't personally tested this version yet, but the science should work out! If you try it, I'd love to hear how it turns out - and I'll definitely let you know once I test it myself. It's absolutely on my radar now to experiment with this gelatin variation!
Lisa says
I think this recipe is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Can I use this dry mix in a no bake pumpkin pie recipe?
Thanks 🙂
Kelly says
Hi Lisa! I have not yet used this in a no-bake pumpkin pie but here are a few things to consider beforehand if you decide to try it: You can use this pudding mix in a no-bake pumpkin pie, but be aware that it may not set as firmly as commercial instant pudding which is meant to be really firm. This might result in a pie that's too soft to slice properly.The main risk is that the homemade mix might not have enough thickening power to handle the moisture from the added pumpkin puree. Maybe to help ensure a properly firm texture, add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of unflavored powdered gelatin per cup of liquid - bloom it in cold liquid for 5 minutes, then gently heat until dissolved before mixing into your pudding base. Start with the smaller amount to avoid a rubbery texture, and consider testing a small batch first to check the consistency before making your full pie. This was a lot of info I know (sorry)☺️, but hopefully it will help you avoid making an entire pie that fails, and instead holds up! If you decide to try it, I really would love to hear how it goes either way! Thanks and good luck!❤️