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Home » Recipes » Desserts - Dolci

Budino al Cioccolato

Published: Jul 2, 2022 · Modified: Dec 31, 2024 by Marisa Franca

Jump to Recipe

Calling all chocolate lovers! This rich Italian Budino al Cioccolato is the perfect chocolate pudding. Serve it on special occasions, holidays, or whenever you crave chocolate!

The pudding is rich and creamy, thickened with egg yolks. It can be enjoyed warm or chilled. If you like, you can add toppings like whipped cream, fresh berries, chopped nuts, or chocolate shavings.

Three ramekins filled with budino al cioccolato with whipped cream.
Chocolate makes everything better and this simple Italian Chocolate pudding is the best example.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🛒 Ingredients
  • 🗒 Instructions
  • 🔪 Equipment
  • 🤔 FAQs
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Tips
  • 📚 Variations
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📗 Related Recipes
  • 🍽 Serve with
  • 📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
  • 📝 Recipe Card
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

  • Since this Budino uses eggs as a thickening agent, it’s a completely gluten-free dessert! 
  • This Italian pudding tastes like rich chocolate cake batter. It has a smooth, silky texture because it uses egg yolks instead of other thickening agents. 
  • This rich and creamy pudding isn’t overly sweet, making it appeal to a variety of preferences.

This stovetop Budino al Cioccolato beats store-bought chocolate pudding without question and is so easy to prepare. You’ll only need 30 minutes to make it from start to finish!

🛒 Ingredients

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Ingredient image of Italian Chocolate pudding.

Note: The full list of this recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.

  • heavy cream
  • whole milk
  • eggs
  • granulated sugar
  • dark chocolate
  • unsalted butter
  • kosher salt
  • pure vanilla extract

🗒 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

First set of four steps making Budino al Cioccolato recipe.
  1. Add milk and cream to a large saucepan over medium heat and simmer. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Add sugar to a medium bowl and egg yolks to a smaller bowl.
  3. Add the egg yolks to the bowl of sugar.
  4. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar well until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is pale.
Second set of four steps to making Italian chocolate flavored pudding recipe.
  1. Temper the egg-sugar mixture by slowly stirring in ⅓ of the warmed cream and milk.
  2. Whisk in another ⅓ and finally the last ⅓ mixing well between the additions.
  3. Return the mixture back to the large saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. 
  4. Place the chopped chocolate in a large mixing bowl. 
  5. Pour the custard over the chopped chocolate and set it aside for 5 minutes so that the chocolate can melt.
  6. Whisk the mixture until the ingredients are well combined. 
  7. Add in the butter, salt, and vanilla.
  8. Whisk until combined well.
Third and final steps in making the classic Italian chocolate pudding.
  1. Pour into serving dishes and enjoy warm or chill first in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.
Three bowls of Budino al cioccolato.
This Chocolate Italian pudding recipe is so rich, creamy and flavorful it doesn't need anything to enhance it.

🔪 Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • mixing bowls
  • large saucepan
  • whisk
  • dry measuring cups
  • liquid measuring cup
  • measuring spoon
  • ramekins on glass bowls for budino

🤔 FAQs

These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making Classic Italian Chocolate Pudding.

What is the difference between pudding and budino?

“Pudding” is an American word for a dessert. It mixes sugar, milk, and a thickening agent. This thickener is often corn starch, but it can also be gelatin, rice, or tapioca. 

“Budino” is an Italian dessert that uses eggs as a thickening agent. 

What is Il budino?

The Italian word “Budino” literally means “custard” or “pudding”. This dessert is often referred to in full as Budino al Cioccolato.

Many people use the words “cioccolato” and “cioccolata” as if they mean the same thing. However, “cioccolato” means chocolate in solid form. On the other hand, “cioccolata” means chocolate in liquid form. This is why you often hear “cioccolata” when talking about drinks.

How do you store budino?

The pudding should be stored in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for up to 3 days. Only add the whipped cream topping just before serving. 

How do you make chocolate panna cotta?

Chocolate panna cotta uses ingredients similar to budino. However, panna cotta adds powdered gelatin as a thickening agent and does not use eggs.

A chocolate panna cotta recipe typically has these ingredients:
Heavy cream
Half and half
Powdered gelatin
Sugar
Vanilla extract
Dark chocolate


How do you pronounce budino?

Budino is pronounced “boo-DEE-noh”.

Italian Chocolate pudding in glass bowls with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkle.
The family loves this Chocolate Italian pudding cold in the summer and warm in the winter.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tips

  • Serve your budino in small jars, parfait glasses, or dessert glass bowls to show off that rich and creamy pudding! 
  • Use quality chocolate and vanilla extract for this pudding - it makes a huge impact on the flavor of the dessert. 
  • I don’t recommend freezing this dessert due to the cream-based ingredients used. 
  • You can enjoy this chocolate budino warm or chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This way, you can have a cold dessert. When serving warm, make sure that you at least allow the hot pudding to cool slightly, especially if you plan to top it with whipped cream. 

📚 Variations

  • Make a butterscotch budino by omitting the chocolate and topping the pudding with store-bought or homemade salted caramel. I suggest using brown sugar instead of granulated sugar. The brown sugar mixed with butter will create a rich butterscotch flavor. 
  • Add a crushed cracker crust using Graham crackers and butter to line the bottom of each parfait glass, jar, or glass bowl. This will provide a delicious contrasting texture to the dessert. 
  • Add some coffee, Cognac, or amaretto to this budino al cioccolato for a fun twist.
  • Create a layered pudding by dividing the pudding and adding dark chocolate to one half and white chocolate to the other half. Layer the dessert in glass jars or bowls. Let the first layer cool before adding the second layer. Repeat as many layers as you wish.

🥫 Storage

You can store Budino al cioccolato in single serving jars or bowls. Just cover them tightly with plastic wrap. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Leave off any toppings such as whipped  cream until you are about to serve your individual puddings. 

📗 Related Recipes

If you love desserts with a silky smooth, creamy consistency, then be sure to bookmark my Panna Cotta with Strawberry Sauce, Lemon Tart With Almond Biscotti Crust, or this No Churn Nutella Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Ice Cream!

Or if your jam is quick and easy and you have the munchies, you'll love our Homemade Chocolate Turtles. These Rolo pretzel pecans are the easiest holiday treat to make and are so much fun to decorate.

Are you looking to add a touch of sweetness and nostalgia to your family gatherings? Look no further than our Family Classic Decadent Cherry Chocolate Cake. It's made with a luscious chocolate cake mix and tart cherry pie filling. This delectable dessert brings delight to both young and old alike.

A spoonful of rich and creamy Italian chocolate pudding with whipped cream topping.
The chocolate Italian pudding is extra rich with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

🍽 Serve with

You can keep your chocolate puddings plain. Or, you can top them with whipped cream.
Fine chocolate shavings also work well. Fresh berries, chopped nuts, or a sprinkle of sea salt are great options too.

📞 Chiacchierata (chat)

This rich velvet-like chocolate pudding takes me straight back to my childhood. I can still clearly picture scraping any remaining chocolate pudding from the large bowl my mom used and licking the spoon completely clean. 

This decadent chocolate dessert is so good that you won’t be leaving any behind!

Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!

A creamy rich budino al cioccolato with whipped cream and topped by cocoa sprinkle.
This classic Italian pudding recipe is a dessert I make when I want to give my a real treat.

What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.

📝 Recipe Card

Budino al Cioccolato is a rich and creamy chocolate pudding made with pantry staple ingredients. It can be enjoyed warm or chilled. The custard-like dessert is thickened with egg yolks and flavored with melted dark chocolate and pure vanilla extract. 

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

📖 Recipe

Three servings of Italian Chocolate Pudding.

Classic Italian Chocolate Pudding (Budino Al Cioccolato)

This Budino al Cioccolato is the Italian version of chocolate pudding. It’s a rich and creamy dessert with a custard-like texture, served warm or chilled with an optional topping of whipped cream!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American-Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cooling time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 315kcal
Author: Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Large saucepan
  • Mixing bowl
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Dry measuring cups
  • Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Heavy cream
  • 1 cup Whole milk
  • 6 Egg yolks large
  • ⅓ cup Granulated sugar
  • 5 ounces Dark chocolate 70-85% dark, coarsely chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter unsalted
  • ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla extract
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring milk and cream to a simmer. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until sugar has dissolved and mixture is pale.
  • Temper the egg-sugar mixture by slowly stirring in ⅓ of the warmed cream and milk. Whisk in another ⅓ and finally the last ⅓ mixing well between additions.
  • Add the mixture back to the large saucepan and place over medium heat.
  • Cook, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes, until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Place the chopped chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Pour the custard over the chocolate and set aside for 5 minutes so that the chocolate can melt.
  • Work quickly, whisking until the everything is smooth and the ingredients are well combined.
  • Whisk in the butter, salt, and vanilla until well combined.
  • Pour into serving dishes.
  • You can enjoy the pudding warm, or cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes to serve cold.
  • The pudding will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • Serve your budino in small jars, parfait glasses, or dessert glass bowls to show off that rich and creamy pudding! 
  • Use quality chocolate and vanilla extract for this pudding - it makes a huge impact on the flavor of the dessert. 
  • I don’t recommend freezing this dessert due to the cream-based ingredients used. 
  • You can enjoy this budino al cioccolato warm or allow it to chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes for a cold dessert. When serving warm, make sure that you at least allow the hot pudding to cool slightly, especially if you plan to top it with whipped cream. 

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 187mg | Sodium: 259mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 732IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 3mg

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    I’m Marisa Franca, a home chef, food writer, and photographer who believes that you can make gourmet quality food at home with simple seasonal ingredients. I’m passionate about family, food, friends, everything Italian, and happy endings.

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