Vegan Vanilla Coconut Tapioca Pudding [Sugar-Free] (2024)

posted on January 19, 2017

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Oh well hello there you deliciousVegan Coconut Tapioca Pudding that’s SUGAR FREE! I Love tapioca, it was a favorite of mine growing up. I liked eating those little squishy bubbles. I always wondered what tapioca was and now in my age of 21 (lol just kidding), I know what those bubbly treats were in that pudding I loved so much.

Tapioca is a starch extracted from the cassava root and it’s all carbs. It has no fiber or protein. A cassava root is a sweet, nut flavored tuber native to South America. It resembles the shape of a potato. It’s naturally gluten free which is great for people who suffer from celiac’s disease. Tapioca issold inexpensively as flour, flakes, or pearls (like I used for this pudding). Tapioca is widely used in food. It can be used in bread recipes, desserts, as a thickener, or as a binding agent indough to improve texture and moisture content. This prevents sogginess.

There are health benefits to tapioca. It has a low glycemic index which means:

“GI is a classification of food based on the blood glucose response to a food relative to a standard glucose solution. Low glycemic foods control the release of glucose into the bloodstream at a steady and sustained rate, keeping the body’s metabolic processes and energy levels balanced.

People with low glycemic diets or [who] eat low glycemic foods are said to have lower risk of getting coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

These food items that have low GI would benefit those who are already suffering from diabetes, since these would help in the proper control and management of blood sugar.”Marcola.com

So why not get your tapioca on! I’ve used tapioca flour in some of my recipes but I haven’t dabbled my hand in the pudding because I guessed it was super complicated. But guess what…it’s not! Hooray!

This pudding is thick, creamy, and just sweet enough using maple syrup. Prior to making the pudding the heavy labor is soaking the tapioca pearls in almond or coconut milk for an hour, (I know, so daunting). Once they’ve been soaked it’s time to start making your soon to be new favorite snack.

Using just coconut milk (full fat from a can), a pinch of salt, vanilla, cinnamon and liquid sweetener, you’ll be off to healthy snacking in no time. You can eat this warm, however I love it cold so I do wait it out as it chills. Although, to be honest I did lick the spatula and pot basically after I poured the pudding into it’s serving cups. No one was looking, don’t worry. (hehehe)

In just under half hour I had a pudding back in my life I thought had been gone forever. It was a huge hit with my son and hubs so I had to make more. I decided to doubled batch it the second time around so we had lots and lots of pudding. Once I like something, that’s it, I can’t stop and won’t stop. Oneserving is approximately88-94 calories (if you count), which is seriously not bad for a snack this decadent. Super deceitful I tell ya!

This is just a basic version using vanilla and coconut, but I plan to spruce it up the more I make it with some fruits and nut butters. I love variety so go ahead and play around with this and make it your own. I tried it with some almond butter and was like whoa, for sure next time I’ll be adding that in. Here’s to healthy snacking in 2017! Now get outta here, I know you got some pudding to make puddin’. 😊

Print Recipe

Yield: 6-8 servings

Vegan Vanilla Coconut Tapioca Pudding [Sugar Free]

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Your new healthy, go-to easy snack that's low calorie, creamy, and delicious.

Ingredients:

1 cup of any dairy free milk for soaking
2 cans of organic full fat coconut milk
2/3 cup tapioca pearls (I used large pearls)
1/2 cup maple syrup (or any liquid sweetener of choice)
1/2 tsp cinnamon (or more if desired)
1 tsp vanilla extract or powder
pinch of salt

Directions:

Soak tapioca pearls in 1 cup of dairy free milk for one hour.
Drain tapioca and place all ingredients into a medium to large sauce pan.
Over medium to high heat, bring mixture to a boil. Lower to a simmer and let cook for 25 minutes, until pearls are translucent, stirring frequently. If they are not translucent by 25 minutes, you can leave them in an extra 10.
The tapioca will start to thicken up especially once it's cooling.
Transfer to serving bowls, jars, or ramekins and place in the fridge and let set for 20 minutes, 1 hour, or even over night.
Before serving top with your favorite fruit or cinnamon and Enjoy!

As tapioca is naturally gluten-free, Bob’s Red Mill tapioca is processed in a facility that also processes wheat, as stated on their package. Therefore, this recipe may not be suitable for people with celiac or those sensitive to potential exposure at those levels. Personally, I do fine with Bob’s Red Mill tapioca pearls — no reactions so far. But I wouldn’t want anyone sensitive to risk it in any way. Let’s Do Organics sells certified gluten-free tapioca, which you can buy online or in stores. Noted from UnconventionalBaker.com

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Categories: 5 Ingredients or less, All Recipes, Snacks

36 Comments »

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36 comments

Maria — January 12, 2024 @ 12:32 am Reply

Hi! This looks amazing and reminds me of the Greek rice pudding I used to be addicted to but a healthier version. Cannot wait to try! Just confirming, what sizes are the cans of coconut milk? Thank you
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JenniferRose — January 15, 2024 @ 2:37 pm Reply

Hi Maria, thank you! The coconut cans are 13.5 oz!!

Mar — August 8, 2022 @ 10:46 pm Reply

I’m looking forward to making this. I read through the comments and wanted to say I am very grateful for a “sugar free” recipe that uses maple syrup. It’s so hard to find desert recipes that are came sugar free. Most sugar free recipes consist of alternative sugars like stevia and it’s just not my thing. I prefer maple sugar or maple syrup as a cane sugar alternative. I usually have to search for Paleo recipes and adjust the recipes to allow for real flour.
Would canned coconut cream work in place of coconut milk?

JenniferRose — August 15, 2022 @ 12:46 pm Reply

Hi Mar, oh that is so good to hear! I haven’t tried it with canned coconut cream but give it a go and let me know how it turns out! I love coconut cream, it will probably super creamy!

Emm — September 15, 2021 @ 7:19 pm Reply

Mine was kinda grainy after it cooled but the flavor is great!!

SHARON LEWIS — July 30, 2020 @ 6:50 pm Reply

I omit the cinnamon but I add the zest of a whole lemon and I use 1/2 the maple syrup and double the vanilla and it’s incredible, it’s rich and creamy and sweet and comforting and thank you for this recipe.

Bolak — March 29, 2020 @ 11:42 am Reply

This recipe says it’s sugar free tapioca. Alas, it contains maple syrup which is added sugar. Be aware for those who are avoiding sugar.

JenniferRose — April 28, 2020 @ 5:36 pm Reply

You can use sugar free maple flavored syrup.

Alisha — February 3, 2020 @ 9:52 pm Reply

Sugar free is a bit misleading when one is searching for true sugar free recipes. Maple syrup still can not be consumed by many people avoiding all natural and refined sugars/sweeteners, even dates. Apple sauce and banana is even stretching it for some. This would be more like using stevia or something similar.

JenniferRose — February 10, 2020 @ 12:06 pm Reply

Hi Alisha, you can substitute the sweetener for a sweetener that best fits your needs.

Netty — March 21, 2019 @ 3:01 pm Reply

Thanks for posting this. I’m excited to try.
This is not sugar free,though…maple syrup is not processed but it is still sugar. Same with honey. Your body processes sugar the same way regardless of the label.

Dina — January 27, 2019 @ 5:56 pm Reply

I just did the math on this recipe calories and it is way off…
Here is the actual breakdown on this dessert, based on 8 servings:
Calories: 292
Fat: 18
Carbs: 30
Protein: 0
Sugars: 15
I slimmed down this recipe considerably by using low-fat coconut milk (from a can), 1/4 cup stevia and 1/4 cup maple syrup, instead of a full 1/2 of maple. Tasted pretty dang good too 😀
See Also
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Louise — December 15, 2018 @ 12:08 am Reply

Trying out a simplified version based on this with 1 cup of large pearls, a half gallon of chocolate almond and cashew protein milk plus a can of full fat coconut cream. No need to add sugar. Might go add some vanilla now. I soaked for more than 1 hour in 1.5 cups of the chocolate dairy free milk and did not drain. I hope that was long enough for the large pearls.
I also heated the milk to near boiling before putting it in the crock pot and I hope it is done before I want to go to bed. I do not want to leave it over night.

Rebecca — December 14, 2018 @ 4:36 pm Reply

I hate to burst your bubble but this isn’t sugar free. Maple syrup is sugar.

Lissy — January 3, 2019 @ 5:00 pm Reply

Rebecca, maple syrup is a natural sweetener with nutritional health benefits … it is not processed, refined, white sugar which has adverse effects on your health. Using natural sweeteners in cooking and baking is always a better option than using something processed and unnatural.

Heidi — February 20, 2022 @ 11:58 pm Reply

2 coconut milk cans – is that approx 400ml per can? We had a few different sizes to pick from at the supermarket.

Sara — July 13, 2018 @ 10:30 pm Reply

Ignore my last comment!! Just took the time to read ore carefully and saw it says it’s for soaking only. Sorry!!

Sara — July 13, 2018 @ 10:28 pm Reply

Do you add the non-dairy milk once you’re ready to cook? Or just to soak? Sorry…may be obvious but the recipe has all the ingredients I’m looking for and I’m too excited, so don’t want to mess it up. Thanks!

elena — June 21, 2018 @ 1:08 am Reply

There are lots of things that are sweet without being necessary sugar….sugar is one of the sweet things…Love is sweet….as it sunshine…and cats…LOL

Pingback: Instant Chocolate Banana Chia Seed Pudding | NeuroticMommy

Heidi — February 18, 2018 @ 12:02 am Reply

Can you use reduced fat coconut cream rather than full fat ? Or will that affect the end result ?

JenniferRose — February 18, 2018 @ 12:50 pm Reply

Hi Heidi, I’m not totally sure as I never used it with reduced fat coconut cream. If you give it a go and it works out let me know!

Linda — January 14, 2018 @ 9:38 am Reply

When you drain the pearls after soaking are you throwing away the milk they soak in or do they absorb most of it?

JenniferRose — January 19, 2018 @ 6:45 pm Reply

Hi Linda, you drain it from that milk and follow the rest of the steps accordingly. It’s so yum! 🙂

Megan — October 27, 2017 @ 8:58 pm Reply

I’ve made it twice it’s delicious . First time soaked in coconut milk for one hour. Today didn’t have time so the pearls soaked for less than thirty mins in water. The texture is somewhat gritty, not nearly as good, I used s big mason jar for second bath first was put into my miltiple. Where do you think I went wrong? Is soaking in milk key?? So bummed.

JenniferRose — October 28, 2017 @ 4:04 pm Reply

Hi Megan,
Hmmm, let me think. Did you wait until they were completely translucent? I haven’t had that happen to me and not sure if water would make them gritty or not.

vegan — October 24, 2017 @ 8:24 pm Reply

full fat coconut milk is not healthy, maple syrup is mainly a simple carb

Bree — January 26, 2017 @ 10:16 am Reply

Hi, HOw did you get your calorie count? For almost every full fat canned coconut milk I’m looking at, the calories are 140-198 per serving, with 4-5 servings in a can. For 2 cans making 8 servings, each serving is at LEAST that, not including the other ingredients.

JenniferRose — January 28, 2017 @ 3:38 pm Reply

Hi Bree,
I estimated the calories with my fitness pal. It also depends on the serving size of the cups you use, so 4-5 oz is between approximately 94-100 calories. Each serving does not have an entire can of coconut milk in it. Hope this helps!

Heather — January 22, 2017 @ 7:58 pm Reply

Looks amazing! Was wondering if you could use homemade coconut milk as well?
Thanks!!

JenniferRose — January 23, 2017 @ 2:58 pm Reply

Hi Heather, thank you! I don’t see why not, I think any milk will work. Keep me posted. 😊

SF — January 21, 2017 @ 5:33 pm Reply

This isn’t sugar free if it has maple syrup as an ingredient…

JenniferRose — January 22, 2017 @ 11:56 am Reply

Hi, yes it is sugar free. Maple syrup is not refined white sugar that is unhealthy for you.😊

SG — October 21, 2017 @ 1:49 pm Reply

But that’s still not sugar free, just a different type of sugar.

JenniferRose — October 22, 2017 @ 12:27 pm Reply

Maple syrup is not refined sugar.

SG — October 23, 2017 @ 5:03 pm

Yes that is true, but it is still sugar. Maybe you should specify “refined sugar free” instead.