Puddings & Custards

Chia seeds are available at health-food stores and online. They're rich in omega-3s, fiber, and antioxidants.

Chocolate mousse is the ultimate dessert for any chocolate lover. We like to make ours using bittersweet chocolate, which is high in pure chocolate (at least 35 percent cocoa solids) and makes for a deep chocolate flavor. (Plus, it's also a great eating chocolate.) If you prefer semisweet chocolate, which has more sugar and fewer cocoa solids than bittersweet, know that it can often be substituted in recipes without significantly affecting the flavor or texture.

These individual creme caramel desserts will be an instant classic. So sweet and creamy, everyone will want seconds, trust us. 

Rediscover homemade pudding's comforting simplicity, then see how versatile it can be. Choose one or the other, or make them both! Use this basic recipe to create the following flavor variations and desserts: Chai-Cinnamon Pudding, Mocha-Chip Pudding, Rum-Raisin Pudding, Peanut-Butter Chocolate Parfaits, Boston Cream Pie, and Raspberry Napoleons.

This fabulous version of the favorite Southern dessert boosts the banana flavor by infusing it into the homemade vanilla pudding, in addition to the traditional slices layered throughout.  

One of the most popular British puddings is spotted dick. The latter half of the phrase was a nineteenth-century British word for plain pudding; the spots are typically raisins, but we used dried currants. (The dessert also goes by spotted dog.) In this recipe, the time-honored suet (beef fat) is swapped for butter. Vanilla-specked creme anglaise is on top.

These individual cream "pies" get their silkiness from coconut milk and a zesty lift from limes. They're also fun to make, especially if you have kids who love spooning stuff into containers. Bake the graham-cracker crust and divide it into mini jars, add a tier of custard and another of whipped cream, and finish with toasted coconut flakes and more zest. 

This gently spiced, vanilla-scented pudding is so velvety you'd never suspect that it's made with skim milk instead of regular. It can also be served warm. This recipe was submitted by Samuel Shaffer of New York City.

A quick turn in the oven with honey and lemon juice brings out the flavor of fresh sweet cherries. Serve with luscious, custardy steamed tofu -- no molding or chilling required for this healthy dessert!

Classic bread pudding is just how you remember it: perfumed with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, and dotted with raisins.

One of Martha Stewart's favorites, creme brulee's seductive secret lies in the contrast between the brittle caramelized topping and the smooth, creamy custard beneath. French for "burnt cream," creme brulee is best served immediately after caramelizing its sweet, sugary surface.

This dessert couldn't be simpler. Unlike many custards, it doesn't require a hot-water bath. Shallow gratin dishes, shown here, allow the rhubarb to spread out and cook evenly. You can also use 4-inch ramekins (2 inches deep). Simply give the rhubarb a stir halfway through step 1.