Creamy, thick vanilla pudding in a soft and fluffy cream on top of a silky, iced matcha latte. How good is that?! I was inspired by the banana pudding matcha latte that Magnolia Bakery sells and made a vanilla pudding version. And wow, it’s incredible.

The contrasting texture between the sweet pudding cream and smooth matcha latte is heavenly. The vanilla adds an amazing flavor and aroma, and it’s just so. dang. good. You have to try this if you love matcha and yummy desserts!

Here’s how to make a vanilla pudding matcha latte at home!

What is a Vanilla Pudding Matcha Latte?

A vanilla pudding matcha latte has a vanilla pudding cream on top of an iced matcha latte. It’s sweet, creamy, fragrant, and satisfying, especially the contrasting textures of the cream and matcha latte

The pudding cream has a custard consistency and is definitely not too thick to drink, especially with the airy whipped cream. You can use premade vanilla pudding or instant pudding powder to make this drink.

What Does a Vanilla Pudding Matcha Latte Taste Like?

Like heaven. This vanilla pudding matcha latte tastes like the gates to heaven opened, haha. It’s so good. My first sip and I was blown away with how balanced, creamy, and delicious it is!

The vanilla pudding cream is soft and sweet, with a balanced vanilla flavor. Because of the eggs in the pudding, it has a custard flavor which makes it taste that much better. It’s probably why it’s better than just regular vanilla sweet cream. It tastes almost like vanilla ice cream but way less sweet and more custard-like.

The matcha balances the sweetness and creaminess with the earthy and umami flavors. It’s literally the perfect combination and the flavors complement each other nicely.

Does Vanilla and Matcha Go Together?

Yes! Vanilla and matcha are one of the most popular flavor combinations out there. Anytime you order at a cafe, chances are a vanilla matcha latte is a possible matcha latte combination or is already on their menu.

Granted, vanilla is such a popular flavor that it’s an option for most desserts and drinks by default. However, it works incredibly well with matcha! It’s subtly floral, creamy, and sweet which pairs nicely with matcha which has contrasting flavors.

Vanilla can round out some of the sharper flavors of matcha, which might include bitterness, earthiness, astringency (more of a mouthfeel than flavor), and umaminess.

How Do You Make Vanilla Pudding?

For this recipe, I used a premade vanilla pudding and whipped it up with heavy cream to make the pudding cream. This method is super convenient and easy, but the downside is that if your premade pudding is too sweet, it can overpower your matcha.

You can easily adjust for sweetness by making your own vanilla pudding at home, which you can do by either making it from scratch or using an instant pudding packet.

For homemade vanilla pudding, you can use your favorite recipe. All you need is eggs, whole milk, cornstarch, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and butter. You basically cook all the ingredients together until thick, then cool! It’s super easy.

For instant pudding powder, you can make it into pudding or add the powder directly to your heavy cream!

How to Make Vanilla Pudding Cream

Once you have your vanilla pudding, to make vanilla pudding cream, whip up the pudding and heavy cream together until it attains a light custard consistency. It should be slightly pourable, not stiff.

You can use an electric frother or whisk to whip your cream, but the former is easier to make for individual portions.

I usually use a ratio of one part pudding to two parts heavy cream, so one tbsp of pudding to 2 tbsp of heavy cream. Depending on what consistency you want, you can adjust the amounts as needed.

For a lighter cream, use more heavy cream. For a thicker cream, use more pudding.

How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte

The base of this drink is an iced matcha latte, which should be pretty easy to make, right? Well, making matcha definitely has a learning curve, but once you practice it a couple of times, you’ll be a pro in no time.

First, you’ll want to decide how much matcha powder to use. Generally, one serving is a teaspoon, but I like to use a teaspoon and a half for a bold matcha flavor. My golden matcha ratio is 3g matcha to 6oz milk.

Next, you need to whisk your matcha properly. This helps create a smooth texture and gets rid of clumps. You’ll want to use a matcha bowl and bamboo whisk to whisk the matcha with water. You can also whisk matcha without a whisk shaking it in a lidded jar or using an electric frother.

Then, combine it with your milk and sweetener for a beautiful green color, or add them separately for a nice gradient.

What Matcha to Use

For a creamier matcha latte, I suggest using a bolder matcha that has a little more umami flavor in it. Something like Ippodo’s Ummon or Matchakari’s Ceremonial is perfect. You’ll want bolder matcha because the vanilla pudding cream is heavier and can overpower more mild-tasting matchas.

The bolder matchas will give you a more balanced flavor in this drink! But, use whatever you have or what you like!

How to Make a Vanilla Pudding Matcha Latte

Here’s what you’ll need to make a vanilla pudding matcha latte:

• 1 tbsp vanilla pudding
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup milk
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup water
• ½ tsp sweetener agave, maple syrup, simple syrup, etc.
• 1 tsp gingerbread or Biscoff cookie crumbles

Vanilla Pudding Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Make Pudding Cream. Whip vanilla pudding and heavy cream together using an electric frother or whisk until soft and fluffy. It should be pourable and not extremely stiff.
2. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha into a bowl, then add water. Using a softened bamboo whisk, whisk your matcha in a zigzag motion for 10-15 seconds until a froth forms.
3. Assemble Drink. Add ice, sweetener, milk, and whisked matcha into a glass, then top with your vanilla pudding cream. Garnish with gingerbread or Biscoff cookie crumbles.
4. Mix and enjoy!

Dietary Substitutions

Have dietary restrictions? You can easily customize this for any diet!

Vegan: Look for vegan puddings or omit eggs from homemade pudding. Most puddings are made without eggs, but the texture may be different without them. You can use any dairy-free milk for homemade pudding as well. You could even make a soy mousse!

Dairy-Free: Look for dairy-free puddings at the store or use your favorite plant-based milk for homemade pudding and your matcha latte.

More Creamy Matcha Latte Recipes

If you love matcha lattes with a fluffy cream top or just more dessert-like matcha lattes, then you need to try these other matcha latte recipes out:

• Banana Cream Matcha Latte
• Blueberry Cold Foam Matcha
• Strawberry Matcha Latte with Boba
• Creamy Gingerbread Matcha Latte
• White Matcha Hot Chocolate (Must Try!)
• Matcha Eggnog Latte
• Carrot Cake Matcha Latte
• Honey Cream Matcha Latte
• Coconut Matcha Cloud
• Matcha Einspanner

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a delicious vanilla pudding matcha latte at home!

• Try Different Puddings: Feeling creative? You can try making this recipe with other types of puddings like chocolate pudding, rice pudding, custards, etc. The possibilities are endless!
• Avoid Overwhipping: If you whip your cream too long, you may end up with butter or very stiff cream which is unpleasant to drink in a latte. If you do overwhip it, add a little more heavy cream and whip slowly.