Grandma's pudding dessert

I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but sometimes I feel the need for something a little on the "dessert side".
My grandma used to make this dessert that I loved!  It wasn't anything fancy and it wasn't overly sweet.  It was one of those weeknight desserts that she could whip up without a lot of fuss. Best of all, it had just the right amount of sweetness to curb that little sweet craving I get once in a while.

I never got the entire recipe, and honestly, it's not much of a recipe.  Like I said, it was one of those desserts she would just whip together.  However, one of the parts of the recipe was the homemade vanilla pudding!  I've been in my kitchen trying many different recipes for it.  Some were really good!  Some were not so good.  Some were really difficult.  After lots of experimenting, here is my recipe for a very good and easy vanilla pudding.  It tastes just like grandma's and it couldn't be simpler!

VANILLA PUDDING

2/3 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons corn starch
1/4 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups whole milk
6 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
4 tsp real vanilla extract

In a bowl, mix the sugar, corn starch, and salt in a bowl and mix them together.  In a separate bowl beat the milk and egg yolks together.  Using a medium, heavy bottom pot, put the milk mixture in and set the heat to medium.  Stir in the sugar mixture and using a whisk stir continuously until the mixture starts to bubble around the sides.  Switch to a rubber spatula.  Continue to stir with the spatula, scraping the bottom and sides of the pot so that it doesn't burn.  Continue cooking and the pudding will start to thicken.  This takes about 6 minutes.  remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla until incorporated.

If you are going to eat this just as pudding you can pour the warm pudding into individual dishes and cover with plastic wrap so that the plastic wrap is touching the pudding.  This will keep it from getting a "film" over the top.  Refrigerate for a couple of hours before eating.

You can change the flavor of the pudding too depending on the extract or flavoring you use.  I've used coconut flavoring (and it is wonderful!), almond extract, lemon extract....the possibilities are endless!  To turn this into chocolate pudding, add 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the sugar mixture!

Now, if you'd like to make my grandma's dessert, read on!

I've been experimenting with this too!  There are so many ways to jazz up this little dish.  Grandma made this very simply.  In a oblong tupperware container she would put a layer of graham crackers then pour on some of the warm vanilla pudding, put on another layer of graham crackers followed by another layer of pudding, let it sit in the fridge for 3-4 hours or until the grahams would soften and serve!

I like to toast almonds and coconut and put that on top for a little texture and crunch.  This one has chocolate glaze on top (per Olivia's request)!  Shaved chocolate is another tasty way to make this special.  Another variation that we like is to layer bananas on top of the vanilla pudding and make a glaze with peanut butter chips or dulce de leche!  Enjoy!