Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2024)

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Your go-to Tapioca Pudding recipe is this one — loaded with sweet vanilla flavor and those tapioca pearls you know and love!

By Gemma Stafford | | 20

Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (1)

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WHAT YOU GET:Sweet, creamy, and comforting vanilla pudding with soft, slightly chewy tapioca pearls. My tapioca pudding recipe is ready in no time at all.

Homemade tapioca pudding is a favorite of comfort food fans — you also just need a few simple ingredients! Likely, the only thing you may not have worked with before is small pearl tapioca, but don’t let that intimidate you. Tapioca pudding couldn’t be easier to make.

I’ll walk you through preparing and using the tapioca, as well as getting the perfect creamy vanilla pudding the pearls are cooked in. The pearls in homemade pudding have such a wonderfully chewy and silky texture I’m positive you’ll never go back to instant!

What Is Tapioca?

Tapioca is made from the root of a plant found in Brazil — the cassava plant. First, the plant is processed, and manioc flour is made, then the starch that is left over is made into tapioca. It’s a great carbohydrate that is also gluten-free! The starch is made into a couple of different forms, including a powder that helps thicken soups and is used in gluten-free baking, and pearls. These pearls are used in tapioca pudding — if you’ve had boba or bubble tea before, you’ve had larger tapioca pearls that have been colored or sweetened with brown sugar! If you’re interested in using tapioca flour, try myBrazilian Cheese Bread recipe!

Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2)

What Type Of Tapioca Should I Use For Homemade Tapioca Pudding?

Tapioca pearls have many different forms, including size and how they are prepared, so you want to be sure you get the right pearls for this pudding. I use small pearl tapioca for my pudding — the medium-sized pearls would need to soak longer in order to get that great chewy texture.

You also don’t want to use instant tapioca pearls, sometimes labeled as “quick-cooking.”

You’ll also want to be sure you purchase tapioca pearls and not boba. Boba is sweetened and colored. Tapioca pearls for pudding should be clear and pretty flavorless. Typically, boba is larger than the small pearls you want for pudding. Raw, they will look white, almost like round grains of rice.

How Do I Prepare Raw Tapioca?

Before you start making tapioca pudding, you will have to first soak your raw tapioca pearls. For small tapioca pearls, I like to soak them in water for about 40 minutes. I find any less than 40 minutes makes the pudding way too chewy — so don’t skip the soaking step! To cook the pearls, first drain them, then add them to your saucepan with the milk, cream, and sugar, cooking the tapioca over low heat and stirring constantly until thickened. Then, temper in the eggs and continue cooking until you reach a pudding texture. Follow my recipe below for the step-by-step guide.

Are Tapioca Pearls Fish Eggs?! Frog Eggs?!

Small tapioca pearls are sometimes called “fish eggs” or “frog eggs” due to their tiny, round appearance but don’t worry — they are not eggs of any animal. They are vegan and made from the root of a plant! Kids, especially, claim tapioca are fish eggs. For the life of me, I can’t find the origin of that rumor. According to Wikipedia, the Mandarin name for tapioca pearls translates to “frog eggs!”

Tools You Need To Make Tapioca Pudding

Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (3)

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Tapioca Pudding

  • Make sure to use small pearl tapioca for this pudding. Medium pearl tapioca would need an overnight soak.
  • Don’t skimp on the soaking time for the tapioca, or your pudding will be too chewy!
  • The hot tapioca mixture is added gradually to the eggs to temper them. If the eggs are added to the hot tapioca mixture all at once, they could scramble.
  • Be especially careful to cook this pudding over low heat and stir constantly once you add the eggs; because of the tapioca pearls, you can’t strain this custard to remove any egg curds.
  • MyDanish Risalamandehas a wonderful cherry sauce that would also be amazing served with this pudding.

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Tapioca Pudding Recipe

4.86 from 7 votes

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Your go-to Tapioca Pudding recipe is this one — loaded with sweet vanilla flavor and those tapioca pearls you know and love!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: 6 people

  • Dessert
  • Vanilla
  • Saucepan

Your go-to Tapioca Pudding recipe is this one — loaded with sweet vanilla flavor and those tapioca pearls you know and love!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups (12 fl oz/360 ml) water
  • ½ cup (4 oz/115 ml) small pearl tapioca
  • 2 cups (16 fl oz/480 ml) whole milk
  • ½ cup (4 fl oz/120 ml) heavy cream
  • ½ cup (4 oz/115 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Place the water and tapioca in a small bowl and let soak for 40 minutes.

  • Drain the tapioca pearls, then place them in a saucepan with milk, cream, and sugar. Crack the eggs into a small bowl near the stove.

  • Cook the tapioca over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened slightly, 5 to 7 minutes.

  • While whisking the eggs constantly, add the hot tapioca mixture, one spoonful at a time, until completely combined. Return this to the saucepan and cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened to a pudding-like consistency. (Do not let the mixture come to a boil.)

  • Transfer to a serving bowl and stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Serve warm.

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Leftovers can be eaten cold, or you can add a splash of milk and heat gently in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through.

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (11)

Maria Wilson

1 year ago

Recipe looks simple with step by step instructions, thank you. I made a Keto Cheesecake last night, again, great step by step instructions so I will attempt to make this wonderful dessert too. Thank you for making recipe available❤️

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A Irwi

1 year ago

I really wonder whether all the people saying how easy this is actually cooked it? That Step 4 is killer imo.

It also doesn’t make a lot of sense. How can you add the Tapioca to the eggs and keep whisking the eggs constantly?

Last edited 1 year ago by A Irwi

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (13)

Jasha Jain

1 year ago

Substitute for two eggs ? I m vegetarian.

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (14)

Connie

1 year ago

I made my on Saturday, my husband love it !! And very Easy to made 😊😊

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (15)

Barbara Miller

1 year ago

I have a question. My mom used to beat egg whites and fold them in, but I don’t remember how to do it. It makes the tapioca feel light and delicious. Do you know how? Tapioca is definitely a comfort food for me. My mom made it with sweetened sliced peaches and a dab of whipped cream. It was my dad’s and my favorite desert!

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (16)

Tammy

1 year ago

My mom would make tapioca pudding when I was a kid and added crushed pineapple (which I love) but she used minute tapioca. Could you add crushed pineapple to this recipe or would that be too sweet?

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (17)

Jheisk

1 year ago

I just bought tapioca pudding as t the grocery store last night because i had a craving. Can’t wait to make my own.

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (18)

Norm

1 year ago

This recipe is so simplified. Going to prepare this for my lovely wife as well as my Mum in law

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About Us

Meet Gemma

Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (19)

About Us

Meet Gemma

Hi Bold Bakers! I’m Gemma Stafford, a professional chef originally from Ireland, a cookbook author, and the creator of Bigger Bolder Baking. I want to help you bake with confidence anytime, anywhere with my trusted and tested recipes and baking tips. You may have seen one of my 500+ videos on YouTube & TikTok or as a guest judge on Nailed It! on Netflix or the Best Baker in America on Food Network. No matter your skills, my Bold Baking Team & I want to be your #1 go-to baking authority.

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Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (20)

Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking (2024)

FAQs

Your Go-To Tapioca Pudding Recipe - Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking? ›

Looking at a tapioca pearl, you may think, “What are these made out of?” These white little balls that give tapioca pudding its signature texture actually come from the starch of the cassava root, which is grown in the tropics. After this starch is extracted, it's formed into little pearls.

What are the little balls in tapioca pudding made of? ›

Looking at a tapioca pearl, you may think, “What are these made out of?” These white little balls that give tapioca pudding its signature texture actually come from the starch of the cassava root, which is grown in the tropics. After this starch is extracted, it's formed into little pearls.

What is the chunky stuff in tapioca pudding? ›

Tapioca can take many forms, but the small pearls are what's used to make tapioca pudding. Tapioca pearls are usually opaque when raw, but become supple and translucent when cooked.

Is tapioca pudding good for you? ›

In moderation, tapioca can play a role in a healthful eating plan. People should keep in mind that many tapioca recipes, such as tapioca pudding and bubble tea, have additional calories and fat from added sugar, milk, or cream.

What is the difference between vanilla and tapioca pudding? ›

Tapioca pudding tastes very much like vanilla pudding only its texture is quite different. While still delicately creamy and smooth, it's tapioca's distinctly pearly texture that turns some people off. Tapioca pudding has a reputation for resembling fish eggs, but they are nothing like such.

Is tapioca good for your stomach? ›

It's easy on your gut.

Tapioca starch is gluten-free, so it's a good choice if you have celiac disease. It's also easy to digest because it's low in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), a type of carbohydrate that's hard for your gut to process.

Is it OK to eat tapioca balls? ›

The tapioca pearls in bubble tea, also known as bubbles or boba, have a jelly-like texture and are made with tapioca starch, making it completely safe for human consumption. On the other hand, popping bubbles are made from water, fruit juice, sugar, and plant-based Alginic acid, which also makes them safe to eat.

What is the little clear things in tapioca pudding? ›

Looking at a tapioca pearl, you may think, “What are these made out of?” These white little balls that give tapioca pudding its signature texture actually come from the starch of the cassava root, which is grown in the tropics. After this starch is extracted, it's formed into little pearls.

What are the balls in tapioca called? ›

A tapioca pearl, also known as tapioca ball, is an edible translucent sphere produced from tapioca, a starch made from the cassava root. They originated as a cheaper alternative to sago in Southeast Asian cuisine. When used as an ingredient in bubble tea, they are most commonly referred to as pearls or boba.

What's another name for tapioca pudding? ›

British schoolchildren have traditionally nicknamed the dish frog spawn, due to its appearance. The Guardian described it as "Britain's most hated school pudding", with names such as fish eyes, frogspawn and eyeball pudding.

Is tapioca pudding healthier than rice? ›

Regarding nutritional value, tapioca, and rice pudding are high in carbohydrates and calories, but tapioca pudding is typically lower in fat than rice pudding. Tapioca pudding and rice pudding are both gluten-free, making either a good option for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

What does tapioca do to your body? ›

Tapioca provides small amounts of several nutrients, such as potassium and iron. Products made from tapioca like tapioca resistant maltodextrin (TRM) may offer a few health benefits, including reducing cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Is tapioca a carb or protein? ›

Tapioca is almost pure starch, so it's almost entirely made up of carbs. It contains only minor amounts of protein, fat, and fiber. Furthermore, it contains minor amounts of other nutrients.

Does Jello still make tapioca pudding? ›

Jell-O Fat Free Cook and Serve Tapioca Pudding is an easy to make fat free dessert. Perfect for any occasion that requires a quick and delicious dessert, this tapioca pudding delivers the classic sweet flavor and creamy texture you know and love.

Does Jello make instant tapioca pudding? ›

There is no tapioca Jello instant pudding. But there are tapioca Jello Pudding Snaks.

Is sago pudding the same as tapioca pudding? ›

Sago vs tapioca: they may appear identical, but they're sourced quite differently. Tapioca comes from cassava - a long root of a vegetable. In some South American countries the root is actually called tapioca. Sago is made from the pith of the sago palm.

What is tapioca popping balls? ›

Popping boba, also called popping pearls, is a type of "boba" used in bubble tea. Unlike traditional boba, which is tapioca-based, popping boba is made using the spherification process that relies on the reaction of sodium alginate and either calcium chloride or calcium lactate.

What do you do with tapioca pearls? ›

Tapioca pearls are a type of starch that is made from the cassava root. They are often used in desserts, such as bubble tea and tapioca pudding. Tapioca pearls are a good source of carbohydrates and fiber, and they are also low in calories.

Why does tapioca have pearls? ›

Chemically, tapioca pearls form from hot water loosening the polymer structure of the tapioca flour until hydrogen bonds form and the flour gelatinizes. Once the flour mixture cools, it hardens and turns into the chewy, elastic balls we know and love today.

Should you soak tapioca pearls? ›

First, it is important to soak small pearl tapioca before attempting to make pudding with it, or the texture will be off. Some people soak overnight, but we found that 30 minutes or so worked with small tapioca, resulting in a lively textured tapioca with wonderful creamy, custard bridging the beads.

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