Sweet tofu pudding or douhua (豆花) is a classic Chinese dessert like taro sago, sweet red bean soup, mung bean soup, black sesame soup, almond jello and ginger milk curd. Also, this douhua recipe has only a few ingredients. A smooth, silky and soft sweet tofu pudding dessert can be done in a simple way!
Love dessert? Check out these strawberry pie, red bean mochi, chocolate strawberries, hot chocolate balls , Asian shaved ice and tang yuan recipes.
What is tofu pudding dessert?
Tofu pudding or soy bean curd dessert is a Chinese tofu dessert. Also, it calls douhua (豆花) in mandarin or tau fu fa (豆腐花) in Cantonese. It’s made with very soft tofu. And, it is usually sweet and serves as a dessert.
Douhua (豆花) recipe using gelatin:
Like all tofu, tofu pudding requires a coagulant such as nigari (magnesium chloride), gypsum (calcium sulfate) and glucono delta lactone (GDL) are often used as a coagulant.
However, in the states gypsum can be purchased in a small package in some Asian grocery stores. Since it is hard to find, I looked into other ways to make it by substituting with gelatin. Therefore, in this tofu pudding recipe I use gelatin instead.
What are the ingredients for tofu pudding dessert?
The ingredients are very simple: soy milk, sugar and gelatin. The syrup is mainly brown sugar, water and ginger slices.
Personally, I like to use gelatin because it is easier and I don't need to worry about the exact amount of water. Normally, we make our own fresh soy milk to make soy bean curd dessert. But, it is quite a process.
To make it simple and easy, I just use soy milk from a carton and it works fine and tastes amazing and delicious as well. In addition, ginger is often added into the syrup and gives more flavor to the syrup.
Cooking tips for how to make tofu pudding:
- Add a cup of soy milk in the pot, then add sugar and gelatin. Mix them very well. After, turn on medium small fire until it’s bubbling. Keep stirring it when heating up.
- Don’t add gelatin when the soy milk is warm or hot because it comes together very fast and has lumps.
- Pour the soy milk mixture and mix with the rest of the soy milk. Keep mixing it well.
- Use a spoon or fine strainer to remove excess bubbles.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours. (Normally, I refrigerate it overnight.)
- When the tofu pudding is ready, use a spoon to scoop it and put it in a bowl.
- Pour the syrup or sugar water when it is ready to serve.
FAQs:
It tastes sweet, especially served with sugar water like syrup, but not too thick. Also, douhua is a smooth, silky and soft sweet dessert.
The most common way is to serve douhua (豆花) with sugar water that has some ginger flavor. Some people like to add brown sugar or sweet red beans.
Instructions for how to make tofu pudding:
1. Pour a cup of soy milk into a saucepan, then add 3 tablespoons of sugar.
2. Next, add 1 tablespoon of gelatin and mix it fast and well. Then, turn on the fire medium to low until it’s bubbling. Keep stirring it. (Remember don’t add gelatin when the soy milk is warm or hot because it comes together very fast and has lumps.)
3. After that, pour 3 cups of soy milk into a big bowl.
4. The following step, pour the mixture from the saucepan into the soy milk in the big bowl. Mix them well.
5. Use a spoon or a fine strainer to remove extra bubbles on the top and cover with a plastic wrap. Then, refrigerate for 6-8 hours. (Normally, I refrigerate it overnight.)
6. In the meanwhile, put 2 cups of water, 1 cup of brown sugar and 3 slices of ginger into a saucepan. Mix it well and turn on the fire medium to low until it's boiling. Then, set it aside and let it cool down.
7. When the tofu pudding is ready. Use a spoon to scoop them into a bowl as the picture shows below.
8. After, pour some syrup on tofu pudding when it’s ready to serve.
Enjoy this simple and easy version of tofu pudding or douhua recipe! Also, check out these taro boba, how to cook boba, taro ice cream, mango popsicles, papaya milk and caramel popcorn recipes.
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Tofu Pudding
Video
Ingredients
TOFU PUDDING:
- 4 cups Unsweetened Soy milk
- 3 tablespoons Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Gelatin
SYRUP:
- 2 cups Water
- 1 cup Brown sugar
- 3 slices Ginger (optional)
Instructions
- Pour a cup of soy milk into a saucepan, then add 3 tablespoons of sugar.
- Next, add 1 tablespoon of gelatin and mix it fast and well. Then, turn on the fire medium to low until it’s bubbling. Keep stirring it. (Remember don’t add gelatin when the soy milk is warm or hot because it comes together very fast and has lumps.)
- After that, pour 3 cups of soy milk into a big bowl.
- The following step, pour the mixture from the saucepan into the soy milk in the big bowl. Mix them well.
- Use a spoon or a fine strainer to remove extra bubbles on the top and cover with a plastic wrap. Then, refrigerate for 6-8 hours. (Normally, I refrigerate it overnight.)
- In the meanwhile, put 2 cups of water, 1 cup of brown sugar and 3 slices of ginger into a saucepan. Mix it well and turn on the fire medium to low until it’s boiling. Then, set it aside and let it cool down.
- When the tofu pudding is ready. Use a spoon to scoop them into a bowl as the picture shows below.
- After, pour some syrup on tofu pudding when it’s ready to serve.
Notes
Cooking tips for how to make tofu pudding:
- Add a cup of soy milk in the pot, then add sugar and gelatin. Mix them very well. After, turn on medium small fire until it’s bubbling. Keep stirring it when heating up.
- Don’t add gelatin when the soy milk is warm or hot because it comes together very fast and has lumps.
- Pour the soy milk mixture and mix with the rest of the soy milk. Keep mixing it well.
- Use a spoon or fine strainer to remove excess bubbles.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours. (Normally, I refrigerate it overnight.)
- When the tofu pudding is ready, use a spoon to scoop it and put it in a bowl.
- Pour the syrup or sugar water when it is ready to serve.
Alexis says
Thank for your delicious recipe, it was easy to make and it disappeared in seconds! I want to make it all vegan by using Agar Agar. In that case, how much of it should I use in this recipe and how? Your expert opinion will be much appreciated! Alexis-
Tracy O. says
Hi Alexis,
Thank you for your comment! Using agar agar the texture will be a little bit different. I haven’t tested the agar agar in this recipe. But, you can try using 2 teaspoons of agar agar powder or less like the almond jello recipe.
Fay L says
Thank you for sharing this easy recipe. I made this last night and it is a childhood favorite at Dim Sum. Now I can make it at home.
Tracy O. says
I am glad you like it! Thank you for your comment!
Stephen says
Hello. Can this recipe be cut in half to make a smaller batch?
Tracy O. says
Yes, you can half the recipe.
Ludwina says
Thank you for sharing this recipe easy to make and taste good too
Tracy O. says
Thank you for your comment! I am glad you like it too!
Q says
Thank you, I really appreciate you for sharing this recipe. It turned out great, so yummy 😋 . It reminded me of my childhood.
Tracy O. says
Thank you for your comment! I am glad you like it.
Martyna says
Hi, could you tell me how many ml is your one cup? Is it for 250ml?
Tracy O. says
I searched for a US cup that is equal to 237 ml. But, some said 240 ml. It is ok to use 237-240ml for a cup.
terri d. says
hi, can i use the prepared soft tofu that comes in a tube? it's used a lot in Korean cooking, maybe it can be subbed here for some time saving?
Tracy O. says
Yes, you can use the extra soft tofu if you like. However, I haven't used the one in the tube because they are a little different.
Ludwina says
Thanks for sharing this recipe it's a keeper
Jennifer says
Do you have a picture of the gelatin you’re using? The only one that I’m familiar with is the agar brand as well.
Tracy O. says
I purchased this brand of gelatin. https://amzn.to/301hykl
Maddy says
My pudding didn't set overnight. Should I repeat steps 1 & 2 and add it to the mixture?
Tracy O. says
Steps 1 and 2 are very important. You need to mix the gelatin fast and well. (Remember don’t add gelatin when the soy milk is warm or hot because it comes together very fast and has lumps.) If it doesn't set overnight, it means your step 2 gelatin did not mix well.
calinhorely says
Can I use agar-agar ? 1 tablespoon too or less ? Thanks for sharing !
Tracy O. says
yes, you can use agar agar. But I haven't tried it yet, I don't know how many should add. Sorry, cannot help much for your question.