Vanilla Pudding/Pie Filling

This recipe can be used alone as a delicious pudding or as a pie filling.

Tips:

• For Chocolate pudding: reduce sugar to 3/4 a cup and add 1 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips.
• For Peanut Butter pudding: reduce sugar to 3/4 cup and add 1 cup peanut butter chips

Vanilla Pudding (Pie Filling)

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups whole milk
4 egg yolks
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan. Slowly whisk in egg yolks followed by the milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking continuously until mixture thickens. Once mixture has thickened and comes to a low boil, continue cooking and whisking for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Stir until butter has melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly (or completely, depending on recipe) before using.