Sweet, creamy, luscious tapioca pudding – brings back childhood memories with every delicious spoonful.
Does anyone besides me remember Tapioca Pudding? That creamy, soothing, nursery sweet childhood pudding that is still so delicious?
Honestly, I had almost forgotten about it myself until recently. I got it on my mind one day and couldn’t stop thinking about it until I made some.
If you’ve been reading my blog lately, some of you have probably been wondering what in the world is up. I’ve been cooking so many recipes from the past but I just can’t help it! Those old recipes are just delicious.
And some of them are precious reminders of the people and places we still hold in our hearts. For me, cooking from the past is a tribute to all those generations of cooks who came before and, I hope, a legacy I can leave to the cooks who come after me. They connect me to my roots and I love that!
So, about that Tapioca Pudding. Well, first I had to find some tapioca. You know how in the grocery stores they put the “hot” items right at eye level? The ones that are the best sellers with the highest profits? Yeah, well, you’re going to have to get on a stepladder or down on your knees to find the tapioca. But it’s there. I promise.
And making it is as easy as pie. You basically dump everything into a pan, heat it up and you’re done. Really.
Sweet, creamy, luscious tapioca pudding - brings back childhood memories with every delicious spoonful. Easy to make for any day of the week Click To Tweet
How to Make Tapioca Pudding
Start by putting the sugar, tapioca, milk and egg in a saucepan. Let it stand for five minutes before you do anything else. Just go have a nice cold Co-Cola or something.
After five minutes, cook the mixture over medium heat until it comes to a full boil. That’s a boil that you can’t stir down. Remove it from the heat and add the vanilla.
Now cover the pudding with plastic wrap touching the surface so it won’t form a skin and let it cool for about 20 minutes. You can serve it either warm or cold. Dish it up in serving bowls and, if you like, top it with a little toasted coconut.
Close your eyes and remember being five years old. Enjoy!
More Old Fashioned Desserts on Never Enough Thyme:
- Egg Custard Pie
- Old Fashioned Butterscotch Pudding
- The Real Deal Banana Pudding
- Slow Cooker Bread Pudding
Tapioca Recipes from Other Bloggers:
- La Tartine Gourmande’s Tapioca Pudding
- Alton Brown’s version of Tapioca Pudding
- Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Caramelized Bananas on Food52
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Tapioca Pudding
Sweet, creamy, luscious tapioca pudding - brings back childhood memories with every spoonful
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3 tblsp. minute tapioca
- 2 ¾ cups milk
- 1 egg, well beaten
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- Toasted coconut (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the sugar, tapioca, milk and egg in a medium saucepan; let stand 5 minutes.
- Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a full boil (a boil that can’t be stirred down).
- Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.
- Cover surface of pudding with plastic wrap and let cool for 20 minutes; stir.
- Spoon individual servings into dishes. Sprinkle the top with toasted coconut (optional)
- May be served warm or chilled. Store leftover pudding in refrigerator.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 450Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 112mgCarbohydrates: 91gFiber: 2gSugar: 19gProtein: 6g
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Lana Stuart is the author, photographer, cook, and occasional traveler at Never Enough Thyme. A former IT professional, she enjoys time in the kitchen and the art studio.
Oden says
Hello, My dad taught me to make this when I was in my late teens. Only thing I can’t find is after it is made how long it can be kept in the fridge. Found one page stating to gobble it up in 8-10 hrs while it is still hot.
Lana Stuart says
The standard recommendation for keeping any cooked food in the fridge (leftovers, etc.) is three days. I’d say the same for tapioca.
Stephanie Golleher says
Interesting tid bit of info, Colleen. The last time I made tapioca it did not set, so I was looking for a reason. It seems you may have given me the answer! Rarely, do I taste and return the same spoon to the pot, but I’m also not dumb enough to think that I didn’t do just that!!! It could have happened, but I will be very careful that it does not happen again! Thank you!
Susan says
I made some tapioca twice now and each time followed the recipe…and both times it did not set to pudding…but rather a thick tapioca milk. Do the pearls get old?
Lana says
Wow, Susan, I honestly don’t know. Unless maybe you didn’t use the quick cooking kind of tapioca? I’ve been making tapioca since I was about 12 years old and I’ve had it fail to set up.
Colleen says
Never return your tasting spoon to the pot, instead use a clean one each time you “taste”. The enzymes in your saliva will start to digest the tapioca, and it will not thicken, but instead become very loose!
Tapioca Granulated says
A heavenly dessert! I have always loved tapioca. It is so versatile and delicious.
sippitysup says
Remember it? I dream about it regularly! GREG
Lana says
You crack me up, Greg!
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! says
Love the idea of using the plastic wrap to avoid getting a skin on the pudding. Smart!
I love tapioca, too. My mom made it a lot – and burned it a lot – but even slightly burnt it was darn good.
Lana says
Thanks, Anne-Marie. The plastic wrap tip works for any kind of pudding. Keeps that icky skin from forming on top.
Jocelyn says
Oh yes, me too, I love the old fashioned creamed puddings. There’s nothing better than a nutmeg crusted bowl of baked rice pudding, (no stove top please,) or a pretty parfait dish filled with tapioca pudding, topped with a dollop of homemade preserves & cream.
I have to confess I’ve gotten a bit lazy in my later years at getting around to making tapioca pudding very often though. I’m a fan of large pearl tapioca, but it takes soooo long to make into a proper pudding.
I’ve never used minute tapioca, save for berry pie thickening, but since your pudding recipe looks so tempting, and so quick, I’ll just have to give it a go.
Thanks for sharing Lana!
Lana says
Thanks for stopping by, Jocelyn. The minute tapioca is so quick and easy I don’t even bother with the other kind any more. Not much difference I can tell either.
Drick says
tapioca is a versatile pantry item, I keep it handy, so great for thickening so many things… I remember eating at Morrison’s and while I would always go for coconut pie, Momma reached for this pudding…
Lana says
Yes, it’s great for thickening fruit pie fillings especially. But I still love the old fashioned creamy pudding :-)
[email protected] says
I do, I do! And i want some right now!
Lana says
Just wondering how you’d spice it up, Sommer. I *know* you’d have some ideas :-)
Jane Bonacci - The Heritage Cook says
Lana – my mom used to make me tapioca all the time and it is one of the things I miss most about her. It’s funny how just the mention of a type of food can bring those memories flooding back!
Lana says
It is, isn’t it Jane? Food carries tons of memories for me. Until I started blogging I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Happy to know it’s not just me.
Chris says
I am so excited to see this. Tapioca pudding has been on my mind since buying the pearls. Thanks for this! It’s going to give me a nudge to get going. :)
Lana says
I’d love to see what you come up with, Chris. I know you’ll put your own special spin on it!
SMITH BITES says
i don’t remember having too much tapioca pudding as a child but i LOVE it as an adult – Kozy Kups has them ready made in the milk section . . . for emergencies!!!
Lana says
Would you believe I’ve never tried any of those Kozy Kups desserts! I’ll remember it, though, for the next time I have a tapioca “emergency.” :-)
Winnie says
Lana I just love tapioca pudding. I am dying for some now!
Shelby says
I always loved when my mom made tapioca pudding – it was my favorite!
Teri says
I love tapioca!
Old recipes are the best because they come with memories ;)
Lana says
So right, Teri! So right.
Alison @ ingredients, Inc. says
looks so good! I have never made this, and now I want to
claudia lamascolo says
I want some! This is finger and bowl lickin good!
Suzanne says
Love, love, LOVE tapioca pudding! My mom made it pretty regularly for “dessert” and it was always a treat. Thanks for bringing back the memories. I have to make some soon!
Miss P says
We must have made gallons of this stuff when we were kids. I think it was relatively inexpensive, so Mama didn’t have a running fit when we scalded it, burned it up, and made the house smell horrible. But, after a couple of times, I think we got the hang of it.
I remember that tapicoa was either “small pearl” or “large pearl.” I liked the little squishy b-b texture. And the vanilla. It always smelled so good.
Thanks. I may see if I can locate some on my next trip to the grocery store. Short as I am, I may have to climb the shelves.
Miss P
Lana says
I remember making it, too. And yes it’s very inexpensive except that the milk costs a good bit more now than it did back then. Good luck finding it – it’s there I promise.
Karen Bove says
Funny, I just bought a box of tapioca for pudding. Now you’ve inspired me to actually make it!
Lana says
So glad I could be an inspiration to someone :-) Hope you enjoy it, Karen.
Chrisina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen says
My husband loves tapioca pudding!! I actually bought some minute tapioca a few months ago but I have yet to give it a try! After seeing these yummy pictures, I think I need to give this recipe a try! :)
Lana says
I love it too, Christina. Surprise your husband with some tapioca soon…he’ll be so happy!