Looking for more old fashioned classics? Try my Bread Pudding recipe or Oatmeal Cake.
A rich and creamy, easy to prepare dessert that young and old alike will love! It is such a nostalgic treat. There are so many different flavors and mix-ins you can add too, for ideas see below.
What is rice pudding?
It is a well known dish common in many countries around the world. It is made up of white rice, milk or water, sometimes thickeners like eggs are added and a fat like butter to make it richer. And when made as a dessert it’s usually sweetened (with something like sugar) and often flavored with cinnamon and raisins. It is a great dessert to make year round with pantry staples!
What does it taste like?
It has a simple yet unique and delicious flavor – a very rice rich flavor complimented by a nice level of sweetness. And with added cinnamon maybe something like horchata to find a familiar flavor.
Rice Pudding Ingredients
The staple ingredients you’ll need for this recipe include:
Whole milk: I like to make this rich so I go with whole milk for the best richness, consistency and flavor. Granulated sugar: I don’t like this super sweet but you can add more sugar to taste. Brown sugar works great too. Long grain rice: Other types of rice will work well too, such as jasmine rice or medium grain rice. Salt: Just standard table salt or sea salt will work great here. Vanilla: This gives it a great background flavor and adds more of a dessert taste. Ground cinnamon (optional): It can be definitely be made without but I prefer the flavor with. If you love cinnamon feel free to double up the amount. Raisins (optional): If you aren’t a fan of raisins then feel free to leave this out. Brown, red or golden raisins work great.
How to Make Rice Pudding
Can it be made with cooked leftover rice?
Yes. To prepare with cooked rice:
You’ll need 3 cups cooked rice for this recipe. Simmer for about 20 – 25 minutes. Sweeten to taste with more sugar.
How to Cook it in the Slow Cooker
Another option to make this rice pudding is to cook in a crockpot, to do so:
Pour 2 Tbsp melted butter into 4 quart slow cooker. Mix in 3 cups milk, 2/3 cup long grain rice, 1/3 cup sugar (or more to taste), 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 tsp vanilla. Cover and cook on low heat about 4 – 5 hours.
How long does rice pudding keep?
It should keep well in the fridge for about 3 days.
Can it be frozen?
Yes. It can be frozen in an airtight container up to 3 months. Thaw overnight.
How to Reheat
To rewarm you can reheat in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally and thinning with more milk.
Is rice pudding healthy?
A common question people want answered is whether or not rice pudding is healthy. I think it’s a good dessert choice. And it’s definitely a smarter option than say a slice of cake, which is usually jam packed with sugar and refined white flour. It’s not a health food but I think it’s a better option. It still has added sugar. To make it healthier you can sweeten it with something else like a few tablespoons honey or maple syrup, and also consider switching to low fat milk.
Is rice pudding gluten-free?
This recipe is naturally gluten-free just be sure to use ingredients that are labeled gluten-free to avoid cross contamination in facilities that may produce or package other products that have gluten.
Possible Variations
A traditional way to prepare it here in the U.S., Mexico and other countries is to add cinnamon and raisins but there are so many variations on this treat. Here are a few ideas:
Add coconut and coconut extract. Replace half of the whole milk with canned coconut milk. Finish with fresh fruit like diced mangoes, strawberries, bananas or cherries. Drizzle with a fruit sauce. Flavor with citrus (lemon, lime or orange zest). Use other spices like nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, anise, cloves, allspice or try with a whole cinnamon stick. Sweeten with other things like date syrup, brown sugar or honey. Try it with nuts like pistachios, almonds or walnuts. Adding at the end or garnishing servings.
More Delicious Desserts to Try
Cheesecake Key Lime Pie Mini Banana Cream Pies Sticky Toffee Pudding Vanilla Ice Cream
