A bowl of this creamy rice pudding is the most comforting dessert to enjoy this winter. And the best part is that you just need a handful of simple ingredients to make it!
There’s really nothing better than eating spoonfuls of rice pudding, bundled up next to a fireplace at home. It’s one of those feel-good moments we crave during the holiday season — and the reason why I finally decided to recreate this classic rice pudding recipe for you all.
My version of rice pudding is ultra-creamy, splendidly sweet, and perfectly spiced with a touch of cinnamon. Essentially, it’s a bowl of coziness! I also love to stir in raisins, but you could opt for cranberries or other seasonal flavors to make this a special dessert for you, your friends, and your family.
Rice Pudding Ingredients
This is hands down one of the easiest desserts to make with minimal ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Milk: To make this rice pudding thick and creamy, it’s best to use whole milk or full-fat coconut milk (as a diary-free option).
- Rice: I’m using arborio rice, which is short-grain rice. For more notes on the type of rice to use — see notes below!
- Sweetener: A splash of maple syrup or honey is all you need to make it a sweet-enough dessert.
- Flavor Boosts: Vanilla extract and ground cinnamon give a flavorful and cozy touch for the winter season! If you’d like to get a bit more creative, I’ve got extra flavor variations below you can try.
Best Type of Rice for Rice Pudding
Technically, both short-grain and long-grain rice can produce a thick rice pudding. But after testing two separate batches, I immediately gravitated towards the pudding with short-grain rice. It was creamier with just the right amount of thickness. And this was no surprise since short-grain rice is naturally starchier and more prone to sticking together as it cooks. Just think of arborio rice used in risotto!
How To Make Rice Pudding
Stir together the pudding. In a saucepan on the stove, add the milk, rice, maple syrup, and salt. Stir it all together and bring it to a simmer over medium heat.
Allow the pudding to thicken. Reduce the heat to low, partially cover with a lid, and let the pudding cook for 25 to 30 minutes. The key here is to stir often so the rice won’t stick to the bottom of the pan!
Stir in the flavor boosters. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the raisins, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.
Rice Pudding Flavor Variations
Treat rice pudding as you would overnight oats or oatmeal — as a base for many other toppings and flavors!
- Add seasonal fruits: Top your pudding with fresh winter fruits such as apples, pears, kiwis, or oranges! They’ll add a refreshing contrast.
- Stir in other spices: Aside from cinnamon, other cozy spices you can use are nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cardamon, or pumpkin spice!
Storage Tips
To freeze: Yes, you can also freeze it! Just store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
For reheating: First, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then you’ve got two options. You can warm the pudding on the stovetop with a bit more milk (make sure to stir it together as it warms up). Or, you can microwave it — just stir it together with a splash of milk beforehand.
I hope you and your loved ones enjoy this rice pudding recipe over the holidays! If you did, be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comment box below.
Rice Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
1x
- 4 ½ cups whole milk or full-fat coconut milk
- ¾ cup short grain rice see notes above
- ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
- pinch kosher salt
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2x
- 9 cups whole milk or full-fat coconut milk
- 1.5 cup short grain rice see notes above
- 0.5 cup maple syrup or honey
- pinch kosher salt
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3x
- 13.5 cups whole milk or full-fat coconut milk
- 2.25 cup short grain rice see notes above
- 0.75 cup maple syrup or honey
- pinch kosher salt
- 1.5 cup raisins
- 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.75 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, stir together the milk, rice, maple syrup, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, while stirring frequently.
- Reduce the heat to low, partially cover with a lid, and continue cooking for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan, until the rice is tender.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the raisins, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Serve warm or cold. The pudding will be thinner while warm and continue to thicken as it cools.
