Vegan Pudding

4.98 from 217 votes

This egg-free, dairy-free homemade recipe for vegan pudding is lighter than store-bought instant-pudding & made with only 5 easy ingredients

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The homemade vegan pudding uses 5 ingredients and is made within 5 minutes! It is lighter in calories and fat than traditional vanilla pudding and it’s made with more wholesome ingredients without any food coloring and unnecessary additives.

Homemade vegan pudding topped with berries and cream - top down view of the two glass jars
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Sometimes instant-pudding mixes are so quick and convenient when you need a quick treat. But they are filled with many unnecessary ingredients and food coloring. Try this homemade version that’s not only easy to make, but also dairy-free and egg-free and perfect for any toppings!

ingredients for homemade pudding

  • Almond milk: The base for the vanilla pudding is vanilla flavored almond milk. You can use any other type of milk you’d like for the recipe but make sure it’s as pure as possible without too many added ingredients. For example my almond milk only has almonds and water.
  • Sugar: The sugar dissolves into the warm milk to create a sweet taste. You can use any type of granulated sugar or cane sugar. You can even use honey or maple syrup, but they will lend a slightly darker hue to the pudding
  • Cornstarch: The non-vegan homemade pudding recipes will usually contain eggs to bind the mixture and add a more rich flavor to it, but the mixture binds really well with the cornstarch.
  • Vanilla extract: This adds a lovely richness to the recipe to balance the cornstarch, especially since we’re not using eggs in the recipe.
Ingredients to make the pudding

How to make vegan pudding

Here’s the cool thing about this recipe. You throw it all in a small saucepan. You whisk gently for a few minutes and you have pudding.

  1. Add the milk and sugar to a pot.
  2. Add in the cornstarch.
  3. Simmer and whisk together so that the pudding is thick and smooth.
  4. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4 image collage to show how to make the pudding

Tips to for making vegan pudding

  1. Opt for pure and simple almond milk or other milks. I’ve tested this with almond milk, cashew milk and oat milk and it works best when these plant-based milks are made with a couple ingredients and not too many fillers, stabilizers and gums. Also, make sure you love the milk you choose because it’s the prominent flavor in this vegan pudding.
  2. Simmer but don’t boil. The mixture should be a control-able low simmer so that the milk doesn’t bubble over.
  3. Whisk constantly. Keep whisking the pudding throughout cooking so that you end up with a smooth and thick mixture. It’s a good workout for your arms!
  4. Allow the pudding to chill before serving. As it chills, the pudding will set and become firm, allow for at least an hour of chilling time.
  5. Make different flavors! I used vanilla extract to flavor this vegan pudding, but you can try other extracts like peppermint or lemon if you prefer.

frequently asked questions

Can I use this pudding in recipes that call for pudding?

This pudding is perfect to enjoy with some fruit and whipped cream. But you can also incorporate it into other desserts or use it as a base for other desserts like

  • Banana Pudding Parfait
  • No-Bake Cheesecake

    Can you make this dessert with other milks?

    Yes, you can use dairy milk if not vegan. Other plant based milks like coconut or soy will work well too.

    How long does it keep?

    Once your pudding has fully cooled, place it in to an air tight container and keep it refrigerated. It will keep well for up to 7 days and can be served right from the fridge for a delicious dessert.

    Vegan pudding in glass jars topped with raspberries and whipped cream

    There are so many ways to enjoy this vegan pudding, and it’s so easy to make that you’ll find yourself making this all the time…it’s the perfect simple dessert!

    For more pudding recipes

    If you try this healthy-ish feel good Vegan Vanilla Pudding recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so I can repost on Stories!

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    Vegan Vanilla Pudding

    This egg-free, dairy-free homemade recipe for vegan pudding is lighter than store-bought instant-pudding & made with only 5 easy ingredients
    5 from 217 votes
    Servings 4 servings
    Course Dessert
    Calories 291
    Prep Time 2 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 7 minutes
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    Video

    Ingredients
      

    Instructions

    • In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the almond milk, cornstarch and sugar, and stir well to combine all the ingredients together.
    • Start whisking lightly but constantly as the mixture heats. It’s important not to stop whisking in order to avoid any clumps. Once it reaches a simmer, turn down the heat to low and continue whisking.
    • After whisking for about 5-7 minutes, the mixture will thicken like pudding. Stir in the vanilla extract and pinch of salt (if using), then divide the pudding equally into four cups or containers.
    • Place the containers in the fridge for at least one hour to allow the pudding to set and chill.
    • Served with whipped cream and berries, if desired, and enjoy cold.

    Notes

    Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
    Tip: Whisk continuously during cooking to create a smooth and thick pudding.
    Tip: Allow the pudding to chill in the fridge for at least an hour for it to fully set.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g, Calories: 291kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 21g, Sodium: 16mg, Potassium: 271mg, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin C: 1.2mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 3.8mg

    Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

    Cuisine American
    Course: Dessert
    4.98 from 217 votes (212 ratings without comment)

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    Comments

    1. Bea says:

      The flavor is ok, but the texture is like rubber. Didn’t care for it at all and will not make it again.

      1. Yumna J. says:

        I’m sorry to hear the texture didn’t turn out how you had hoped, Bea. Did you use the recommended amount of cornstarch? And how long did you stir for?

    2. Cynthia says:

      Followed to the letter, stainless pan but with oat milk. 20 minutes of whisking and 2 extra tblsps of corn starch finally showed some thickening. In the refrigerator chilling BUT with the extra cornstarch (8g carbs per tblsp) now it is not a dairy free dessert I planned to be suitable for my diabetic husband. Brings the count from your stated 19 to 27 per serving. Ugh.

      1. Yumna says:

        So sorry this didn’t come out as expected. Just so I understand, you had to add 2 additional tablespoons of cornstarch for it to thicken? Did you add anything else?

      2. alyr says:

        Yeah, because of the oat milk. They are not interchangable in these recipes.

        1. Cynthia says:

          And yet the recipe states one can use any kind of milk…
          “INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE PUDDING
          Almond milk: The base for the vanilla pudding is vanilla flavored almond milk. You can use any other type of milk you’d like for the recipe.”

    3. Jack says:

      I used this recipe to build a banana pudding. I doubled the recipe and used some banana flavoring as well as the vanilla, and used sugar substitute (2tb Truvia and 3tb Stevia in the Raw for a double batch) instead of sugar. The pudding didn’t get thick enough for my liking even after chilling for several hours. I’ll definitely make this again but I might add an extra tb of cornstarch to make it thicker. I think maybe the lack of “real” sugar changed the consistency. Thank you for a great recipe!

      1. Yumna J. says:

        So glad you liked it, Jack! I love the idea of turning it into a banana pudding!!

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