Whether you make homemade pudding from scratch or use convenient quick mix pudding mixes, serving pudding can be a versatile dessert that brings out a bit of the inner child in your guests.

Pudding can be topped with chocolate shavings, coconut, or fresh fruit for an easy festive look. Crowned with a jaunty cloud of whipped cream, it’s hard to resist eating wave after wave of the delicious stuff.

Even better, since puddings can be an important part of trifles, cakes, and pies, it’s always good to keep recipes and ingredients to make them on hand for easy entertaining.

Below are two pudding recipes of mine that I’ve served at many parties, potlucks, and holiday occasions.

Because I wanted these dessert recipes to be quick and easy and travel well, I used pudding mixes to make the 2 recipes below, but homemade pudding tastes even better and can be substituted if you prefer.

• Creamy Indian Spiced Orzo Pudding Recipe

• Layered Banana Pudding, Low Country Style Recipe

Enjoy (and Happy Entertaining)!

Please join us soon to read our newest daily food and cooking feature on HuggingtheCoast.Com: A Shrimp, Mushroom, and Roasted Chestnut Ravioli Recipe Just in Time For Thanksgiving.

If you liked this article on HuggingtheCoast.Com, you might also enjoy:

• 45 Exciting Pumpkin Recipe Ideas For Last Minute Deliciousness
• Going Bananas: Banana Dessert Recipes With Appeal
• Carefree Cooking With Rum: 5 Rum Flavored Recipes to Make Your Day

Enjoy Doug's Original Seafood Recipes on About.Com Fish and Seafood Cooking

Follow HuggingtheCoast on Twitter

Find Out More About the Knack Fish & Seafood Cookbook by Doug DuCap and Linda Beaulieu