Ina Garten’s “Brownie Pudding” Is the Best Holiday Nail Inspo

I typically only paint my nails colors that I love, because I’m the only critic that truly matters.

…But I’m not married to American economist, author, businessman, and former government official Jeffrey Garten. If I was, I might very well put myself in his shoes when picking a shade. I’d choose a nice warm chocolate brown and think to myself, “Jeffrey’s gonna love this.” Thankfully, I’d love it too.

Though Ina Garten’s Brownie Pudding recipe has been circulating for years, the chocolatey creation is currently going viral on TikTok. The icon describes the dessert as “molten in the middle and baked on the outside” and whipped it up to celebrate her 40th anniversary with husband Jeffrey. This month marks their 57th.

When baked right, Ina’s Brownie Pudding is a deep, dark, and gooey chocolate shade with a lighter brown, easy-to-crack crust. Both colors are welcome when you’re painting Brownie Pudding nails—as long as they’re warm-toned. We’re mastering this trend fresh out of the oven.

The “Brownie Pudding” Nail Trend

“Brownie Pudding” nails are warm brown nails that offer the same cozy and delicious energy as The Barefoot Contessa’s famous dessert. They can be any shape you wish and can range in shade from dark (like the center of the pan) to light (like the crust).

Just make sure they’re warm-toned! The chef likes to add a touch of Framboise liqueur to her puddings, so think “chocolate with a touch of raspberry.”

How to Get the Look

According to the Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics cookbook where the recipe resides, Brownie Pudding is “easy” to make. So is the corresponding manicure. To get the look, all you need to do is find your perfect brown shade and paint a few coats on so the color is opaque. Then, finish things off with a glossy top coat to get that same sheen as the pudding’s smooth crust.

As far as specific polishes go, Gelcare’s Truffle is a great pick—the brand describes it as “a deep warm brown with a subtle purple undertone.” Essie’s Fringes & Saddles is also a perfect warm dark chocolate brown, or grab their warm chestnut Save A Cowboy if you want to copy the recipe’s lighter crust.

To quote the legend once more: “How easy is that?”