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Creamy and sweet rice pudding is an easy dessert that can be served hot or cold. Topped with a dash of cinnamon, it’s the ultimate comfort food that brings back nostalgic memories!
Rice pudding is such a comforting dessert, especially when it’s nice and warm. If you like this version, you’ll have to try our Slow Cooker Rice Pudding—it’s just as tasty and super EASY!
Easy + Creamy
Rice pudding is a sweet dessert made with milk, rice, sugar, and a few other ingredients. It’s creamy and can be served cold or hot!
No one really knows who invented rice pudding. Some believe it was originated in China because of their ancient rice culture, but rice pudding is found in many areas around the world! Each is made a little bit differently with different flavors.
Today we are making a tasty dessert version of rice pudding. It’s sweet, smooth and makes the perfect little after-dinner dessert. I love it served warm with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on top. It has such a delicious distinct flavor and texture!
How to Make Rice Pudding
The best rice to use when making rice pudding is a medium grain white rice. Medium grain rice makes it a little stickier and gives it that creamy texture you’re looking for in rice pudding.
RICE. In a saucepan, bring the 1 1/2 cups of water to boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the rice. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer the rice for 20 minutes. Make sure the rice is thoroughly cooked before moving on to the next step.
PUDDING. Transfer the cooked rice into a clean saucepan. Add 1 and 1/2 cups of half and half, the sugar and the salt. Cook this mixture over medium heat until creamy- about 15-20 minutes. Stir in the rest of the half and half and then add the beaten egg and raisins. Cook for another 2 minutes making sure to stir constantly.
Remove the rice pudding from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Serve it hot, at room temperature, or chilled! Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg to make it extra yummy.
Changing it Up
You can make many variations of rice pudding just by adding different ingredients. Try some of these:
- coconut milk and lime zest
- maple syrup and chopped walnuts
- cinnamon and raisins – (check out our Arroz con leche)
- toasted pistachios and cardamom
Did you know you can even make rice pudding with leftover white rice? Place the leftover rice to a microwave safe bowl add a bit of water, cover and steam it. The rice should be hot and soft. Continue the rest of the recipe as written.
This recipe will stay fresh for up to 1 week if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Store the same way in the freezer and it will last up to 3 months!
For More cozy desserts:
Rice Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup uncooked medium grain white rice
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 ½-3 cups half and half, divided
- ⅓-½ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a saucepan bring the 1 ½ cups of water to boil. Once boiling stir in the rice. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes. Make sure the rice is thoroughly cooked*
- Transfer the cooked rice into a clean saucepan. Add 1 ½ cups half and half, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until creamy. About 15-20 minutes
- Stir in the rest of the half and half then add the beaten egg, and raisins. Cook for another 2 minutes. Stirring constantly.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.
Note:* The secret to rice pudding is adding the sugar at the correct time. Do not add the sugar until the rice is thoroughly cooked, as the rice will not continue to soften. If you have tried this recipe before and did not like it, give it another whirl making sure that the rice is cooked before adding the sugar and other ingredients.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious Rice Pudding. I added an extra egg and grated fresh nutmeg on top.
Yummy!! So glad you enjoyed the rice pudding!
Really good, custard like. I used a half cup of sugar as my wife and I like things sweet, however I think it would be equally enjoyable with less.
So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!! Thanks for giving it a try.
I just loved this recipe. Just like mom made while I was growing up. I did alter it a bit. I took 2 cups of water and microwaved for 3 min. Put a heaping cup of raisins in hot water, stir and set aside 30 to 40 min. The longer they sit the plumper they get.. follow rice pudding recipe till the end, when you add the vanilla and butter add the drained plumped raisins. Raisins add another level of sweetness to a wonderful rice pudding.
Perfect! Thank you for sharing what you did! Sounds good!
aBsolutely Delicious and easy to make! This was my first time making rice pudding. I had a lot of half & Half that I would have had to throw away so I was looking for something to use it on and came across this recipe. I will DEFINITELY make this again and again. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
You are so welcome! Glad you found this recipe & tried it! Thank you!
Does this need to be stirred at all during step 2?
It could be stirred occasionally during step 2 but not constantly, like in step 3. Hope this helps!
I am just looking for a way to make Sweet rice the way my mom does and I thought yours was just like my Mom’s way is,and and your mom is a lunatic too, lol,my moms maiden name is Luna also,my grandpas name was Santos Luna, well maybe were related that would be a trip, oh my grandmother was named Daisy she lived on the central coast, I know that my mother was raised in the Fresno area a tiny place named planada,well if you e-mail me that’s my address just use all small letters, alillessthengodlikehecreatedme@gmail.com thanks for the recipe, just like mama made it.Rudy
Well, maybe we are? Glad you found this recipe 🙂
This is similar to your Arroz con leche, which I love. Just a simple warm treat
I grew up on rice pudding! It was our dessert. Its one of my most favorite things to eat.
My family loves rice pudding!! It’s been a while since I made it..I’m thinking it’s time. Warm rice pudding sounds so comforting! Love the hint of cinnamon!
I am so happy you posted this recipe! I forgot how much I love Rice Pudding. The flavor is wonderful in this recipe!
I haven’t made this in a while, but came across the recipe & need to make it again. It is very smooth & creamy! Love it warm!