My who pudding starts as a homemade vanilla custard, cooked on the stovetop in about 10 minutes, no box mix. I tint it Grinch green, chill it until thick and spoonable, then layer it with whipped cream and crushed sugar cookies. A red candy heart goes on top, for the heart that grew three sizes.
Grinch pudding for a kid who loves the Grinch books
My daughter is OBSESSED with the Grinch books, so we started cooking the food that shows up in them. The Grinch dip came first, and this pudding was next in line.
In the book, the pudding is part of the Whos’ Christmas feast, and the Grinch steals it right along with the roast beast. The book never says how it tastes, so I made it a classic stovetop vanilla pudding thickened with cornstarch and two egg yolks, then turned it green for the Grinch. Made from scratch, it comes out thick and silky, and it takes about 10 minutes at the stove.
What goes into homemade green pudding
Full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the recipe card.
- Whole milk gives the pudding enough body to hold its layers in the glass. Lower-fat milk works, but the pudding sets softer.
- Cornstarch and egg yolks thicken it together. The cornstarch gives the set, and the two yolks make it rich and custardy. They also tint the base pale yellow, which is why the green comes out bright lime instead of minty.
- Liquid green food coloring at 6 to 8 drops gets a true Grinch green. Gel coloring is much stronger, so start with a toothpick dab and add more.
- Sugar cookies make the crunchy layer, and leftover Christmas sugar cookies are a good way to empty the cookie tin. Graham crackers work just as well.
- Heavy cream whipped by hand or with a mixer gives the softest layers. Store-bought whipped topping holds its shape longer if the cups sit out at a party.
- Red candy hearts are the Grinch’s heart on top. For toddlers, use half a maraschino cherry instead, because small hard candy is a choking risk.
Shruthi’s Top Tips
How to keep this Grinch dessert smooth
- Whisk the whole time the pudding cooks, and reach into the corners of the pan. That is where the yolks scramble first.
- Keep it bubbling for one full minute after it thickens. Cornstarch pudding that comes off the heat too early can turn thin in the fridge.
- If a few lumps sneak in anyway, push the hot pudding through a fine mesh sieve before it chills.
- Press the plastic wrap right onto the surface so a skin never forms.
- Layer the cups close to serving. The cookie crumbs soften within a few hours.
How to make who pudding
- Whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan, then whisk in the milk and egg yolks until no dry streaks remain.
- Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the pudding thickens and big bubbles pop at the surface, 6 to 8 minutes. Keep whisking over the heat for 1 minute more.
- Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the butter, vanilla, and green food coloring until the color is even.
- Press plastic wrap onto the surface and chill for at least 2 hours, until cold and set.
- Whip the cream until it holds soft peaks. Spoon pudding, whipped cream, and cookie crumbs into 4 small glasses in layers, then finish with sprinkles and a red candy heart.
How to serve who pudding
Set the cups out for a Grinch movie night or on a Christmas dessert table, next to a Christmas tree cake dip, a bowl of peppermint dip, and a plate of sprinkle-topped white chocolate fudge. One batch fills 4 generous glasses or 6 small cups for kids.
For a party, cook the pudding up to 3 days ahead and keep it covered in the fridge, then layer the cups the day you serve them. For more holiday ideas, browse my kid-friendly Christmas recipes.
Variations
Build it as one big trifle in a glass bowl instead of cups. Swap the sugar cookies for graham crackers. For a plain vanilla parfait, leave out the food coloring.
Homemade Who Pudding (Grinch Pudding Cups)
Equipment
- 4 Small serving glasses These Grinch themed drinking glasses make an excellent serving glass (optional)
Ingredients
Green pudding
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2½ cups whole milk
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 drops green food coloring, liquid, add up to 2 more for extra color
To layer and top
- ½ cup heavy cream, ~1 cup whipped topping
- ½ cup crumbled Graham cracker sheets, ~2 sheets, substitute with (uniced) Christmas sugar cookies
- 1 tablespoon green and red sprinkles
- 4 red candy hearts, or maraschino cherries, especially for toddlers to avoid choking risk.
Instructions
- In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in the milk and egg yolks until smooth.
- Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it thickens and bubbles, 6 to 8 minutes. Cook 1 minute more.
- Off the heat, whisk in the butter, vanilla, and green food coloring.
- Press plastic wrap onto the surface and chill until cold, at least 2 hours.
- Whip the cream to soft peaks. Layer the green pudding with whipped cream and cookie crumbs in 4 small glasses. Top with sprinkles and a red candy heart.
Notes
- Whisk constantly in step 2 or the yolks scramble and the pudding turns lumpy and eggy.
- Press the wrap directly onto the surface while chilling or it forms a skin.
- Layer close to serving so the cookie crumbs stay crunchy.
- For toddlers, swap the candy heart for half a maraschino cherry.
- Use the 2 leftover egg whites in an omelet or scramble within 3 days.
- The chilled pudding keeps covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Layer the cups the day you serve them.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
