My girls prefer chocolate pudding to vanilla. This pudding is very chocolatey, which makes them very happy.

scant 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
dash salt
3 tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca (granulated tapioca pearls, such as Let's Do Organic)
2 1/2 cups rice milk or other non-dairy milk alternative
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar through the tapioca. Add the milk and whisk to combine. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches a full boil. Remove the pudding from heat heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the pudding into serving bowls and cover with plastic wrap to keep a film from forming on the surface of the pudding. Let cool slightly on the counter top before storing in the refrigerator. The pudding will thicken as it cools.