apply padding to strings (or lists) in python

padding.py

def apply_padding(string, paddingLen, padding='.'):
    if len(string) %2 != paddingLen % 2:
        string = padding + string
    if len(string) >= paddingLen:
        return string
    else:
        return apply_padding(string=padding+string+padding, paddingLen=paddingLen)

inpList = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange', 'choco']

for u in inpList:
    print(apply_padding(str(u), paddingLen=12, padding='.'))
    
# inspired from soln to Coding Exercise: Centering Text, https://cscircles.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/8-remix/