Dairy-Free Chai Vanilla Pudding

Aug 16, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Beans Easy

Dairy-free chai vanilla pudding made with Mexican vanilla

Dairy-free chai pudding flavored with a whole vanilla bean. An easy recipe: 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus chilling; serves 4. Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 10 min

Cook 15 min

Chill 2 hr

Total 2 hr 25 min

Servings 4

Diet Dairy free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2 ½ cups (600.0 ml)almond milk
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
3.0 tbsp (24.0 g)cornstarch
3.0large egg yolks
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)dairy-free butter
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 ½ tsp (4.0 g)chai spice blend

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a saucepan off the heat, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks with a splash of the milk until smooth and lump-free.
Warm the remaining milk with the vanilla until it steams, then whisk it slowly into the yolk mixture.
Whisk the chai spice blend into the warm milk.
Set over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the pudding thickens and comes to a gentle bubble, about 5 minutes; it should mound softly on the whisk.
Off the heat, whisk in the butter until the pudding looks glossy and smooth.
Pour into serving dishes, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin, and chill until cold and set, about 2 hours.

Tips

Chai spice blends vary; taste your blend and adjust the amount so the cinnamon doesn't overpower the vanilla.
Don't toss the scraped pods: tuck them into a jar of sugar for homemade vanilla sugar.
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Choosing vanilla: Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic) suits this recipe best; Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy) is a great alternative, and any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla pudding?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hr chill. The recipe makes 4 servings.

How should I store vanilla pudding?

Refrigerate with plastic wrap pressed on the surface for up to 3 days.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This version uses 1 split vanilla bean. You can swap in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder instead; they're interchangeable at these amounts. Beans give the most visible specks and the fullest aroma.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 4 servings this recipe makes.

246 Calories / serving

11.1g Fat

34.0g Carbs

3.3g Protein

26.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (4 servings): ~984 cal · 44g fat · 136g carbs · 13g protein · 105g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 246 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 46 min·2.7 mi·~5400 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 33 min·1.7 mi·~3300 steps
Moderate cycling 25 min·5.0 mi
Swimming laps 34 min
Jogging 24 min·2.0 mi·~3850 steps
Stair climbing 23 min·~2050 steps
Dancing 40 min
Bodyweight circuit training 25 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 57 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.