Homemade Tapioca Pudding [Sugar & Gluten Free with Dairy Free Option]
This tapioca pudding is a light dessert or snack for anytime of the day for less than 60 calories per serving and only 1 Weight Watcher Points Plus!!!
It’s made here with coconut milk for a dairy free version or you can make it with 1% milk. Both are equally delicious! The coconut milk provides a much thicker pudding and the 1% milk creates a more loose and yogurt style texture. Either option is terrific!
My boys absolutely love tapioca so I was on a mission to make my own. I purchased organic small pearl tapioca, a 6 ounce box at Whole Foods and adapted the recipe right from the back of their box. I’ve made this recipe 3 times with that little box before I found the perfect combination of stevia to use.
The first time I made it I used coconut milk for myself and powdered stevia which is what is pictured. I wasn’t even a fan as the taste is so delicate, the powdered stevia flavor wasn’t easily masked as it often is in many of the baking recipes I use it for. So my trusted liquid stevia was my next option. I used Half and Half as I was out of milk which made a nice and creamy pudding. Adding even too much vanilla creme stevia made it way to sweet, but I was not going to quit! The last time I made it with 1% milk and reduced the amount of stevia to what you see in the recipe below,.
Perfecto, finally!
If I’m feeling ambitious I will try again using unsweetened almond milk for myself. Since my boys have a nut allergy and wouldn’t be able to have it this way, I chose the milk. It makes 4 servings or you could double the recipe and have more in your servings. Enjoy!
Homemade Tapioca Pudding [Sugar & Gluten Free with Dairy Free Option]
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 3 tablespoons small pearl tapioca
- 2/3 cup milk 1% or coconut milk for dairy free option
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla liquid stevia
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil.
- Whisk in tapioca pearls and continue to stir frequently for 17 minutes.
- Reduce heat to a low simmer.
- Whisk in milk, salt and stevia and continue to stir frequently for another 10 minutes. Pour into serving bowls and refrigerate covered until chilled.
- Makes 1 1/4 cups total.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
do we need to soak the tapioca?
I did not and it worked fine.
Would soy milk work here? I don’t use the others mentioned.
I tried this recipe.. It was amazing!!! I had tapioca pearls sitting around and was trying to find a healthier recipe for them! I use Monkfruit Sweetener instead of stevia.. (Monkfruit Sweetener has zero calories and a 1:1 sugar replacement. You should try it) It worked out great! Cant wait to try more of your recipes!!
I am allergic to Stevia, what can I sub out for it? I usually use xylitol or erythritol+monk fruit, but I’m bout sure of the amounts. Also, how much vanilla extract should I then use?
I’d say 1/2 cup monk fruit, 2 tsp vanilla extract.
Anyone tried this with fat free milk (no fat milk)?
Tapioca in the refrigerator cooling now. Doubled recipe. Used cream and almond milk. I had Now Foods French Vanilla Stevia drops. Had to add more after cooking. We’ll see how it is after cooling. We have some Lily’s semi-sweet we can always sprinkle on ? Excited! I’m on Atkins maintenance after taking off weight for the LAST time! 50 lbs! Now hubby is going to take off at least 20 with my support and delicious recipes like yours!
Thank you!
I LOVE tapioca, but I’m am hoping to start to go sugar free for many reasons. I’ll probably make this with just 2% milk because I absolutely hate the taste of almond milk or almond extract or anything almond except actual almonds. I just bought some Mexican Vanilla which is fabulous. I like the idea of powdered Stevia – does it make the pudding taste grainy or anything like that? Can’t wait to try it.
I’ve not tried it with powdered sweetener. Whenever I have a recipe that needs a smooth texture I always use liquid stevia so it’s never gritty or grainy, just in case.
Could try using macadaia moot milk or coconut milk (we go for unsweetened) in the carton. Both are delicious and work well in this recipe.
So yummy 10/10 reccomend.
I made this for dessert with sliced bananas and whipped cream and it was so delicious!!! Thank you for the recipe
Since when does 2 – 2/3 c. of liquid add up to 1-1/4 c. of finished product?
It reduces and thickens as it boils.
I had success with vanilla almond milk. I added additional vanilla to the almond milk and used regular liquid Stevia in the same amount. Delish!
i used coconut cream from the can and followed the recipe. My pudding did not set up.?
Did you follow the time amounts on the stove? I’ve made it with coconut milk in the can the first time I made the recipe and it worked fine. The second time I made it with milk for my kids and same time worked as well. Sorry it didn’t set up for you.
hey, try simmering it for longer to thicken it up more, or adding more of the tapioca since it makes the thick liquid.
If I use plain liquid stevia, I have Nu Naturals, how much vanilla do you think I should add? I may experiment with almond milk…My kids hate coconut!
Does it thicken when it’s cooled? I made it with almond milk.
I don’t use water Just the coconut/Almond milk and have been using the powdered Stevia in the Raw with another recipe.
It does thicken when cooling. Delicious.
I did not know you could buy tapioca pearls. I think this is the first recipe I have ever seen that called for it. I learned something just now. Haha!!!
Learned something new, love it! Thanks Charlotte!
Can this recipe be baked?