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.
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!
Tapioca Pudding
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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Other tapioca recipes you might enjoy from around the internet:
- La Tartine Gourmande’s Tapioca Pudding
- Alton Brown’s version of Tapioca Pudding
- Coconut Tapioca Pudding with Caramelized Bananas on Food52
What I was writing about…
- One year ago – Right in Your Own Backyard
- Two years ago – Bleu Cheese Dip
Chrisina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen says
atMy 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
atI love it too, Christina. Surprise your husband with some tapioca soon…he’ll be so happy!
Karen Bove says
atFunny, I just bought a box of tapioca for pudding. Now you’ve inspired me to actually make it!
Lana says
atSo glad I could be an inspiration to someone :-) Hope you enjoy it, Karen.
Miss P says
atWe 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
atI 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.
Suzanne says
atLove, 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!
claudia lamascolo says
atI want some! This is finger and bowl lickin good!
Alison @ ingredients, Inc. says
atlooks so good! I have never made this, and now I want to
Teri says
atI love tapioca!
Old recipes are the best because they come with memories ;)
Lana says
atSo right, Teri! So right.
Shelby says
atI always loved when my mom made tapioca pudding – it was my favorite!
Winnie says
atLana I just love tapioca pudding. I am dying for some now!
SMITH BITES says
ati 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
atWould 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.” :-)
Chris says
atI 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
atI’d love to see what you come up with, Chris. I know you’ll put your own special spin on it!
Jane Bonacci - The Heritage Cook says
atLana – 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
atIt 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.
[email protected] says
atI do, I do! And i want some right now!
Lana says
atJust wondering how you’d spice it up, Sommer. I *know* you’d have some ideas :-)
Drick says
attapioca 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
atYes, it’s great for thickening fruit pie fillings especially. But I still love the old fashioned creamy pudding :-)
Jocelyn says
atOh 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
atThanks 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.
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! says
atLove 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
atThanks, Anne-Marie. The plastic wrap tip works for any kind of pudding. Keeps that icky skin from forming on top.
sippitysup says
atRemember it? I dream about it regularly! GREG
Lana says
atYou crack me up, Greg!
Tapioca Granulated says
atA heavenly dessert! I have always loved tapioca. It is so versatile and delicious.
Susan says
atI 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
atWow, 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
atNever 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!
Stephanie Golleher says
atInteresting 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!
Oden says
atHello, 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
atThe standard recommendation for keeping any cooked food in the fridge (leftovers, etc.) is three days. I’d say the same for tapioca.