CrockPot Tapioca Pudding



originally posted July 14, 2008, during my year of slow cooking challenge.

Day 196.

Adam has fond childhood memories of eating homemade tapioca pudding. I have fond memories of peeling back the foil of a Handi-Snacks and then licking it. Repeatedly.

Yesterday, we made some new memories.

I love it when things work the way I want them to in the crockpot!!




The Ingredients.
serves 8 or so

2 quarts of 1% milk (half-gallon)
1 1/2 cups white sugar ( I like Baker's Sugar because the granules are tiny)
1 cup small pearl tapioca (I found it in our "fancy" grocery store, but not at Safeway)
3 eggs 
1 teaspoon (real) vanilla

The Directions.

In a four quart or larger size crockpot, combine the milk, sugar, and tapioca pearls. Stir well to mix. Cover and cook on high for 2-5 hours. You are looking for the tapioca to be soft and somewhat slimy. The mixture will not be very thick, it's okay.

In a separate bowl, mix the eggs with the vanilla. Take a 1/2 cup of the hot milk and tapioca mixture and whisk it into the egg bowl (I just learned from my father-in-law that this is what they mean by "tempering the eggs" in cookbooks!). Add another 1/2 cup of the hot milk and tapioca, and whisk that into the eggs, too. Then add yet another. Now you'll have a bowl of yellowy tapioca gooeyness.
Pour the contents of the egg-bowl into the crockpot, and whisk until it is all thoroughly combined.

Cover your crockpot and cook on high for another 30-45 minutes, or until the tapioca is pudding-like in consistency. Unplug and let it sit for about an hour to cool.

Ladle into serving-size bowls and chill in the refrigerator.

or eat it with a serving spoon, hot, right out of the crockpot. Your choice.

The Verdict.

Fantastic! Wonderful! You've got to make this! 

I really can not believe how simple and easy this was --- I'm so terribly excited!

Adam thought we could get away with cutting the sugar quite a lot. He's probably right.

I was very pleased with the consistency---just like a Handi-Snacks. But much, much better.

You've got to make this one -- and then let me know!



I have never made homemade pudding before, and was so excited with this super easy recipe! The entire family LICKED THEIR BOWLS!

Do you love this article?

Please share it with your friends!


Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at July 14, 2018

Sign up for the A Year of Slow Cooking newsletter and get the Top Ten Reader Favorite Recipes sent directly to your inbox!

What they say about this article

  1. I loooove tapioca! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, I gotta try it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmmm Crockpot never thought of doing it in the crockpot. Igift SO with his favorite treat only in the winter when the cabin can stand the heat. Now maybe he will be gifted in the heat.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love tapioca! No one else in my family likes it but I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing...I will definitely be trying this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous7/14/2008

    I saw you on TV and was SOOOOO excited because I've been reading your blog since January (and loving it!) I've made your fettucine, the amazing breakfast apple rice thingy, and a bunch of other stuff :)

    Now I have to make this too! nommm tapioooooooca!

    ReplyDelete
  5. At our asian market you can get all kinds. You can get large or small and white or black.

    I LOVE tapioca and am excited to have this in my arsenal.

    ReplyDelete
  6. OOH...OOH...OOH...I can't wait to try this one...I adore tapioca-this may wind up being my favorite recipe ever. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7/14/2008

    I love tapioca pudding. I will definitely have to try this recipe. Last week I posted a recipe for coconut rice pudding. Here is the link: http://capitalcitymama.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/coconut-rice-pudding-dessert-in-a-crock-pot/

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love tapioca, but my sister hates it! It makes her squirm! I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I told her (long ago) that it was made with fish eyes. Ahhhh, I should make this for her.

    ReplyDelete
  9. bwajhahahahahaaha! fish eyes! I love it!
    xox
    steph

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tapioca pudding is definately a childhood memory. This looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  11. If you use chocolate milk it comes out as chocolate tapioca pudding.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love tapioca! (I know...I already said that in another comment) When I was growing up, I'd make huge batches for myself and my grandfather. After the first batch, he said, "You should double the vanilla!"...I said, "I did! I put in 2 Tbs instead of 2 tsp because I misread the recipe!" We like us some vanilla around here!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous7/14/2008

    I've been buying the sugar free version in the snack packs. I wonder if I can make a sugar free batch in the crock?

    -Ilana

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would like a fancier crockpot because my oven is old and teeny.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Interesting we used to have that as a kid for school dinners in the canteen. We called it frog's spawn, as that is what it looks like. I think I may try this one.

    Thanks for posting the recipe.

    Gill

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous7/14/2008

    I just made tapioca pudding, and this seems like a much easier way. I hope I do win one of the crock pots -- I'm inspired!

    I'll wait until I hear from you before I rush out and buy one.

    Barbara_too@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have made this exact recipe about a month or so ago...Its great....A big hit in my house and other I made it for.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous7/14/2008

    I saw you on Rachael and HAD to see your blog! I love it soooo much! You are an inspiration to me!! And I love all the gluten free recipes! I have a son that needs to eat low gluten and wheat and to see all these recipes helps more than you can imagine, especially since I was just told this news and am new to this whole gluten free thing!

    Thank you so much for taking the time to help and inspire and the mom's and dad's out there that needed a little boost like me!

    Karen :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh my goodness! I am so excited about this recipe I could pee my pants! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. At the risk of sounding silly...what is Tapioca and what does it taste like?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Molly,

    not silly at all! Tapioca is some sort of weird grain that is round and pearl-like. When it's cooked it gets soft and gelatainous. It doesn't have flavor, just texture. THis is tastes like vanilla pudding with slimy little balls in it.
    lol, I don't see me doing any marketing work for the tapioca companies...

    xox
    steph

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous7/14/2008

    I wonder if I can make a sugar free batch in the crock?>>>

    I plan on making a batch using Splenda. I hope Splenda only, but sometimes it needs a little sugar to get sweet enough. Anyone else try making this sugar free?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Look forward to your recipes everyday. This crockpot looks great!..I bet this Tapioca will be great too.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous7/14/2008

    My husband likes tapioca pudding, but I've never made it. I think I'll try this method. Thankyou for your inspiration.

    JaLinda
    jo_w76@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I just started receiving your emails. I am so excited to try your recipes...including this one!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Steph - I'm the one that said your food photos make us salivate! I actually had to stop myself from licking the screen while reading your Tapioca Recipe! I cannot wait to make this - yum, yum, yum some more!

    Of course, the new crockpot I'm going to win will make this SO MUCH EASIER! And I am a busy mom of 4 and I'm really tired of using 2 crockpots to cook for my crowd.... this is the size we've been waiting for!!!

    Love, Jen (NoMoreFOURMe@live.com)

    Thanks bunches... keep on crockin'!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I just started blogging and found your blog on almost every other homeschool site. I love it. It makes life so great to cook in the crock pot. I am so happy to get more crock pot recipes. My family is so tired of just having beans or soup. Mom of four over here as well. We need that large one. PLeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Oh sorry got a little carried away. My addy is whozyourdoula@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous7/14/2008

    Yummo! Fond memories of tapioca for me too! Omigoodnessgracious, I am still using the crockpot received as a wedding gift...let's see, coming up to 28 years! Pick me, pick me, pick me!!!! I am striving to be like YOU and crockpot more and more every week! Opleasewouldyacouldya pick me??? laurielynn@verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous7/14/2008

    im asian and we all love tapioca and being someone who hasnt learned to cook anything this could be the first recipe that i could try cooking in a crock pot!!!please pick me for the crock pot give away!!!i just celebrated my birthday last july 12 and was working on my birthday being a nurse i work 12 hrs a day!!you have inspired me and i hope i could be a good crockpot cook like you!!my email renette74@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous7/14/2008

    My five year old was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 6 months ago. It has been so hard trying to switch to Gluten free cooking. I mourned the loss of the recipes and cooking methods that I had previously relied on, as much as my child mourned the loss of the foods she enjoyed. I had been REALLY missing the use of my crock pot, when I ran across a link to your web site. I felt like I had won the lottery! WHEEEEEEE! Gluten free crock pot recipes??? WOW! Thank you for bringing this comforting cooking method back to my newly Gluten free family. I have already started a binder with only your recipes in it. By the way, my e-mail address is createwithme@comcast.net for the Crock pot give away. :) Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I say you on Rachael Ray and have been to your blog everyday since. I look forward to seeing what yummy recipes you share eachday!

    I would like a chance at the crokcpot give away! My e-mail is ckrbender@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. it's a beautiful thing tapioca pudding in the slow cooker looking forward to making and licking the bowl ;-) Thanks Becky & Steph & Adam ~

    ReplyDelete
  33. oh man...i really want one of those crockpots! i love your blog..i check it daily!

    murandabarker(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love tapioca pudding! Thanks for this recipe, I'm going to try this.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Mmmmmm. I don't have any tapioca but this makes me want to make rice pudding.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This recipe also works with 1 cup of white rice instead of tapioca,and use 1 cup of sugar. Cook on high for 3 hours, when you add the eggs, also add 3/4 cup of raisens and sprinkle the top with cinnamon. My family LOVES this, and it is cheaper than tapioca. You can use brown rice , but it takes longer to cook. I love your blog!
    hoenighomestead@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous7/14/2008

    Wow! Read about you and your blog in the San Mateo County paper last week. I'm trying the falafels this week. Great blog!

    ReplyDelete
  38. This was SO yummy...We like to eat it warm, so it was a sweet treat for the kids and I!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Mmmm. Tapioca! I love your recipes! Oh and you were great last week on TV!

    smikels@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love your blog, love the crockpot. My old one is at home slaving away over ribs for dinner tonight. Pick me pick me - please please please. Okay, now I sound like my 10 yo daughter! LOL
    boilers66@yahoo.com - thanks for a great site and lots of humor.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous7/15/2008

    I can't wait to try the Tapioca recipe. I bet you could also make a rice pudding using the same ingredients, adding some raisins.


    cinnapeterson@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Woohoo! I too love tapioca! I've only made it a couple of times, but this looks much simpler than waiting for it to soak and such! Can't wait to try it! I thank you, my children thank you, maybe my husband will even thank you! Hee hee!!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous7/15/2008

    Ooooooh, I am soooo excited that I have found your site. My daughter is celiac and I have been running a restaurant at our house. My husband is a 4 year old when it come to food. Darn it I already actually have a 4 year old. I also have a 7 month old who needs help on the food tenderness aspect. I only have one problem...I have to go buy a new crockpot and I dropped the lid last night, did you know they can shatter into a million..gazillion pieces. It's sharp too. Thanks for starting this. Tonight my lid is foil. Barbara dcmeow47@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous7/15/2008

    Oooooh yummy!!!! Thank you for this recipe!!!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anonymous7/15/2008

    I have tried many of your recipes, I loved the lemon chicken, mac & cheese, and nuts & bolts trail mix. Thanks for the great blog. dran0012@umn.edu

    ReplyDelete
  46. Anonymous7/16/2008

    Well, if you ever wanted another job you could work for the tapioca marketing board to change their image. My mom refered to it as "cats eyes and dog snotters" ewwwwwwwwwwwww! Thanks Mom, I just can't get past that and won't be enjoying this tummy yummy because of it. Pas tres bien!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Anonymous7/16/2008

    Could I get away with using just plain regular tapioca instead of pearl tapioca, you think? I have some on hand!

    hmmmm, maybe I'll try it and see :)

    ~Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi dawn! What does plain tapioca look like? Is it still little round balls?

    I don't think instant tapioca would work, but I don't know for sure.

    if you are up for a challenge, give whatever you have on hand a try, and let me know!
    xoxo
    steph

    ReplyDelete
  49. I grew up with homemade tapioca. Still love it and so does my grandson. Glad to have this recipe.nana5545@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. We love Tapioca but I NEVER thought about doing it in the crockpot!!! I can't wait to try this. Youngest son will be so excited!

    ReplyDelete
  51. this may be a silly question. . .could I make this milk free? Would soy get the desired thickness? I have kids with LOTS of allergies. .wheat, dairy, egg. . .the list goes on. Thanks for your site. It is so helpful!
    Em

    ReplyDelete
  52. Luv, luv, luv tapioca. I think we will be having this for dinner tonight. We did a little research a few years back and tapioca is made from the root of the casava plant (whatever THAT means!)
    I have been watching your blog since Jan. I cook from your blog at least once a week. My family is loving the new variety in the crock. Totally bummed that I missed you on Rachael. i was out of town and it took me a while to get back on track with the blogging and cooking.

    ReplyDelete
  53. wow this is wonderful. I just made the pudding in my mini crockpot and did half the recipe. It cooked in no time at all and tastes incredible. I used less sugar like Adam said and I think it came out perfect. I found the tapioca pearls at Whole Foods.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Anonymous7/25/2008

    I just used regular tapioca from Safeway and cut the sugar to a heaping cup. Oh my goodness...is it good.

    Warning! It only took 90 minutes on high in my crockpot to cook. I threw in the eggs, left it going on low for another 20. It came out PERFECT!

    I can't wait for all of it to cool down...that small "quality assessment" sample I stuck in the fridge wasn't enough.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Anonymous7/26/2008

    Mmmmm, tapioca nirvana. Sugar free too! I used about a cup and a quarter of Splenda and it turned out great!

    ReplyDelete
  56. 08/16/08-This will never have the opportunity to cool in the frige! I was downstairs doing laundry and caught the wonderful aroma as I walked up the back stairs. So, now the eggs have been whisked and added and I must get out of the house or I will begin "tasting" it now..... great simple recipe. Thank ewe!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Anonymous8/16/2008

    08/16/08-This will never have the opportunity to cool in the frige! I was downstairs doing laundry and caught the wonderful aroma as I walked up the back stairs. So, now the eggs have been whisked and added and I must get out of the house or I will begin "tasting" it now..... great simple recipe. Thank ewe!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Anonymous12/03/2008

    Did anyone ever try this with soy milk? We're not dairy-free, so I could use regular milk if I had to, but I'd rather use soy if it'd work.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Anonymous12/17/2008

    I made this tonight with only 3/4 cup of sugar/4 large eggs and it was PERFECT! So yummy and I ate it HOT right out of the crock (put into a mug though). Hope the kids get to have some. Thanks Steph!
    Suzanne in Austin

    ReplyDelete
  60. Anonymous3/01/2009

    I'm looking for a rice pudding recipe done in the crockpot. Anyone familar with this?

    ReplyDelete
  61. Anonymous3/05/2009

    check out "Tami"'s comment from July 14th...she has the variation for rice pudding. I am after the same thing too and I've been doing some research and found that arborio rice is the perfect rice for this pudding.
    Thank you Crock pot lady for sharing the tapioka recipe. I'm a huge fan of tapioka and so are my children. I always make it on the stove and have to make sure it doesn't burn in which it usually does b/c I can't be there constantly stirring it. This is on my "to try" list for this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I had a glut of milk to use up so I finally got around to making this tapioca today. I cut back the sugar to a heaping cup and only used 3 eggs. It was great! I will definitely make this again!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Anonymous7/14/2010

    CL---Tapioca is not a grain (as you mentioned in one comment response). It is a starch extracted from cassava root.

    JG

    ReplyDelete
  64. Anonymous7/18/2010

    I made the crockpot tapioca pudding using Minute Tapioca. I did half a recipe and followed the amounts on the package. It came out delicious, more like vanilla pudding because you couldn't feel the lumps of tapioca. I may have cooked it too long. Next time I would try cooking it for only 2 hours instead of four and taste test it to see if it needs more time.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anonymous10/16/2010

    I make this all the time! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Anonymous2/04/2011

    Oh no! I am making a batch of this for my sick 3 year old (who usually wolfs it down) and the weirdest thing just happened... I was getting ready to add the eggs since the rest of it has been going for a few hours and is ready for eggs... but my crockpot was covered in a tapioca volcano eruption and there is gooey tapioca gunk EVERYWHERE! Poured out the sides of the crock (ewww), down the counter (we're talking whole cups worth, not just a little), down the cabinets... I have made this many times before and wow, this is freaky. I used half soy milk this time, plus Bob's brand pearl tapioca since my Whole Foods stopped carrying the other brand. These are the only things different this time - how weird. And disturbing! It should still taste great, I guess, if I can ignore the icky sticky mess in its wake.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Jessica5/23/2011

    I made this yesterday. It was delicious! However, cooking for 4 hours was too long, next time i will check it at 3 hrs. thanks for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  68. I have always made it on the stove, I'm trying this out today! I have been craving Tapioca pudding the past few days, haven't had in 2 years! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  69. Does it have to be the small pearl? I can't wait to try this. I never have time to soak it overnight and then cook it the next day. Seems like my plans always change and I have to throw it out and start over.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Hi mamalapp,
    the large pearl will work just fine-- the pearls will just be bigger! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  71. I make this WONDERFUL recipe with Almond Milk and it is divine. So much simpler than the stove top method and so much yummier than the microwave version. Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  72. My Mom used to slice up fresh peaches, throw a little sugar over the top of them and then fresh tapioca and refrigerate. Yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  73. No one seems too worried about this, but I actually happen to know the answer. Tapioca (in any size from instant to large pearl) is made from the starch of the cassava root. The original Yam. The sweet potatoes grown in the US are NOT yams. Yams are from Africa. Pretty interesting fact: Cassava root is known for it's fertility enhancing powers. In Africa they refer to it as the "Man" root...Partially for it's shape being slightly...Phallic....*erm*, And the other part because of the belief it will promote twins (or other multiple births).
    To Make the Pearls, they squeeze the starchy juice out of the flesh of the cassava root and expertly drip them on a hot stone to make the water boil away and leave this pearl of starch behind.
    All that aside, I am super excited to make this recipe. Going to the asian Market today to buy tapioca pearls. Wish me luck!!

    ReplyDelete
  74. I've been using recipe with similar ingredients for a few years now but my instructions say to just put everything in crock pot at once and stir every 30 min. I just stir "occasionally" and it comes out delicious every time.

    ReplyDelete
  75. This is one of my favorites and one of the first things my grandmother taught me how to make as a child. She started me off with a basic egg custard. When I mastered that, it was on to rice pudding and then tapioca pudding. I love it with some drained and diced pineapple pieces in it. I never though of making it in a crockpot. I’ll have to try that, as soon as I can find pearl tapioca. I haven’t seen it in any stores since I left NY in ’01.
    Unless I’ve missed something, it doesn’t appear that directions were given for the addition of the vanilla. Vanilla should be added at the very end of the process, after the pudding mixture has cooled slightly. If added before that, the goodness of the vanilla would be lost quickly to evaporation.
    I have to laugh at those who despise tapioca and everything made with tapioca. In a commercial kitchen, we used it to thicken many things; especially soups, stews and gravies. It’s also used to thicken fruit pie fillings; especially those that are premade and frozen. Tapioca flour is one of the mainstays of gluten-free baking.

    ReplyDelete
  76. My Mother used to make Tapioca Pudding and we loved it sooo much! One time she made a "huge" batch trying to keep up with our insatiable appetites for this creamy deliciousness. She had made it in the largest of the Pyrex mixing bowls (the Red one). It had been warm, the fridge cold, so the outside of the glad bowl was wet... and slippery...kersplat!! The whole thing hit the floor & shattered sending sticky goo & glass shards everywhere! As she was rather hard on us for making any mess, we NEVER let her forget that one... confidentially...I nearly cried for the loss of my pudding!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I've tried a couple of others I found online, and I like yours the best, tho' I had to add 1/4 c. more tapioca to make it come out thick enough. Thanks to your father-in-law, also, for the lesson on what tempering eggs means.
    Knowing my native Chinese sister-in-law uses her crockpot as a rice cooker, I wondered if it might also be used to prepare tapioca. I googled the idea and was so happy—so happy—to find you and others saying it's so.
    I love tapioca and have often made it in copious amounts, always scorching the bottom of the pan, always tiring of the constant stirring required. Earlier this year, on our annual trip to the Amish bulk food store in Shipshewana we'd purchased a 5 or 10 pound bag of large pearl tapioca; I love it enough I was willing to burn and stir for the pleasure of eating it.
    It's been a godsend to me to be making it in the crockpot. My heartfelt thanks to you. For the record, I'm down for purchasing a 25-pound bag of large pearl tapioca next year. A little learning is a dangerous thing!

    ReplyDelete
  78. Catt of the Garage9/13/2015

    Hi Steph!

    A fact for the day: tapioca isn't a grain. It's a huge potato-like thing. They extract the starch from it and shape it into those little balls.

    I found this out while visiting India. We went to someone's house and they served us delicious potatoes cooked with curry leaves and onions, but when we commented on them they said "those aren't potatoes, they're tapioca".

    We were like, "what? Really?"

    So they took us out the back and showed us their tapioca plant and one of the big grey tuber things they had peeled and cooked for us.

    So later I looked it up and discovered tapioca pearls are only one thing they make from the tubers - they also make flour. I think cassava is the same plant.

    ReplyDelete