Many people have fond childhood memories of devouring a bowl of tapioca pudding, a sweet and luscious treat with loads of vanilla flavor and texture from tapioca pearls. The idea of making pudding from scratch like our mothers and grandmothers seems daunting, but this recipe has the perfect solution: a slow cooker. Instead of stirring hot pudding at the stove for an hour or more, a slow cooker gently cooks the mixture to the perfect consistency.
Here’s how to make homemade tapioca pudding with a slow cooker—and how to put a personal spin on the recipe.
What is tapioca pudding?
Tapioca pudding is a creamy pudding made by cooking milk and sugar with tapioca pearls. The softened pearls are visible in the finished pudding and give it a bubble-like texture.
Tapioca pearls are made from a starchy root called cassava or yuca. (Yuca root is not the same as the spiky-leaved yucca plant.) The root is dried and ground to make tapioca flour, which is mixed with water to create a sticky dough. The dough is shaped into balls called pearls, which are then dried. These are the same balls found in boba or bubble tea (bobais a Chinese word for tapioca pearls), although those are larger and often infused with color and flavors.
Ingredients:
- 8 cups fat-free milk (0%)
- ½ cup pearl tapioca
- ½ cup sugar or sugar substitute (erythritol/stevia blend)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 whole eggs + 2 egg whites
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- Optional: fresh strawberries
- Optional: sugar-free whipped cream
👩🍳 Instructions:
- In a large pot, bring the fat-free milk to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Add the pearl tapioca and salt. Stir well to prevent sticking.
- Cook on low heat, stirring frequently, for about 25–35 minutes until the tapioca becomes soft and translucent.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs (2 whole + 2 egg whites).
- Slowly add a ladle of the hot mixture into the eggs while whisking (to temper them).
- Pour the egg mixture back into the pot, stirring constantly.
- Cook for another 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened (do not boil).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Let it cool, then refrigerate until chilled and set.