Memories of Tapioca Pudding
I still feel bad about it...and it happened decades ago. My cousin from Iowa came to spend several weeks with my family in the mountains of Colorado - Glenwood Springs - my home town. We took him to the Hot Springs Pool, tubing and fishing in the Roaring Fork river, we really showed him a good time.
One evening my mom served tapioca pudding for dessert. Not that smooth, pale tapioca that you can buy pre-made at the store. My mom's tapioca was made with soft little balls of tapioca held together in a sweet creamy pudding. Cousin-from-Iowa was skeptical about trying new foods so my two brothers, my sister and I hatched a plan to take the tapioca. We convinced him that tapioca was really fish eggs that my mom gathered from the local trout. He was disgusted and we split his pudding between us.
Do you have a fondness for tapioca pudding? I'd like to know your favorite tapioca memory and the way you like to eat it. Add your comments below and when you try this recipe please rate it!
Recipe
Easy Tapioca Pudding in a Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 cups 2% milk
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup small pearl tapioca not instant
- 2 eggs beaten
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Stir together all ingredients in a 4 or 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for three hours, stirring occasionally.
Rebecca Molnar says
I love to cook and have since I was ten years old. Let’s say I have been cooking a long while! Mom and I would make the minute version of Tapioca. One day she said I could make it by myself! It has been so long now that the details are fuzzy, but I believe we wanted a double batch. Later we realized I had more than doubled the vanilla! Mom of course said it was the best Tapioca pudding she had ever tasted! Whether she was just being a mom, or meant it, I am going to use more than the 1/2 t. that is called for! Lol. I just bought pearl tapioca and am anxious to try your recipe! Thanks, Becky M.
Jim M says
As a kid growing up in the '50's I lived across the street from my grandmother. She made tapioca regularly and I absolutely LOVED it. However, on one occasion I was sick and took a huge mouthful of the taioca - except, unknown to me she mixed in crushed pineapple! To this day I do not et pineapple unless I know before hand it is in the dessert!
Karen says
What a great story! I haven't made this recipe in a while because I can't find pearl tapioca in my local stores. Tapioca Pudding is definitely one of my personal comfort foods...I miss it. Stay well!
Joanne Goodwin says
The only “bad” thing is waiting 3 hrs for it to be done! It smells divine and I can’t wait to try it!
Eileen Grover says
Karen, I am totally with you on the rice pudding and raisins!!! Totally GROSS!! I loved having you all over for crawfish pies and serving tapioca for dessert! Very fond memory!!
Joy Akey says
I can't wait to try this, Karen! Tapioca pudding always brings back many fond memories of my Grandma Elsie. My sisters and I would have special sleep-overs at her and Grandpa's house and tapioca pudding was a frequent dessert Grandma would serve after supper. YUM!
Karen says
What a great memory. Do you remember if she served it warm?
Jim Petre says
Good recipe. Couldn't be any easier to make -- and delicious. For those who have access to Sprouts, they have the Bob's Red Mill brand tapioca pearls there.
Karen says
Thanks for the tip on finding pearl tapioca. Enjoy your pudding...it makes a lot!
Lyndy Lubbers says
Yes, I
remember this experience too! Loved Mom's tapioca pudding. She was fond of pudding type desserts because they were milk based. Always pushing the milk! "It does a body good"!
Karen says
Yes - I guess we did eat a lot of puddings growing up. Loved the tapioca...hated the rice pudding with raisins.
Dan Petre says
I remember the episode, but I don't recall whether the cousin in question ever found out what he had missed. I look forward to trying the recipe.
Brother Dan
Karen says
I’m glad that you remember it too, Dan. Back in the day, making tapioca pudding required soaking the tapioca, and stirring at the stove. This slow cooker recipe is ten times easier!
Rhonda Follman says
Wow so easy- can't wait to make it!
Karen says
Rhonda, your family is going to love this dessert...and so easy!