What Makes This Protein Pudding So Good

🖋️ Written by Olivia

Protein pudding used to taste like punishment. You’d choke it down, pray it hit your macros, and try to forget the chalky sadness. But this protein pudding recipe? It flips the script. Creamy, smooth, and actually crave-worthy, it hits like dessert without derailing your goals.

Made with simple ingredients and a quick stovetop method, this protein pudding delivers 20g of protein per serving and zero weird vibes. No gritty texture, no blandness—just real dessert energy in macro-friendly form. Whether you’re post-workout, meal prepping, or avoiding late-night snack sabotage, this is your new go-to.

Ingredients

Grab these pantry staples—no unicorn tears or obscure supplements required. Pro tip: Splurge on a quality vanilla protein powder.

Cheap stuff turns this into flavored cement.

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or any milk you stan)
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (30g)
• 2 tbsp cornstarch (or arrowroot for GF folks)
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder (optional, for chocolate lovers)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (the real stuff, not “vanilla adjacent”)
• Pinch of salt (trust me, it’s the flavor booster)
• Sweetener to taste (I use 1 tbsp maple syrup, but go wild)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whisk dry ingredients first. Dump the protein powder, cornstarch, cocoa (if using), and salt into a cold saucepan. This avoids clumps—because nobody wants protein pudding with the texture of gravel.
2. Slowly add milk.
   

   Pour in the almond milk a little at a time, whisking like your dessert dreams depend on it (they do). Keep going until it’s smoother than a TikTok influencer’s pitch.

   
   
3. Cook on medium heat. Stir constantly for 5-7 minutes until it thickens.
   

   If you stop stirring, you’ll get pudding skin. And unless you’re into that, keep the spoon moving.

   
   
4. Chill for at least 2 hours. Pour into ramekins, cover with plastic wrap (press it onto the surface to prevent skin), and let the fridge work its magic.
   

   Patience is a virtue—or just distract yourself with these high-protein snacks while you wait.

   
   

Storage Instructions

This protein pudding stays fresh in the fridge for 3 days—if it lasts that long. For freezer prep: Portion into silicone molds, freeze solid, then transfer to bags. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Pro tip: Double the batch and stash servings for emergency snack attacks. Future you will high-five present you.

Why You’ll Love This Protein Pudding

• No willpower required: Hits dessert cravings without the sugar crash. Perfect for post-workout or Netflix binges.
• Meal-prep MVP: Whip up a batch Sunday, and you’ve got snacks all week.
  

  Even my toddler approves (miracle status).

  
  
• Customizable AF: Swap cocoa for peanut butter, add cinnamon—make it your own. Check out these flavor twists for inspo.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using crappy protein powder. Garbage in, garbage out.
  

  Spring for a brand that doesn’t taste like despair.

  
  
• Rushing the chill time. Warm pudding is sad pudding. Let it set properly.
• Overcooking.
  

  If it looks like wet sand, you’ve gone too far. Aim for pancake batter consistency.

  
  

Alternatives and Variations

Vegan? Swap whey for pea protein and use coconut milk.

Keto? Erythritol instead of maple syrup. Add-ins: crushed cookies, chia seeds, or a dollop of Greek yogurt for extra protein.

Get weird with it.

FAQs

Can I freeze this protein pudding?

Yep! Freeze in portions for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge—texture stays creamy.

What’s the best substitute for cornstarch?

Arrowroot or tapioca starch works 1:1.

Almond flour can sub in a pinch, but it’ll be denser.

How long does it stay fresh?

3 days in the fridge. After that, it gets weepy (like me after a bad workout).

Is this kid-friendly?

Totally. My kids inhale it.

Sneak in spinach for a “Hulk pudding” version—they’ll never know.

Can I prep it ahead of time?

Absolutely. Make it Sunday for Wednesday’s snack attack. Just keep it covered.

Final Thoughts

This protein pudding is the dessert hack you didn’t know you needed—creamy, macro-friendly, and legit delicious.

Whether you’re meal-prepping or just craving something sweet, it’s a game-changer. Try it, tweak it, and tag me when you obsess over it. Now go forth and pudding.

 📌 Want more real-life meal ideas? Follow @whattomaketoday for daily recipes you’ll actually want to cook.