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    HOME » Vegan

    Dated: June 22, 2020 Last Modified: January 6, 2023 by Laura This post may contain affiliate links.

    Vegan Vanilla Pudding - Egg free recipe

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    This vegan vanilla pudding is a simple recipe that’s quick to make with only 5 ingredients. The perfect treat to satisfy any sweet tooth. Kid approved! 

    Rich, creamy, sweet, and enjoyed in both the summer and winter, vanilla pudding is one of my favorite desserts. 

    3 glass cups filled with vegan vanilla pudding. Each has a tiny gold spoon in the cup. Bottles of vanilla are blurred in the background.

    Free From: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, mollusks, celery, corn (optional), sesame, mustard, lupin, sulfites, and more

    This vegan vanilla pudding is made super simply on the stovetop with basic ingredients. And there are no weird hidden ingredients in this recipe, either! Plus, it tastes way better than any instant box pudding. 

    This pudding has gotten a little makeover here and is updated with my latest recipe for best results. 

    It makes a great base layer for different desserts and you can jazz it up with different flavor variations (see below). And if you want to get fancy, you can make a layered pudding dessert with this recipe and my vegan chocolate pudding. So fancy! 

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love this Vegan Vanilla Pudding 
    • Ingredients 
    • Allergy Substitutions 
    • Instructions 
    • Variations
    • Best Tips 
    • FAQs
    • How to Store 
    • More vegan desserts to love 
    • Recipe

    Why You’ll Love this Vegan Vanilla Pudding 

    • Smooth, creamy texture
    • Full of vanilla flavor and perfectly sweet
    • Easy to make on the stove
    • Gluten free, dairy free, egg free, and nut free recipe

    Ingredients 

    What’s great about this recipe is how simple the ingredients are for making such a delicious dessert. 

    Ingredients for pudding in various glass bowls of different sizes rest on a wood table. Black and white labels have been added to name each ingredient.
    • Dairy free milk: Use your favorite plant based milk for this recipe. In these photos, I used coconut milk for a subtle coconut flavor that my family loves. You can also use soy milk, almond milk, or cashew milk. I’ve made this with oat milk and rice milk, however, I find that they don’t set up as well as the other milks. But that doesn’t affect the taste. 
    • Sugar: A bit of white sugar is needed. To make sure your sugar is vegan, use organic sugar or sugar that says it is beet sugar. They are always vegan. 
    • Cornstarch: Corn starch helps to thicken the pudding and transforms the milk into the sweet pudding. If you can’t have corn, check out these cornstarch substitutes.
    • Vanilla: The star of the show! I love to use a rich Madagascar vanilla for this, however a bourbon vanilla is also amazing. Use a good quality vanilla as this is the main flavor of the desert. 
    • Salt: A pinch of salt really balances out the sweetness of this recipe. 

    Allergy Substitutions 

    If you are avoiding corn, you can make this recipe with an equal amount of either tapioca flour or arrowroot powder. You can try any of the cornstarch substitutes here. Make sure that your vanilla extract is also corn free. My favorite corn free baking products can be found on my shop page. 

    Instructions 

    For the full instructions, complete with recipe measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    First, combine the cornstarch with a ¼ cup of the milk of your choice. Mix this together well to create a cornstarch slurry. This method helps to prevent lumpy pudding and no one wants that!

    2 glass bowls are seen on a wood tabletop. One bowl is filled with cornstarch and another with coconut milk. The milk has a silver fork in it.
    2 glass bowls are seen, one empty and one filled with milk and cornstarch. A fork is in the bowl with the milk. This all is on a wood table.

    Next, in a medium sauce pot, combine the rest of the dairy free milk, cornstarch slurry, sugar, and salt. Use a whisk to help break up any lumps that might have snuck past. 

    All ingredients added to a silver pot with a black handle. The milky white liquid fills the pot. It rests on a wood table.

    Then place the pot over a low to medium heat and stir almost constantly. This prevents any lumps from forming, and will help to scrape the sides and bottom of the pan so that nothing scalds. 

    The pudding needs to come to what is called a “first boil”. This is where the pudding has a big “blurp” bubble in the middle of the pot. For my stove, it usually reaches this stage at about 7 to 9 minutes in. 

    Tip! While you want this to come to a first boil, you don’t want to boil the pudding itself. A boil is too hot for making pudding and will burn the bottom of the pot without thickening it. And be careful so you don’t burn your hands. Hot pudding is really hot! 

    After the first boil is reached, immediately remove the pot from the stove and add in your vanilla extract. It should smell amazing. 

    Finished vanilla pudding in a silver pot with a black handle. A silver whisk is in the thick pudding. It rests on a wood table.

    Let the hot pudding rest in the pot for about 10 minutes before you transfer to any other cup or bowl. The pudding is hot and you don't want to crack any glass bowls!

    Finally, transfer the hot pudding to your dish of choice, bowls, cups, etc and let it cool on the countertop for another 10 minutes. Then, you can enjoy it warm, or place it in the fridge to chill.

    If you want to avoid a skin on top of the pudding, place a layer of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding before putting them in the fridge. This prevents that layer from forming. 

    Variations

    You don’t need to limit this to just vanilla extract! Here are some ideas for mixing up different flavors. 

    Chocolate Pudding: Add ¼ cup of your favorite cocoa powder

    Other extracts: Try lemon, orange, or peppermint extract

    Chai pudding: After mixing the pudding, add dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger when adding the vanilla. 

    Chocolate Vanilla Swirl: Mix half vanilla pudding with half of vegan chocolate pudding for an old fashioned pudding cup. 

    Top view of 3 vanilla puddings in glass cups. Each has a tiny gold spoon in the pudding.

    Best Tips 

    • Stir almost constantly while making the pudding. It can burn really quickly on the bottom of the pot.
    • A sauce pot works best for making pudding as the sides of the bowl are rounded. That means no corners for the pudding to hide in and get overcooked.
    • Low and slow is the name of the game for pudding. Don't put it on a high heat thinking it will cook more quickly.
    • A good pudding is a practice in patience. Just keep stirring.
    • This is a fantastic base pudding for so many different flavors. Try them out!

    FAQs

    What is the best plant based milk for this pudding? 

    Any of the thicker dairy free milks are great for this pudding. Coconut milk, almond milk, and soy milk are my favorites. Rice milk and oat milk will also work, however, I find their consistency to always be on the thinner side. 

    How to serve this pudding? 

    Serve this pudding in any size or shape of cups or bowls that you like. Top it with whipped coconut cream, fresh fruits or berries, some shaved chocolate, or even a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce! 

    Is instant vanilla pudding vegan? 

    Most of the time, no, pudding cups are not vegan. While the pudding mix itself may not contain eggs or dairy, the pudding is formulated to set up with dairy based products. That’s why this recipe is here to help! 

    3 vanilla glass pudding cups with gold spoons in each of them. Vanilla bottles are blurred in the background on a wood tray.

    How to Store 

    Pudding makes for an amazing make-ahead dessert option. You can make this pudding a day or two in advance and keep it chilled in the fridge until ready to serve. 

    While you can enjoy this pudding warm, you will want to keep this in the fridge until ready to serve. Store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. 

    More vegan desserts to love 

    • Vegan Chocolate Pudding
    • No Bake Vegan Chocolate Pie (no tofu!)
    • Easy Vegan Fudge
    • 3 Ingredient Vegan Caramel Sauce (nut + coconut free!)

    If you try these out, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. And if you want more delicious, dietary friendly recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

    Recipe

    3 glass cups filled with vegan vanilla pudding. Each has a small gold spoon in the pudding cup. Bottles of vanilla are blurred in the background.

    Vegan Vanilla Pudding

    This vegan vanilla pudding is a simple recipe that’s quick to make with only 5 ingredients. The perfect treat to satisfy any sweet tooth. Kid approved!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Cool Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Baked Goods
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: allergy friendly, easy, vegan
    Allergen: Celery Free, coconut free, Corn Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Fish / Shellfish Free, Peanut Free, Sesame Free, Soy Free, Tree Nut Free, Wheat Free
    Yield: 2 cups
    Author: Laura // Living Beyond Allergies

    Equipment

    • measuring cups
    • measuring spoons
    • mixing spoons
    • mixing bowls
    • whisk
    • Sauce pot

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups non-dairy milk of choice coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, rice milk recommended
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 3 tablespoon cornstarch (see above for allergy variations)
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla
    • dash salt
    • 1 teaspoon other flavorings, optional

    Instructions

    • Whisk the cornstarch. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and ¼ cup of the milk of your choice. Mix until no lumps remain. In a large saucepan, combine the remaining milk, sugar, cornstarch slurry, and salt.
    • Cook the pudding. Over a low-medium flame, stir almost constantly until first boil, about 9-10 minutes.
    • Finish cooking. After first boil, continue to stir for an additional 2-3 minutes or until desired thickness is achieved. Make sure to not burn the pudding on the bottom of the saucepan. If you notice brown flecks, the pudding is burning and remove from heat immedietly.
    • Cool the pudding. When pudding has reached the thickness you like, remove the pudding from the heat. Now, add in your vanilla extract and other flavorings if using. Let cool on the countertop for 10 minutes, making sure to stir so as a crust does not form.
    • Transfer to dishes. Carefully transfer the pudding to the dishes of your choice to serve in. Let them cool on the countertop for 10 more minutes. Serve or chill.
    • Place a bit of cling film on the top of the pudding before placing in the fridge to chill completely,, about 3 hours. This can be saved in the fridge for up to 4 days. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Allergy Substitutions
      • If you are avoiding corn, you can make this recipe with an equal amount of either tapioca flour or arrowroot powder. Make sure that your vanilla extract is also corn free. My favorite corn free baking products can be found on my shop page.
    • Variations
      • Chocolate: Add ¼ cup of cocoa powder to the pudding when you add the sugar. Make as directed. 
      • Other extracts: Try lemon, orange, or peppermint extract
      • Chai pudding: After mixing the pudding, add dashes of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger when adding the vanilla. 
      • Chocolate Vanilla Swirl: Mix half vanilla pudding with half of vegan chocolate pudding for an old fashioned pudding cup.
    • How to Store 
      • Pudding makes for an amazing make-ahead dessert option. You can make this pudding a day or two in advance and keep it chilled in the fridge until ready to serve. 
      • While you can enjoy this pudding warm, you will want to keep this in the fridge until ready to serve. Store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
    LivingBeyondAllergies.com

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

    Love this recipe?Mention @livingbeyondallergies or tag #livingbeyondallergies!

    This site contains affiliate links which means I may receive commissions for purchases made though those links. However, please know that I only provide links to products that I actually use and totally recommend! Your purchases help support this blog. Thank you!

    More A collection of vegan recipes.

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    Hi, I’m Laura! Welcome to Living Beyond Allergies, a mix of healthy + indulgent allergy free recipes, plus a sprinkle of health resources. All eaters welcome! To learn more about me, click here!

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