Salted Caramel Budino
This salted caramel budino recipe is such an easy Italian dessert! It features a cookie crust that’s topped with vanilla pudding and then a layer of homemade caramel sauce.
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What is Budino?
Budino is the Italian word for custard or pudding, a sweet dessert with a creamy texture. Bu-di-no is pronounced boo ‘dee no.
Budino vs. Pudding
Wondering how budino differs from pudding?
Budino is thicker than traditional pudding due to the addition of egg yolks. It is thick, super smooth, and silky, where as pudding is thinner in texture.
Making this Salted Caramel Budino Recipe
As my sister told me about the fabulous Budino she had sampled at a local restaurant, I knew I needed to recreate it at home. The smooth, creamy pudding or custard paired with salted caramel she described sounded so enticing.
I was not at all disappointed with my homemade version of this delectable Italian pudding. Well, that’s a bit of an understatement.
The flavors in recipe for budino were absolutely amazing: rich custard accented by chocolate cookie crumbles; the meeting of salty and sweet in the caramel.
Oh, budino is absolutely heavenly.
I must admit that the caramel sauce that pairs with this custard was a bit of a failure at first. The recipe, I’m sure, was not to blame. But I have never been good at judging when sugar is “dark amber,” so my first attempt at the sauce was rather watery.
The method of soaking the vanilla beans in the cream was brilliant, however. So I made my trusty caramel recipe instead, with the addition of the vanilla beans in the cream. I loved the flecks of vanilla seeds in the sauce – so pretty!
Since this recipe made many more budini than my husband and I could eat by ourselves, we served it to our family. It was a huge success. My older sister, who was sick with a nasty cold, particularly enjoyed it.
Click HERE to save this recipe for Budino!
Salted Caramel Budino Ingredients
To make this Italian caramel pudding parfait, you’ll need:
- Chocolate wafer cookies
- Butter
- Sea salt
- Whole milk
- Cornstarch
- Dark brown sugar
- Water
- Egg yolks
- Vanilla extract
- Granulated sugar
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla bean
- Whipping cream
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this Italian pudding, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Salted Caramel Budino
These caramel pudding parfaits take a little time to assemble, but the prep work is fairly straightforward. Here’s how you make caramel budino:
- Prep the wafer cookie crust, then divide the mixture between eight 8-ounce glasses or jars.
- Make the caramel pudding, then divide it between the jars.
- Set the budino in fridge to chill (this will take 3 to 5 hours).
- While the budino chills, make the salted caramel sauce.
- Pour the caramel sauce over the chilled budino, then sprinkle with sea salt.
- Top with whipped cream and additional wafer cookie crumbs, if desired.
The above is simply a quick summary of this decadent dessert. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Tips for Making the Best Budino
You must use the exact ingredients listed in this recipe, otherwise your budino might not set up properly. Real butter and whole milk are crucial ingredients in this caramel pudding parfait recipe!
You’re welcome to use either pure vanilla extract or a splash of dark rum in the pudding. Both add a richness to the pudding that’s hard to beat.
Personally, I don’t think you need to sweeten the whipped cream much. The pudding and cookie crust are both quite sweet as is.
Budino Recipe FAQs
Got questions about how to make this budino dessert? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
Can I Prep This Budino Dessert in Advance?
Budino is a great make-ahead dessert!
You can make the pudding a day in advance and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to make the salted caramel pudding parfaits.
Can I Use Store-Bought Caramel Sauce?
Technically, yes. But I highly recommend making your own for the best flavor. It’s not as scary as it sounds, promise! Learn more about making homemade caramel sauce here.
What Kind of Dish is Budino Served in?
I recommend individual serving containers that are clear so you can see all of the pretty layers. Parfait glasses, individual cups, or glass dessert bowls will all work well.
When Should I Serve this Budino Recipe?
Dessert, of course! It makes an an impressive dessert for an Italian food themed dinner party. Here are some suggested pairings for a full menu:
- Appetizers: Marinated Olives, Antipasto Skewers, or Roasted Tomato Crostini
- Salads: Zucchini Tomato Basil Salad or Prosciutto Salad
- Breads: Rosemary Focaccia or Rustic Rosemary Garlic Bread
- Entrees: Pasta with Arrabbiata Sauce, Chicken Marsala, or Pasta with Bolognese Sauce
How Do You Store Leftover Budino?
If you have any leftovers, cover each dish with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. It is best eaten within 3 days.
Click HERE to save this recipe for Salted Caramel Budino!
Try this Recipe for Budino at Home!
Next time you’re looking for a new recipe for a delicious dessert, give this Italian budino a try!
Is this recipe your new favorite dessert? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this Salted Caramel Budino.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this Italian style pudding!
More Pudding and Custard Recipes
Thick, creamy, and decadent, this White Chocolate Pudding recipe is made completely from scratch.
Try making this Pumpkin Pudding the next time a craving hits. You’ll love how easy it is to prepare!
This recipe for Dark Chocolate Orange Pudding is simple, yet so rich tasting.
This homemade Pumpkin Custard is incredibly easy to prepare and makes for a wonderful fall dessert. Perfect for family gatherings!
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Have you ever made budino?
Salted Caramel Budino
This salted caramel budino recipe is such an easy Italian dessert! It features a cookie crust that's topped with vanilla pudding and then a layer of homemade caramel sauce.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Crust:
- 1 cup finely crushed chocolate wafer cookie crumbs (such as Nabisco Chocolate Wafters or World Table Chocolate Cookie Thins), about 20 cookies
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
For the Budino:
- 3 cups whole milk, divided
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 5 large egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or dark rum
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
For the Toppings:
- Extra coarse sea salt
- Whipping cream
Instructions
For the Cookie Crust:
- In a small bowl, mix together the cookie crumbs, butter and salt. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the mixture in a covered bowl and refrigerate.
- Press 2 tablespoons of the crumbs into the bottoms of each of eight 8-ounce containers (you can use mason jars or whatever other pretty containers you have on hand).
For the Budino:
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of the milk and the cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the remaining milk just until simmering. Set aside.
- To make the caramel, stir the sugar and water together in a heavy saucepan set over medium heat until all the sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat to high and cook without stirring until an instant read thermometer reads between 210-215 degrees F.
- Have ready a large, heat-proof pitcher. Place the egg yolks in a large heat-proof bowl and whisk. Gradually whisk in the hot milk; add the cornstarch mixture. Slowly whisk in the caramel.
- Return custard to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it thickens and an instant-read thermometer registers 175 degrees F, about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Whisk in the butter, vanilla and salt. Pour into the heat-proof pitcher.
- Pour 1/2 cup of the budino into each of the prepared jars. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until set, about 3-5 hours.
For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- Place the cream into a small pitcher and scrape in the vanilla seeds and the pod. Set aside.
- Place the sugar in medium heavy bottomed saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon the whole time.
- Once the sugar has completely melted, add the butter pieces, one at a time. Whisk until the butter has completely melted before adding another piece.
- Wait for about 3 seconds, then add the vanilla cream slowly. Whisk until nice and smooth. Add the salt and whisk to combine. Strain into a heat proof bowl and let cool slightly.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of the caramel sauce over each chilled budino. Sprinkle with a little coarse sea salt.
- Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream and the reserved cookie crumbles. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can make the custard up to 1 day in advance, keeping chilled.
- Adapted from Epicurious and Foods of Our Lives.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 951Total Fat: 51gSaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 212mgSodium: 1014mgCarbohydrates: 112gFiber: 2gSugar: 78gProtein: 13g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
The method for the caramel doesn’t look accurate. In the photo, the caramel color clearly looks like the melted sugar was cooked until it was amber colored whereas the directions just state to melt the sugar and then add the butter. If you did this, you would not attain the dark, rich color appearing in the photo. Is something missing? Should it continue cooking once melted until amber colored?
This post was written by former contributor Erica from http://www.butteredsideupblog.com
I recommend contacting her directly with your questions about the recipe.
I had a salted caramel budino for my birthday dessert a few months ago and today made this recipe for my SIL’s anniversary dessert-huge hit! It’s actually better than the restaurant I had it in…thanks of sharing the recipe!!
I hadn’t heard of budino until now. It looks and sounds magical! Chocolate and caramel is always a good thing. And chocolate and caramel and custard is even better. 🙂
This looks beautiful! I’ve never made a budino, but I”m definitely tempted 🙂
Erica,this looks terrific! Can’t wait to make it.
I have to make these! Yum!
Oh my goodness, those couldnt look more perfect. So beautiful looking!
This is so pretty, Erica! And I learned a new word too! 🙂
This looks fabulous Erica! I love chocolate dipped pretzels as a quick sweet/salty combo! 🙂