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Tapioca pudding mix

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword comfort food, old-fashioned dessert, stovetop pudding, tapioca
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings
Old-fashioned small pearl tapioca pudding with eggs, milk and cream, plus a quicker minute tapioca version.

Ingredients

Small pearl version

  • 1/2 cup small pearl tapioca (not instant tapioca)
  • 3 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instant/minute tapioca version

  • 2 3/4 cups 2% or whole milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons minute/instant tapioca
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Small pearl

  • In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the milk, cream, sugar, and salt until it starts to simmer. Stir in the tapioca, reduce the heat to low, and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened and the pearls are plump and soft.
  • Whisk the eggs and temper them by adding spoonfuls of the hot mixture.
  • Pour the eggs back into the pan and cook for 2 to 5 minutes more, until thickened.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Move the pudding to a bowl, lay plastic wrap on the surface, and let it cool. Serve warm or chilled.

Instant tapioca

  • In a saucepan, whisk the milk and egg, stir in the sugar and tapioca, and let it stand for 5 minutes.
  • Bring to a full, bubbling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly so it does not scorch.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Lay plastic wrap on the surface and cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

Notes

Prep 10 min, cook 50 min. Variations: chocolate (1/2 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate after the eggs); coconut (coconut milk); vegan (plant milk; note recipe still has egg).
Storage: refrigerated, surface covered, 2 to 3 days; freeze cooled in airtight container up to two months, thaw fully.

Nutrition

Serving: 321g | Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 296mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 965IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is an estimate per serving from USDA FoodData Central, for 4 servings; milk counted as whole milk. Brands and portions vary, so use it only as an approximation.