Halloween festivities aren’t complete without a ghoulish recipe or two. Would you ever guess this Swampy Frog Egg Pudding is a modern spin on a classic dessert gone to the dark side? Gluten-free, dairy-free and fright-filled.
This spooky Hallween recipe is sponsored by Sprouts. All opinions are my own.
My mind is so full of ideas for fall recipes I think I’ll never have the time to share them all! And though I’ve created a respectable collection of Halloween recipes, I can’t let a year pass without something new to add to the bunch.
I think the delight of Halloween foods and drinks is a distinguishing characteristic that clearly identifies it as a Halloween edible (and often something that would never be made or consumed at any other time of year). Something that makes one squirm or with some whimsy that is the essence of the holiday fun (this Jack o Lanterns fruit dessert pizza comes to mind).
You would not believe how many months beforehand my mind starts working overtime to think of something new, fun and unexpected. I never like to do the same things twice and I deliberately try not to see what other things are popping up on the internet to keep my own train of thought on the track.
Swampy Frog Egg Pudding is actually a simple non-dairy tapioca recipe using multiple colors and sizes of tapioca pearls to create both the eggs and the color. For those who have enjoyed Bubble Tea, the large white eggs are Boba tapioca pearls. They are combined with regular size white and green pearls which become translucent as they cook making a cool texture and visual appearance.
I toyed with this recipe for an entire weekend to find just the right mix of appearance, texture and flavor for the occasion. Non-dairy tapioca pudding, or better described tapioca pudding made with water instead of milk has a more gelatinous consistency. It’s like jello, though stickier, and perfect for this ghoulish treat!
Ironically there is no added coloring in the recipe. The combination of the green tapioca in the mix creates the swampy green shade. I used Sprouts granulated sugar which has a naturally fine consistency more like a baker’s sugar, which dissolves very quickly. I suggest using clear vanilla extract if possible which can be found at stores featuring baking supplies or online; regular vanilla works well too though the color will change the pudding shade a bit.
The green tapioca and large boba pearls are most commonly found at a grocery store including Asian grocery items or online. There are many colors of both the smaller tapioca and the boba (green and black too). Should you have difficulty finding the small green tapioca you can double the small white tapioca and add a bit of food coloring for the green tone. Any way you make it will be a delight!
Swampy Frog Egg Pudding
Ingredients
- 5 cups Water
- 1 teaspoons Vanilla Extract (preferably clear; available at baking supply stores)
- 1/3 cup White Boba Tapioca Pearls (not instant; other colors may be substituted) *
- 1/3 cup regular White Tapioca Pearls
- 1/3 cup regular size Green Tapioca Pearls (if unavailable, white may be used and green food coloring added to the pudding) *
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar (or fine-grain granulated sugar)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan combine the water and vanilla extract and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the tapioca pearls and stir well to prohibit them from sticking together. Boil over medium heat for 15 minutes. Test a Boba pearl to ensure it is cooked through (no longer hard and it will be chewy). If the tapioca is not fully cooked, cook an additional 5 minutes and test again.
- Stir in the sugar and stir until it dissolves 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and pour/spoon into individual ramekins. Place on a baking sheet to keep them upright, loosely tent with a piece of foil and place in the refrigerator until set. The color and transparency will change as the pudding solidifies.
Karissa says
Where did you find green tapioca pearls? I can’t find them anywhere 🙁
Toni Dash says
I got them at an Asian grocery store. Usually they will have bags of different colors. Where are you located?
Sandra says
So fabulously creepy!