January 7, 2015

Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding {dairy-free}

Name: Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding {dairy-free}
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 183 min
Total time: 188 min
Yield: 7 1/2 cup servings (3 1/2 cups pudding total)
Ingredients: ½ cup Granulated Sugar; 3 ½ cups Light Almond Milk ((to make pudding even creamier, 4 cups may be used)); ½ cup small Tapioca Pearls; 2 eggs (, room temperature; lightly beaten); 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

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Slow cookers are fantastic for hands-0ff cooking, and not just for savory comfort food! Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding is a creamy, filling classic dessert changed up to be dairy-free and easy in the crock pot!

This post is sponsored by Silk. All opinions are my own.

Something I love about January is the opportunity for reinvention. I’m not a diligent resolution-maker but do feel the effects of beginning a new year. A bit like completing a chapter in a book, when the last page turns everything does feel fresh. It’s a natural time for reflection, renewed resolve about healthy habits developed over the prior year as well as trying on new things (like the Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding), experimenting, and freshening-up life a bit.

I keep a running mental list of new things I want to try and foods I want to make. I find I can get into a rut like a trail horse walking the same route repeatedly day after day. Routine does not play to my strengths and I’m most happy when mixing things up. Lately I’ve wanted to incorporate more healthy plant-based options into our family diet for the health benefits but also to stretch my knowledge and recipe options.

Plant-based recipes include dessert: Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding!

I’ve always felt best with a high amount of plants in my diet but that gets off kilter during the holidays. The fact that chocolate comes from a plant seems to migrate it into that category as well! I’m starting my year off eating lower fat, lower sugar foods and focusing on natural whole foods. Another goal of mine is to get smarter about is time; I simply don’t have enough of it. I want to develop unique recipes and meals which offer flavor and nutrition without hours of preparation.

I needed to whip up a dessert for this week and candidly am burnt out on rich, decadent sweets. My family loves Tapioca which I don’t make often not wishing to stand over the stove attending to it’s demands. I decided to change it up in a few ways. First off I made it in the slow cooker; perfect!

No slaving over the stove. And secondly, instead of cow milk I used Silk’s Almondmilk Light which has a 1/3 fewer calories than the original almond milk. Almond milk has sweetener added so the amount of sugar needed in the tapioca is reduced. The Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding was born!

Cows Milk vs Silk Almondmilk

Out of curiosity I compared the nutritional content of Low Fat Cow Milk and Almondmilk Light to learn for a 1 cup serving both the low fat cow milk and Silk Almondmilk Light have 2 grams of fat, however the Almondmilk Light has only 5 grams of overall Carbohydrate (low fat cow milk = 13 grams), 0 cholesterol (low fat cow milk = 12 mg) and 40 calories (low fat cow milk = 102).

Normally I make tapioca with whole cow milk (higher in fat and calories than low fat cow milk), so I was excited about the idea of reducing the fat and getting the calories and cholesterol down from my usual on-stove recipe. The texture of this recipe just as creamy as the original old-school tapioca we all love !

How to make Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding:

One would never guess this effortless recipe for classic Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding recipe did not require you to slave over a hot stove!

Prepared in the slow cooker, this almond milk tapioca requires little attention and turns out like our favorite comfort food desert should! It’s creamy and satisfying. Made lighter with non-dairy light Almond Milk, it’s as creamy as ever with less calories too.

How to make Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding – Step by Step:

Spray the insert of a slow cooker and add the sugar, almond milk and tapioca pearls. Stir to combine. It cooks on low for three hours (OR until the tapioca has become transparent), being stirred once per hour to keep the tapioca pearls and liquid incorporated.

How to add Eggs to the Tapioca to Prevent Scrambling:

The eggs and vanilla are combined in a medium mixing bowl and whisked together. One cup of the tapioca mixture is taken from the slow cooker; half is added to the egg mixture and whisked together. The remaining half cup is then added and whisked together. NOTE: if the egg mixture is added directly to the slow cooker, the eggs will scramble.

The egg/tapioca mixture is added back to the slow cooker to cook an additional 30 minutes. Remove the almond milk tapioca from the slow cooker and chill until set!

More Dairy Free Desserts You’ll Love:

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5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding {dairy-free}

This creamy dairy-free tapioca is a breeze to make in the slow cooker. For those who desire more pudding than tapioca, 4 cups of milk may be used instead of 3 1/2 cups.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword dairy free tapioca pudding, light tapioca pudding, slow cooker tapioca pudding

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours 3 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 8 minutes

Servings 7 1/2 cup servings (3 1/2 cups pudding total)

Calories 131 kcal

Author Toni Dash

Ingredients

½ cup Granulated Sugar
3 ½ cups Light Almond Milk (to make pudding even creamier, 4 cups may be used)
½ cup small Tapioca Pearls
2 eggs , room temperature; lightly beaten
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Lightly spray the insert of the slow cooker. Add the sugar, almond milk and tapioca pearls, whisk together.
Cook on Low for 3 hours or until tapioca pearls are transparent. Stir once and hour to keep tapioca mixed in with the liquid.
Place the lightly beaten eggs and the vanilla extract into a medium mixing bowl. Remove 1 cup of the tapioca mixture from the slow cooker and add ½ cup to the eggs; whisk briskly to mix together. Add the remaining ½ cup and whisk again. Add the mixture back into the slow cooker to cook 30 additional minutes. Note: if eggs are added directly to the slow cooker mixture they will scramble.
Remove tapioca and chill to fully set.

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding {dairy-free}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 131 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 2g 3%

Cholesterol 46mg 15%

Sodium 180mg 8%

Potassium 17mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 24g 8%

Sugars 14g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 1.4%

Calcium 15.9%

Iron 2.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Slow Cooker Light Almond Milk Tapioca Pudding {dairy-free}