When Ryan and I first met, I had an animal cracker obsession. I would buy those big plastic bears full of animal crackers, and each night I’d eat about 2 or 3 dozen with a JELLO chocolate pudding cup. After a few months of this nightly ritual, I stopped buying animal crackers and pudding. Like many food obsessions, this one was fleeting.
Or so I thought.
This past week, my 35th week of pregnancy, I’ve wanted animal crackers and pudding again. But now, 7 years older and wiser, I can no longer allow myself to buy the overly processed pudding packs you find in the store. Especially since I know how easy it is to make your own chocolate pudding at home. Easy and so very delicious.
Most people already have pudding ingredients in their kitchen. Milk, sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, eggs…
Chocolate pudding is easy enough to make with children, and there’s nothing more fun than dipping a wooden spoon into a pot of fresh pudding and licking it clean. Believe me…I know. But if you want to make a special dessert, these Chocolate Pudding Hand Pies are ideal (and much more sophisticated than eating pudding out of a pot). A basic pie dough is cut and pressed into standard muffin tins. After baking, you fill those cups up with your homemade pudding and you have an easy yet elegant dessert.
So besides my new obsession with chocolate pudding, how am I doing at 35 weeks?
Cravings: chocolate pudding, animal crackers, ham and cheese sandwiches, granny smith apples
Fears: How am I going to get everything done? I feel like my to-do list is a mile long and my productivity is waning. Unfortunately, I’ve also become VERY indecisive. Should I buy this nursing bra? Or that one? Should we use a Moses basket? Or a bassinet? I think the plethora of opinions and information is becoming more of a curse than a blessing.
Exercise: Margot and I are still walking about 2 miles each day. The weather has warmed up finally, so Ryan and I usually take an evening walk as well. My energy is much better in the mornings though, so I often tire out after about twenty minutes of walking at night. I’m also hoping to take a prenatal yoga class this week.
Nursery: Lucille Amelia’s nursery (and the rest of our house) needs to be cleaned and organized before our housewarming party on Saturday. Yet another to-do on my list! But her room is exactly what I hoped for…soft vintage touches paired with practical baby-gear.
Health: As I shared over the weekend, we had a scare last Thursday night. Turns out I’m allergic to shellfish. We spent our anniversary evening at the Labor and Delivery Unit. Thankfully, both baby and me are just fine now. But I won’t be eating shrimp or mussels anytime soon!
Ryan: We celebrated our anniversary (again) on Saturday night due to how poorly Thursday ended. Rioja in Denver is now my favorite restaurant in Colorado, maybe even the country, and we were treated to a four course dinner that I won’t forget anytime soon. Ryan and I are enjoying these last few weeks of being just HIM and ME. We’re going out to eat, we’re watching movies, we’re hosting parties, and we’re taking long walks. I’m very much in love with both my baby and my husband. I couldn’t feel more blessed!
Chocolate Pudding Hand Pies
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbsp cornstarch
Pinch of salt
2 cups whole milk
1 large egg
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 disc of pie dough (store-bought or homemade…enough for a single crust pie)
Whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and boil, whisking, until pudding is thick, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pudding should easily coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat.
Immediately beat the egg lightly in a medium, heat-proof bowl, such as a hard plastic or ceramic mixing bowl. Very gradually add the hot chocolate mixture to the egg, whisking constantly. Whisk in the chocolate chips until they are melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in vanilla extract.
Pour the pudding into a large bowl. Cover pudding with cut out wax paper or plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming on the top of the pudding. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.
Meanwhile, make pie cups. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use a biscuit cutter to cut out 6 circles. You’ll have some leftover dough…which you can use to make cute hearts like the ones above! Make the pie cups by pressing the circles of dough down into the muffin cups, firmly pressing with your fingers to line the cup evenly. At this point, I like to stick my pie cups in the freezer for at least 15 minutes. This helps prevent the dough from shrinking too much when placed in oven.
Bake pie cups for 15 minutes in preheated oven, or until just lightly golden. Allow to cool before removing. Pie cups must be completely cool before you fill them with pudding (this will take 30 minutes to an hour). When pudding is chilled and pie cups are cooled, fill each pie cup generously with chocolate pudding. You will have leftover pudding (is that ever a problem?) which can be stored in the refrigerator for a late-night snack.
I must admit, I have also had an intermittent pudding obsession–anytime I’m sick, John goes and gets me a package of terrible processed pudding cups. But real pudding is clearly a better idea! These little pies are the cutest. Have an amazing last few weeks of pregnancy!
Eee shellfish allergy you poor thing! At least you got an anniversary re-do 😀 I’ve def. had my fair share of food phases (like one where I constantly ate saltine crackers, so much so that the bf started calling them “miracle food” lol)-I adore the fact that you whipped up some homemade choc pudding for return of the craving. So much better than storebought! (and the hand pies are SO cute!)
Chocolate pudding (your own, not the packaged or premade) is truly good stuff. Sorry to hear about the shellfish reaction! But glad you had a redo on your anniversary! Great post – thanks so much.
Haha! Figures that I’m eating a chocolate pudding while reading this… These look so delicious, Monet! Perfect for having around the house for snacking or celebrating at a spring party. Lovely little bites! You’re absolutely glowing and gorgeous, my friend.
Oh that pudding looks mouthwatering! Love the little pastry hearts on top!
I adore the pictures of you in front of the brick. It looks so pretty with the colors of your shirt. I love how you make everything with love and care.
I’ve made mini pies before but they’ve been so much work; I love that your version allows for a storebought pie dough and only makes 6 adorable little pies – perfect for sharing with your family! Glad to hear your family is doing well!
You are so stinkin’ tiny and cute! I love your glow! And these hand pies are calling my name!
Monet, what a great blog! And I am so excited for you! And it is so nice to meet someone else for CO! And the cute little chocolate tarts are killer!
I’m diggin’ your obsessions + cravings! Daddy LOVES animal crackers (though, I doubt he’s preggars, lol). You keep looking more and more beautiful, Mama! and I’m adoring these cute little babies, too!
Monet…so cute your picture…you sure look very good 🙂
The chocolate pudding tarts look so good, nothing like homemade pudding.
Hope you are having a lovely week!
Pudding is my comfort food, and these cute little pies look fabulous! 🙂
Dear Monet,
This dessert is elegant and delicious. Homemade pudding is so much better than packaged.
I am glad that you are feeling better after the shellfish scare.
Please take care and rest, everything will come together in its own time.
Blessings dearest. Catherine xo
Monet, you look beautiful! Enjoy those food cravings and the last of the nursery preparations and especially the quiet moments alone with Ryan. I can hardly wait to see pictures of your little one!
Monet, you look so happy and healthy, how wonderful! And your chocolate pudding hand pies are just too cute, really pretty! You are just so very creative! Enjoy the time with your husband and your friends and take good care of yourself!
Have a lovely Thursday!
You’re looking great 🙂 Just a few more weeks to seeing your baby!
Aww it’s so sweet that the two of you are enjoying each other to the fullest potential! That makes me super happy.
As do these pudding cups. they are seriously the perfect bites!
This is such a fun recipe! And perfect for your craving. I love making chocolate pudding, and this looks awesome!
I loved those pudding cups as a kid, too, and have also discovered how easy it is to make the real thing myself. Love your pudding pies here. Week 35 looks great on you! : )
These look amazing– and so do YOU! 🙂
These little hand pies are adorable!!!! Congrats on your pregnancy!! Can;t wait to see a photo of the baby.. =)
These pies are just gorgeous! what a brilliant way to curb your cravings! and it sounds like you and Ryan are having such a lovely time going out on dates!
You look stunning 🙂
oh you look just beautiful! So glad everything is okay! what a great snack!
Oh goodness, brought memories back of when I used to make a chocolate pudding pie a few times a week when I was in college. I have not had one in years, always so satisfying to the soul! Though I have to admit I have never made pudding from scratch. You are looking wonderful and healthy, glad the scare was just a shellfish reaction and nothing more.
That is the prettiest way I’ve seen to eat pudding, such a good idea. You look so happy, pregnancy clearly agrees with you!
Hi, it is so nice to read your progress in the pregnacy and to know that everything is fine with you and the baby. I am myself pregnant, I am in my 15 week (I have just started my second trimester) and it is my first baby so everything is new and exciting and there are so many new and challanging things to learn… I think it is sointeresting to read about experiences and your blog is so nice, it is interesting to see what it might be in my next month pregnacy. And your recipes are good, I have tried several and I liked a lot. One of the most difficult things at the beginnig was the food to avoid eating… all th echeese I like and the ham… but it is only for few more months.
Have a nice weekened!
Ciao.
Homemade pudding…SQUEEL! You look so gorgeous, definitely have that pregnancy glow! I know what you mean about your brain going crazy with last minute things to do and trying to figure out what and what not to buy. Some reassurance, Lucy won’t need a bunch of that stuff for a few weeks, so that buys you some extra time! All I needed the first few weeks were diapers, swaddle blanket, boob, and pump 🙂
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Oh you are just too cute aren’t you? You have such a glow about you and these little hand pies are just darling!!
Monet you look great and your chocolate pudding hand pies are the perfect comfort food to get you through the pregnancy 😉
My friend didn’t know she was allergic to shellfish either, which was really scarey discovery for her too. I am so happy to hear you and Lucy are doing okay! You know it is funny, I have never made my own homemade pudding, but love how easy it is to make. My hubby would love it I bet if I made some homemade chocolate pudding for him:-) Your recipe sounds wonderful, and looks so delicious:-) Hugs, Terra
I like the idea of homemade pudding! It’s comforting and perfect for a gourmand as I am. =P Another great recipe and dessert for me to try!
You look to cute. =D
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