Instant Pot Chocolate Pudding

My Instant Pot chocolate pudding is a fool-proof, make ahead Valentine's Day dessert with a decadent, intense chocolate flavor that will satisfy the chocolate lovers.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. After 20 years together, my husband and I stopped buying presents, cards, and flowers. We usually celebrate with a low key dinner. Vu loves chocolate so I always make a chocolate dessert for our dinner. I’m so excited to share a chocolate forward recipe, my Instant Pot chocolate pudding. Making chocolate pudding in the Instant Pot makes it fool proof and yields a creamy, intense chocolatey dessert that will satisfy the chocolate lovers.

Ingredient note

• Chocolate: use a good quality chocolate like Valrhona (not sponsored) or your favorite brand. My recipes uses semi-sweet chocolate but feel free to use bittersweet or dark chocolate.
• Heavy cream: I used all heavy cream for a rich taste but you can substitute with half and half if you want less calories.

Tips for making chocolate pudding in an Instant Pot

If you haven’t made chocolate pudding in the Instant Pot before, reading through these tips will ensure the easiest, tastiest pudding you’ll ever make.

• I have the 8-quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker which fits a 8-inch ramekin. You can also make the chocolate pudding using individual ramekins (I included the instructions in the recipe card).
• Cover the ramekin with foil to prevent condensation from dripping on the pudding.
• Cooking the chocolate pudding on LOW pressure results in the lightest, creamiest pudding.
• Cooking the chocolate pudding on HIGH pressure yields a firmer, mousse like texture that's similar to pots de creme and completely irresistible.
• Let the pressure naturally release for 15 minutes.
• Let the chocolate pudding cool for 30 minutes before refrigerating it.
• The pudding needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to set.
• If you don't have an Instant Pot, follow the instruction from my Earl Grey chocolate pots de creme recipe to make it the traditional way using the oven and water bath.

After 6 hours in the fridge, you get a decadent chocolate dessert with a creamy mousse like texture. For the chocolate lover, this Instant Pot chocolate pudding is pure chocolate heaven. I added some creme fraiche and shaved chocolate to cut through the richness but you can serve it with whipped cream or raspberries. There you have it, an easy, make-ahead Valentine's Day dessert that will make everyone lick the bowl clean!

For more Instant Pot dessert inspiration, check these recipes: IP Earl Grey creme brulee, IP blood orange flan, IP blood orange flan, IP fig goat cheesecake.