The BEST Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding Recipe - The Foodie and The Fix (2024)

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This easy Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding recipe is crazy-delicious and takes just minutes to make using ingredients you probably have on hand! It's also gluten-free, 21 Day Fix approved and Weight Watchers friendly!

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Hey guys! I'm super pumped to share this dairy-free vanilla pudding with you because I just know you're going to love it!

When I first shared my pumpkin pudding recipe, it was such a hit with you guys that I knew I had to work on some more puddings - plus they're just so fun and easy to make! Not to mention that if you're like me, you probably always have the ingredients on hand, so it really doesn't get any better than that.

This Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding is equally as delicious as the pumpkin pudding and just endlessly versatile. It's full of incredible vanilla flavor, creamy-delicious with the perfect amount of sweetness - are you craving this as hard as I am yet??

The BEST Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding Recipe - The Foodie and The Fix (2)

Oh, and as a bonus, it comes with free nostalgic vibes ♥

Anyway, without further ado, let's get to some Q&A and then I'll show you how to make it!

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What is pudding?

In the U.S., pudding is a custard-like dessert made of milk, sugar, egg yolks, and thickener.

Is Dairy-Free Vanilla pudding healthy?

While this dairy-free vanilla pudding is a treat, it's pretty healthy as desserts go! And I love making things like this myself because I can pronounce everything that's in it!

Aside from this recipe being dairy-free, it's also gluten-free, 21 Day Fix approved and Weight Watchers friendly! All counts and points are in the recipe card 🙂

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Will this 21 Day Fix Vanilla Pudding create a "skin" on top as it cools?

It will - if you don't want that to happen, after you put the pudding into whatever container(s) you chose, be sure to put plastic wrap over it, but push it down so that the plastic wrap is directly touching the pudding.

If I'm making a parfait like in the top photo of this post, I like to put all of the pudding together in one big dish, put the plastic wrap on it as described above, then after it has refrigerated and is cold, remove the plastic wrap and give the pudding a good whisk. Then serve it however I like!

Will pudding thicken as it cools?

Yes! This pudding will be a thick, sauce-like consistency before it's refrigerated, but quite a bit thicker once it's cold.

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Can you freeze pudding?

Yep!

Aside from eating this Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding by itself, what else can be done with it?

SO many things!

  • Serve it with whatever kind of fruit you like (pro tip: bananas + this pudding = pure freaking magic).
  • Use it as a pie filling (the crust from this Pumpkin Custard Tart recipe would be incredible with it!)
  • Make parfaits with the pudding, fruit and coconut whip like I did in the top photo - so good! You can either make your own coconut whipped cream (which is super easy!) from this Banana Cupcake recipe, or you can pick up some of the coconut whip from the freezer aisle (it's similar to cool whip)!
  • It would also be great thinned out over pancakes, waffles (like these delish GF Waffles from my friend Nancylynn!), or as a filling for crepes!
  • You can also use this as a base recipe for different flavor variations, go nuts! This Pumpkin Pudding is a fave of mine!

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How to make the BEST Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding:

To a medium pot, add your egg yolks, cornstarch and a splash of almond milk and whisk together.

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Whisk in the sugar, salt, vanilla and the remaining almond milk.

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Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until bubbling...

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Then cook another 2 minutes until thickened to a very thick sauce consistency (it'll thicken up more when refrigerated).

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Turn off the heat and stir in the coconut oil. Immediately pour into the containers of your choosing and refrigerate until set!

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Top with whatever you like (or don't!) and enjoy!

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If you guys give this Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding recipe a try, please let me know what you think!! You can leave a comment below or tag me on Insta @thefoodieandthefix. Or if you’re inmy private Facebook group, I’d love to see a photo of your creation in there! I hope you enjoy ♥

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Don’t forget to save the BEST Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding recipe to Pinterest! ⇓

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📖 Recipe

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Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding Recipe {21 Day Fix | Weight Watchers}

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

This Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding is quick and easy to make, plus it's a great base recipe for so many different flavors! Perfect for cooking with kids, too.

Ingredients

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 ½ Tbs cornstarch
  • 1 ¾ cups unsweetened almond milk (plain or vanilla)
  • 1/16 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ Tbs sugar (white or raw)*
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbs refined coconut oil (if you aren’t dairy-free, you can also use butter)

Instructions

    1. In a medium pot (with the heat off) whisk together the yolks, cornstarch, and a splash of the milk (just a few tablespoons, but I don't measure this) from your 1 ¾ cups until smooth (if you put all of the milk in at once the cornstarch will clump up). Then whisk in the salt, sugar, vanilla and remaining almond milk.
    2. Put your burner on medium heat and bring the mixture to a bubble, stirring, and cook until thickened. Turn off the heat and whisk in the coconut oil.
    3. Immediately divide the mixture (about ½ cup each) between 4 small bowls or ramekins and refrigerate (or you can be like me and just eat it warm!) for at least 2 hours to chill and set. If you don’t want the “skin” to form on your pudding, be sure when you cover your puddings with plastic wrap, that you press the plastic wrap gently onto the top of the pudding so no air can get to it. Enjoy!

Notes

*you can substitute maple syrup or honey, but those will change the flavor of the pudding if you were looking for a straight vanilla flavor – though honey or maple-flavored puddings are also delish, so feel free to switch it up!

21 Day Fix Container Counts per Serving:¼ Red, 1 Tsp, 2 Sweetener Tsp

Weight Watchers Smart Points Link:

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: about ½ cup
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 120Total Fat: 7g

The BEST Dairy-Free Vanilla Pudding Recipe - The Foodie and The Fix (2024)

FAQs

What is the best non-dairy milk for pudding? ›

Instant Pudding Milk Substitutes Pros and Cons
SubstitutePros
Almond MilkLight, similar consistency to milk; low in calories and fat; relatively neutral flavor
Cashew MilkCreamy texture; versatile in flavor; high in healthy fats and vitamins
Soy MilkThicker consistency; mixes well; higher in protein; rich texture
2 more rows
Feb 4, 2024

How do you thicken dairy free pudding? ›

Dealing with a runny vegan pudding or salad dressing? Try mixing in a small amount of cornstarch. Rather than mixing the dry cornstarch directly into the food you're trying to thicken, first make a slurry of cold water and cornstarch.

Why can't you use almond milk in instant pudding? ›

Regular instant pudding usually won't set with almond milk because the pudding mix is formulated to work with the specific proteins in cow's milk.

Can instant pudding be made dairy free? ›

The base ingredients for most Jell-O brand instant puddings are dairy-free as well as vegan. By using a non-dairy milk such as coconut, almond, or oat milk you keep this simple instant pudding dairy-free/ vegan.

What is the closest non-dairy milk that taste like milk? ›

The demand for soy milk comes from its creamy texture and slightly nutty flavor, making it an excellent cooking and baking ingredient. It's the closest drink that resembles cow's milk, per a taste test and online public sentiment.

What non-dairy milk is closest to milk? ›

Soy Milk. Soy milk has been the most popular non-dairy substitute for decades because its nutrition profile closely resembles that of cow's milk. It's the best high-protein milk alternative. Soy milk offers about 7 grams of protein per cup, compared to cow milk's 8 grams per cup.

Will pudding get thick with almond milk? ›

So if you want to make boxed pudding with almond milk, opt for Cook & Serve pudding and a perishable almond milk, which has fewer additives, and will yield a thicker texture.

Is Cool Whip dairy free? ›

From its introduction, Cool Whip was labeled and advertised as non-dairy, but as of 2018 it contains skimmed milk and sodium caseinate, a milk derivative. Even before the skimmed milk was introduced, Cool Whip was classified in Jewish dietary traditions as dairy because of the sodium caseinate.

What can I substitute for milk in instant pudding? ›

If you don't have nut allergies, you can totally use almond milk, or even coconut milk or cashew milk. My favorite kind of non-dairy milk to use in Jell-O pudding is rice milk. I find it is the one with the least amount of after taste.

What is the most creamy non-dairy milk? ›

People love oat milk for many of the same reasons soy works so well in espresso beverages. It's thick and creamy, foams easily, and doesn't carry an unpleasant aftertaste. Note: oat milk is lower in protein than soy milk but provides about double the calories for the same eight-ounce serving.

Which milk alternative is most creamy? ›

Oat Milk. Oat milk is perhaps the creamiest of all the plant milks. Its thick creamy texture means it's one of the closest plant-based milks to resemble dairy milk. Oat milk is quickly becoming a favorite non-dairy alternative to milk with popular brands like Oatly disrupting the traditional milk industry.

Will pudding set up with lactose free milk? ›

The short answer: Yes, it works. I just did it myself. This is (at least) the second question we've gotten in recent months about non-dairy milk being unusable in pudding mixes. It's a phenomenon I wasn't aware of, mainly because I rarely use non-dairy milk.

How do I substitute almond milk for milk in instant pudding? ›

Directions
  1. Pour 1 cup almond milk into a small saucepan. Add cornstarch and heat over medium heat. ...
  2. Pour remaining almond milk into a bowl; add pudding mix. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until very thick, about 1 minute. ...
  3. Transfer pudding to 4 individual serving bowls. Cover and refrigerate if desired.
Sep 21, 2022

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