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Bowl of creamy old-fashioned tapioca pudding topped with fresh whipped cream and berries

Easy Tapioca Pudding

This creamy old fashioned tapioca pudding is a simple, nostalgic dessert that is perfect for cozy nights. Made with minimal ingredients and mostly hands off, it's an easy sweet treat everyone will love.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup small pearl tapioca Soak as needed based on package instructions.
  • 2 cups whole milk Can substitute with 2 percent milk.
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream Optional, adds creaminess.
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg Make sure to temper the egg properly.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
 

Preparation
  1. If your tapioca package recommends soaking, do it for 20 to 30 minutes in the milk.
  2. Add soaked tapioca and milk (and cream if using) to a medium pot. Stir in sugar and salt.
  3. Cook over medium to medium-low heat, stirring often, until it starts to thicken and the pearls look mostly translucent (10 to 20 minutes).
  4. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and slowly spoon a little hot pudding mixture into the egg while whisking to warm it up.
  5. Pour the egg mixture back into the pot while whisking continuously. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the pudding looks silkier and slightly thicker.
  6. Turn off the heat and stir in vanilla.
  7. Serve warm or chill in the fridge; it thickens more as it cools.

Notes

For texture variations, consider adding cinnamon, coconut milk, lemon zest, or cocoa to the base pudding.