Ingredients
1 cup large pearl tapioca
3 cups milk (alternative milks work great here)
1/4 cup sugar or honey
1 whole vanilla bean
1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Place 1 cup of large pearl tapioca in a bowl and cover with 3 cups of cold, filtered water. Allow to soak for 8 hours.
Once tapioca has soaked, add 3 cups of milk, sugar or honey, salt, and split vanilla bean (or whatever flavoring you choose) to a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat - a simmer is a very low bubble not a boil, so adjust your heat to maintain that low simmer as all stoves are different.
Add drained tapioca to simmering milk mixture and cook, stirring occasionally and making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan often for 20 minutes or until tapioca pearls become translucent and soft.
Carefully transfer to serving dishes or small jars and allow to cool to room temperature before storing, covered, in refrigerator.
Notes
Make sure you are using large pearl tapioca. I use hoosier farm brand and I know reese is a popular brand as well. This will require you to soak overnight, but it is well worth it.
Have fun with the flavorings. Instead of vanilla, or in addition to it, use cinnamon, cardamom, or any warming spice blend you love. Add a splash of your favorite extract or even a bit of bourbon. Lemon or orange zest, lavender... the sky is the limit!
- Prep Time: 8 hours soaking
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: dessert
- Method: stovetop