This recipe for dairy-free tapioca pudding was the grand prize winner in the “video” category of our March Recipe Madness Contest back in 2014. It was created and submitted by Doug, Anna, and Jordan Melven. We’ve since updated this post with more options.
Dairy-Free Tapioca Pudding that was a Grand Prize Winner
In this adorable video, Jordan shows us how she makes her dad’s favorite dessert, cinnamon coconut tapioca pudding (recipe below).
Choose the Right Tapioca
This recipe uses quick-cooking tapioca, which is also called instant tapioca. It requires less tapioca, reduced soaking time, and a little less cooking time than tapioca pearls. If you prefer to use small tapioca pearls, you will need to double the amount of tapioca (3 tablespoons). You will also need to let the pearls soak for 30 minutes, and cook until thickened, which might take a little longer.
Dairy-Free Tapioca Pudding Tips & Substitutions
We have made one slight ingredient modification to the Melven’s recipe, and also have a couple ingredient and instruction notes.
- Milk Beverage – We love their choice of coconut milk beverage for this recipe. It is a richer, whole milk style alternative that performs very well on the stovetop. Keep in mind that other milk beverages can perform differently. If you have any trouble with the thickening of this dairy-free tapioca pudding (it breaks, thickens oddly, or is too thin), the culprit is your milk beverage. In general, richer milk beverages with minimal additives will perform best.
- Egg – No, you do not need to temper the egg! Tempering is only needed when you have to add the egg after the fact. In this case, you can whisk it right in at the start. This helps to ensure a seamless result, too. If you confuse eggs with dairy, you’re not alone! See this post: Are Eggs Dairy?
- Salt – We did prefer this recipe with a pinch of salt added. It helps to round out the flavor and heighten the cinnamon.
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Tapioca Pudding
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and vegetarian.
Dairy-Free Tapioca Pudding
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk beverage, sugar, egg, tapioca, and salt. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat, and cook while whisking until the mixture comes to a full boil.
- Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the cinnamon.
- Let the pudding cool or 20 minutes. Stir, and serve the pudding warm or refrigerate it and serve chilled.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!More Dairy-Free Pudding Recipes
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7 Comments
Could Stevia or Xylitol be substituted for the sugar?
Perhaps, but this might change the consistency in addition to the taste. Sugar dissolves, adding to the bonds and texture of the recipe. Sugar-free options will perform differently.
Are there any substitutes you’d recommend for those of us also allergic to coconut?
Hi Elizabeth, see the writing above the post. I have notes there on the “milk beverage.” You can use another type of milk beverage, but keep those notes in mind when trying one!
Followed recipe exactly. But it did not come out thick enough. Wondering what I did wrong. To watering. not putting consistency.
Hi Maurita, did you use regular tapioca pearls? It needs to be quick-cooking or instant tapioca for this recipe. If using tapioca pearls, you will need to double the tapioca (3 tablespoons) and let it soak for longer (about 30 minutes). It will also need a little longer cooking time. I’ll add more clarification in the post.
My family loved this recipe! The cinnamon is a very nice touch.