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    Home > Vegan Desserts

    Vegan Tapioca Pudding

    By Emese Maczko on 10/10/2024 - May contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe Print Pin

    This vegan tapioca pudding is rich, creamy, bursting with tapioca pearls, and super easy to make. It is the perfect sweet and creamy dairy-free dessert. And the best part? It needs only 4 ingredients!

    2 small glass bowls with white pudding with pearls topped with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberry slices. A hand is holding a spoon with a mouthful of the pudding.

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    I have always loved rice pudding but found it quite heavy. This tapioca pudding is the perfect alternative. Since it is so light, you can enjoy it after any meal.

    For more delicious vegan dessert recipes, I recommend trying my vegan panna cotta, vegan rice pudding, sweet potato chocolate pudding, and overnight chia pudding

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you’ll love it
    • 🧾 Key ingredients
    • 🥘 Equipment
    • 👩‍🍳 Instructions
    • 💡 Expert tip
    • 🔄 Variations
    • 🥣 Serving ideas
    • Toppings
    • ❄️ Storing tips
    • 🤔 FAQs
    • More vegan pudding recipes
    • Vegan Tapioca Pudding

    ❤️ Why you’ll love it

    I love how this vegan tapioca pudding is so rich and creamy, thanks to the combination of dairy-free milk and full-fat coconut cream. It creates a lusciously smooth texture that is irresistible.

    The small pearl tapioca pearls add a chewy element to the pudding that is so satisfying. It is a simple yet delicious dessert that is perfect for any time of the year.

    The best part is that you can customize it with your favorite toppings. I personally love serving it with homemade strawberry puree. The contrast of the sweet, vibrant puree with the creamy pudding is a match made in heaven.

    2 small glass bowls with white pudding with pearls topped with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberry slices. Both bowls have spoons. Fresh strawberries are scattered around them.
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    🧾 Key ingredients

    This vegan tapioca pudding is a delicious and healthy dessert that is simple to make. You can find these ingredients at your local grocery store, and they are easy to work with.

    Small pearl tapioca is the star of this dessert. It is not the same as boba or sago, so be sure to use the right one. When cooked, these small pearls transform into delicious, chewy tapioca balls that give the pudding its unique texture.

    Coconut cream and dairy-free milk are essential for a creamy, lusciously thick pudding. Be sure to use full-fat coconut cream, as it provides the richness that is key to this recipe.

    Vanilla extract and cane sugar are the key flavorings in this recipe. The vanilla adds a sweet, aromatic flavor, while the sugar sweetens the pudding to perfection. If you want a snowy white pudding, you can use white sugar.

    🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    🥘 Equipment

    For this vegan tapioca pudding recipe, a good quality, heavy-bottom saucepan is essential. This is because it helps the tapioca and the dairy-free milk and cream to cook evenly and prevents the mixture from sticking or burning at the bottom.

    👩‍🍳 Instructions

    Preparing the ingredients

    STEP 1
    In a bowl, combine the tapioca pearls and water. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Remember, the pearls will absorb the water, so do not let them sit for too long, as they may disappear.

    Making the vegan tapioca pudding

    STEP 1
    Transfer the soaked tapioca pearls to a saucepan, making sure not to include the soaking water. Then, add the plant-based milk and cream to the saucepan.

    STEP 2
    Place the saucepan on the stove and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low. Remember to stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

    A saucepan on an induction hot plate with white liquid (milk).

    STEP 3
    Continue to cook the tapioca pudding, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a pudding-like consistency. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes. As the pudding nears completion, the tapioca pearls will become translucent. At this point, it is essential to stir more frequently to avoid burning.

    A saucepan on an induction hot plate with a thick white liquid (milk) and small pearls.

    STEP 4
    Once the tapioca pudding reaches the desired consistency, remove it from the heat. Stir in the sweetener of your choice and the vanilla extract. Your vegan tapioca pudding is now ready to serve.

    A saucepan on an induction hot plate with a thick white liquid (milk) and small pearls topped with cane sugar and a bit of vanilla extract

    STEP 5
    You can enjoy the pudding warm, straight from the stove. If you prefer it cold, refrigerating it for about an hour will help it set. Serve the vegan tapioca pudding with your favorite toppings, such as fresh fruit, fruit puree, chopped nuts, or whipped cream.

    A saucepan on an induction hot plate with a thick light brownish - whitish liquid (milk) and small pearls.

    💡 Expert tip

    The most crucial step in making the perfect vegan tapioca pudding is cooking the tapioca pearls until they are translucent. In a perfect tapioca pudding, all the pearls are translucent. If not all pearls are like that, you must cook them longer on low heat. But don’t stress on this. Even if some pearls remain white, the pudding will still have a delicious, creamy, and cooked texture.

    🔄 Variations

    Try serving this vegan tapioca pudding as a panna cotta. It offers a different presentation and texture, and you can easily achieve this by using a silicone muffin mold. The pudding will set in the mold, giving it a beautiful shape. You can enjoy it as a grab-and-go dessert or an elegant sweet treat at your next dinner party.

    Add a chocolate twist to your tapioca pudding. If you are a chocolate lover, consider adding 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder during cooking. This will give your pudding a rich, chocolate flavor without compromising its creamy texture. It is a perfect option for those who are craving something a little more decadently sweet.

    If you are out of tapioca pearls, consider using tapioca starch instead. However, keep in mind that this may alter the texture of the pudding. You will likely end up with a more custard-like dessert, but it will still be delicious. Just be mindful that the measurements will need to be adjusted, as they are not a 1:1 substitution for tapioca pearls.

    2 small glass bowls with white pudding with pearls topped with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberry slices. A spoon is placed inside.

    🥣 Serving ideas

    This vegan tapioca pudding is an incredibly versatile dessert that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. It is a perfect base for a range of toppings, allowing you to customize it according to your tastes and preferences.

    For a refreshing and healthy option, consider serving it with a dollop of homemade strawberry puree. The combination of the creamy pudding and the sweet, tangy puree is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

    If you are a fan of berries, you can also try it with a lusciously rich and tangy raspberry sauce. It not only adds a burst of flavor but also a beautiful pop of color.

    For a tropical twist, you can serve it with a mango puree. The creamy texture of the pudding pairs perfectly with the light, fluffy consistency of the mango puree, making for a truly delicious dessert.

    A small white plate with a heap of white pudding with pearls drizzled with strawberry sauce and topped with a half fresh strawberry. Other bowls of pudding and whole fresh strawberries are scattered around it.

    Toppings

    Take your vegan tapioca pudding to the next level by adding some recommended toppings. Fresh fruits like strawberries and mangoes, a dollop of whipped cream, or a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes can add an extra layer of flavor and texture to your dessert. Here are some more tips for you to discover:

    • Strawberry puree
    • Cinnamon berries sauce – You can find its recipe in our vegan panna cotta or vegan rice pudding recipes.
    • Raspberry sauce – You can find its recipe in our baked vegan cheesecake recipe.
    • Mango puree – We blend ripe mango in a Vitamix to a fluffy mousse-like consistency.
    • Caramel apple – You can find its recipe in our vegan apple crumble or apple crisp pie recipes.
    • Chocolate sauce
    • Fresh fruits
    • Nuts
    • Granola
    • Jam
    A small white plate with a heap of white pudding with pearls drizzled with strawberry sauce and topped with a half fresh strawberry. Other bowls of pudding and whole fresh strawberries are scattered around it.

    ❄️ Storing tips

    This vegan tapioca pudding is easy to store and the good news is that the flavor continues to improve as it sits, thanks to the continued absorption of the creamy, coconut-infused liquid by the tapioca pearls.

    To store, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container and placing it in the refrigerator. It should keep well for about 3 to 4 days. If you notice that it is becoming a bit too thick, you can stir in a little extra dairy-free milk to loosen it up.

    I do not recommend freezing this pudding. The delicate, creamy texture that we worked so hard to achieve by slow-cooking the tapioca pearls can be compromised by the freezing and thawing process. This can result in a grainy or mushy texture that is not at all appetizing.

    When you are ready to enjoy your pudding, you can serve it cold, straight out of the refrigerator, or you can reheat it before serving. If you choose to reheat it, the best way to do so is to do it slowly, over low heat, stirring it constantly to prevent the pudding from sticking to the bottom of the pan and scorching.

    2 small glass bowls with white pudding with pearls topped with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberry slices.

    🤔 FAQs

    Is tapioca pudding the same as tapioca pearls?

    No, the two are different. While tapioca pudding can be made from both tapioca starch and tapioca pearls, in this recipe, we use small pearl tapioca. The consistency of the final pudding is also different.

    What are the white balls in tapioca pudding?

    The white balls in tapioca pudding are tapioca pearls made from cassava root, also known as manioc. They absorb the liquid they are cooked in and soften, giving the pudding its chewy consistency.

    Can I use tapioca starch instead of tapioca pearls?

    No, you cannot substitute tapioca starch for tapioca pearls in this recipe. The two have different properties and will result in a different final texture.

    Do I need to soak the tapioca pearls before cooking?

    Yes, it is essential to soak the tapioca pearls before cooking. This allows them to absorb the liquid and soften, resulting in the desired pudding-like consistency.

    More vegan pudding recipes

    You can browse through vegan dessert recipes or check out

    • 3 white plates with white panna cotta topped with a thick purple sauce and different berries.
      Vegan Panna Cotta
    • A black bowl up close with white pudding topped with a swirl of thick red-purple sauce and different berries. A spoon is taking the first bite. Another bowl is in the background.
      The Creamiest Vegan Rice Pudding (8 Flavor Variations!)
    • 3 small bowls, one with vegan chocolate pudding topped with mixed berries, the other topped with red currant and one bowl is only fruits.
      Purple Sweet Potato Chocolate Pudding (Vegan, Paleo)
    • Light Vegan Custard Tart

    THANK YOU so much for visiting our website. Please comment below if you have tried this recipe. We LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, please don’t forget to give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RATING. We appreciate all of our readers.  

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    2 small glass bowls with white pudding with pearls topped with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberry slices. A hand is holding a spoon with a mouthful of the pudding.

    Vegan Tapioca Pudding

    Emese Maczko
    This vegan tapioca pudding is rich, creamy, bursting with tapioca pearls, and super easy to make. It is the perfect sweet and creamy dairy-free dessert. And the best part? It needs only 4 ingredients!
    4.5 from 31 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Soaking time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 6 bowls
    Calories 172kcal

    Equipment

    • our Vitamix A2300
    • Non-stick sauce pan (3-quart / 2.8 liter)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup Small pearl tapioca
    • 1 + ½ cup Water
    • 1 cup Dairy-free milk (homemade cashew milk)
    • ½ cup Full-fat coconut cream (canned)
    • ⅓ cup Cane sugar
    • ½ tsp Vanilla extract

    Topping

    • 1 Homemade strawberry puree
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    Instructions
     

    • Add tapioca pearls and water to a bowl and let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. The pearls will absorb the water, so if you leave it for too long, the pearls may disappear.
    • Take a saucepan, and add the soaked tapioca pearls without the soaking water. Add milk and cream and bring to a boil.
    • Reduce the heat to medium-low and occasionally stir until you have a pudding-like consistency. It usually takes 15-20 minutes. Pay attention to stirring more frequently towards the end when the tapioca thickens, and the pearls turn translucent to avoid burning.
    • When ready, take it off the heat and stir in the sweetener and the vanilla extract. You can devour it while it is still warm. If you prefer cold, chill it in the fridge for an hour.
    • Serve it with fresh fruit, fruit puree, chopped nuts, whipped cream, etc.
    Tried this recipe? Can we see it?Please share a picture with us by uploading an image to Pinterest below ours.

    Notes

    Serve it as a panna cotta? – Reduce the amount of milk by ½ cup and only stop cooking it when it gets really thick. You will need a silicone muffin mold like this one. Pour the pudding while hot into the mold and chill it in the fridge for at least an hour.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Tapioca Pudding
    Amount Per Serving (1 bowl without toppings)
    Calories 172 Calories from Fat 72
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 8g12%
    Saturated Fat 6g38%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0.5g
    Sodium 24mg1%
    Potassium 121mg3%
    Carbohydrates 25g8%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 12g13%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 155IU3%
    Vitamin C 3mg4%
    Calcium 59mg6%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    278 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.46 from 31 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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    1. Ellie

      February 24, 2023 at 7:35 pm

      Cane sugar is not WFPB. Can it be replaced with maple syrup?

      Reply
      • Emese

        February 25, 2023 at 6:27 am

        Yes, you can use other sweeteners, including maple syrup.

        Reply
    2. Janet

      August 23, 2022 at 1:45 am

      I made this & the consistency was like a sticky paste. What did I do wrong?
      I used the small tapioca pearls & set a timer for 15 minutes. I used almond milk but added a bit of plant-based butter to increase creaminess.

      Reply
      • Emese

        August 23, 2022 at 9:44 am

        Hi Janet, maybe it was too high heat? Was it bubbling too much? I recommend cooking it around low to medium. Also, my version of tapioca pudding is more jiggly pudding-like rather than runny porridge-like.

        Reply
    3. eka

      March 02, 2022 at 4:10 am

      curious about your nutrition information? when i enter this in to My Fitness Pal, it is coming up with 205 calories per serving and 43 grams of carbs, and that’s even with omitting sugar and using stevia instead. How do you get such a low carb count??

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        March 02, 2022 at 9:28 am

        Hi Eka, the recipe card is using Spoonacular to calculate the nutritional info. It has pulled data for minute tapioca, unsweetened cashew milk, cane sugar, vanilla extract, and water; then it was divided by 6. I re-checked the settings and the same info got pulled again. I also checked it with Cronometer which also calculated 114 calories per serving. I don’t have My Fitness Pal, so not really sure how it calculates.

        Reply
    4. Lori

      February 07, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      Can you skip the water and instead use carton coconut milk like SoDelicious?

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        February 07, 2022 at 4:25 pm

        Yes, you can skip it and use only coconut milk instead. Let us know how it goes. Happy cooking!

        Reply
    5. Jeanette

      June 22, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      Your recipe looks so delicious! What would be a good substitute for cane sugar and how much to use. Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        June 24, 2021 at 8:13 pm

        Hi Jeanette, what kind of sweetener do you usually use?

        Reply
    6. Janine

      February 03, 2021 at 3:19 am

      Do you think I can make this using Silk Nog instead of dairy free milk, and perhaps with a little less sugar and vanilla essence?

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        February 03, 2021 at 7:45 am

        Hi Janine, it should work with any dairy-free milk. You can cut back sugar and vanilla essence especially if the milk you use is already sweetened. Let me know how it goes. Happy cooking!

        Reply
    7. mindy

      March 22, 2020 at 11:13 pm

      can i use minute tapioca? i saw another recipe and it said no

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        March 23, 2020 at 6:26 pm

        I’ve never tried it with minute tapioca but as far as I know, some of the packagings have instructions.

        Reply
    8. Swiggy

      July 30, 2019 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      I love deserts and tapioca pudding are best. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe with us.

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        September 07, 2019 at 12:35 pm

        You’re welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

        Reply
    9. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      July 29, 2019 at 7:31 am

      5 stars
      I haven’t had tapioca in so long, it looks so good!

      Reply
    10. Farah Maizar

      July 29, 2019 at 6:51 am

      5 stars
      This looks so delicious! I can’t believe it’s vegan. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        September 07, 2019 at 12:35 pm

        Yes, it sure is.

        Reply
    11. Laura | Wandercooks

      July 29, 2019 at 6:49 am

      5 stars
      Tapioca puddings are the best! So delicious and I love the texture. We often make ours with coconut cream and pandan essence for a delicate vanilla flavour. I’ve never tried it with fruit puree before so definitely keen to experiment!

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        September 07, 2019 at 12:35 pm

        Thanks for the tips. I’ve never had pandan essence but I go and check it out now.

        Reply
    12. Brian Jones

      July 29, 2019 at 6:12 am

      5 stars
      I have not had tapioca in an eternity, this looks superb, thanks for the reminder… I love old school dessert recipes.

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        September 07, 2019 at 12:36 pm

        Thank you.

        Reply
    13. Natalie

      July 29, 2019 at 5:44 am

      5 stars
      I love tapioca desserts! This pudding looks so delicious and perfect for the summer!

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        September 07, 2019 at 12:36 pm

        I love eating them in all seasons, but it is the best with strawberries for sure.

        Reply

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