Rich Chocolate Pudding / Cream Pie Filling

This is dark and rich and delicious! I can't go to Thanksgiving or Christmas without bringing a couple of batches of this in clear plastic cups topped with whipped cream... kids and adults alike select them over all the other desserts offered. (I recommend dutch/alkali processed cocoa, but it is fantastic with typical grocery-store cocoa as well.)

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 1 pie or about 5 portions of pudding

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 2  cups milk
• 3  egg yolks
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup flour
• 1⁄3 cup  cocoa
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 2 cups milk; heat until it's just about to boil.
2. While the milk/sugar is heating, combine the remaining ingredients (egg yolks, sugar, 1/4 c flour, cocoa, salt, 1/4 c milk) EXCEPT for butter and vanilla in a blender or mixer on low. The goal is to mix it absolutely smoothly without lumps, not add a bunch of air to it.
3. Combine the two mixes and return to the saucepan.
4. Adjust the heat to medium high and bring to a boil for five minutes, stirring constantly until thickened. (NOTE: It never takes me five minutes to get to this point.).
5. Remove from heat; immediately stir in 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
6. Pour into (cooked) pie crust or pudding dishes and refrigerate.
7. Note: if you're using this for a pie, a beautiful meringue can easily be made with the three egg whites you'll have left over from this recipe. I'd suggest looking up #28458 and referring to those directions for how to create it -- remember to leave your crust with about ten minutes left to bake so that you don't burn it while toasting the meringue.