Horchata

Horchata is a refreshing, cinnamon-flavored Mexican drink filled with flavor! It’s festive and perfect for any occasion.

Everyone loves this cinnamon drink. Horchata is practically a treat like this cinnamon-filled Arroz con Leche. If you love Horchata, you’ll also love this Mexican hot chocolate recipe!

Horchata served chilled with ice and a cinnamon stick.

What is Horchata?

Have you ever tried Horchata?! Horchata (pronounced “or-chaa-tuh”) is a refreshing beverage served with a main meal, dessert, or on its own.

It’s a drink made with milk and ground rice, mixed with cinnamon and a little vanilla. It’s deliciously sweet and found in most Mexican restaurants.

But did you know you can make it right in your own kitchen? This recipe is SUPER easy too. If you’ve never tried Horchata, now is your chance!

What’s the difference between Mexican Horchata and Spanish Horchata? Mexican Horchata is made with ground rice and Spanish Horchata is made with tiger nuts (a tuber—like a sweet potato—but smaller and striped on the outside).

Today we are making a Mexican Horchata made with ground rice. Follow the recipe and enjoy!!

How to Make Horchata

RICE. Add uncooked rice, 2 cups water, and cinnamon sticks to your blender and blend until roughly ground. Add the rest of the water and blend for an additional minute. Pour the rice milk into a pitcher and refrigerate overnight.

STRAIN. Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer (or cheesecloth) and discard chunks.

SEASON. Add milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar into the rice water and chill before serving over ice or you can heat it up and serve it warm. There is no wrong way because both are divine!

Recipe Tips

Chill. Make sure to chill the rice mixture for at least 4 hours. I usually do this step the day before so I can chill it overnight.

Rice. Rinse the rice to remove any dust before using it in the recipe. 

  • Soak the rice in a bowl of water all night to soften slightly. This will make it easier to blend and grind. Strain the rice before beginning to make this homemade Horchata recipe.
  • Due to the blended grains of rice, Horchata will always have a grittier texture than traditional milk. However, it shouldn’t be thick but have a liquid consistency. 

Spices. Add flavor by mixing some other spices like nutmeg, cloves, or star anise.

Dairy-free. Replace cow’s milk with almond milk or coconut milk. The drink will have a different taste, but both are wonderful dairy-free alternatives. 

Sweetener. The sugar can be increased or reduced depending on preference. Use an alternative sweetener like stevia, honey, or maple syrup.

Chilled horchata served in a glass pitcher.

Storing Info

STORE. Store your easy Horchata recipe in a pitcher chilled in the fridge. It will last for about a week!

FREEZE it in a freezer-safe container for up to a month.

Horchata served in a glass with ice and a cinnamon stick.

For more Mexican recipes, check out:

Horchata Recipe

5 from 24 votes
Horchata is a refreshing, cinnamon-flavored Mexican drink filled with flavor! It's festive and perfect for any occasion.
Course Drinks
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 270 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cup long-grain rice uncooked
  • 5 cups water divided
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2/3 cup sugar

Instructions
 

  • Add uncooked rice, 2 cups water, and cinnamon sticks to your blender and blend until roughly ground. Add the rest of the water and blend for an additional minute. Pour this into a pitcher and refrigerate overnight.
  • Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer (or cheesecloth) and discard chunks.
  • Add milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar into the rice water and chill before serving over ice.

Video

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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    It took some time for me to get used to horchata, but now I love it & this recipe is delicious! Easy & so comforting!

    1. 5 stars
      I have been looking for a good horchata recipe. It is my girls favorite and this recipe wins hands down. Thank you so much for sharing! You made moving away from TX a little bit easier this year.

  2. 5 stars
    My husbsnd served a mission in mexico and loves ehen i make RECIPES from there. He really loves this HORCHATA. He also likeD your arroz con leche.

  3. 5 stars
    My Nephew was just talking about this the other night and how much he loved it. He lived in Mexico for a couple years!! YUMMY

  4. Hi! If i fiRst soak the rice overnight, do i use tHat same water To blend the rice? Or drain The SOAKING water and tHen use “clean” water?

    1. That’s a good question. I haven’t tried soaking them ahead of time. I’d have to experiment myself.

      1. Just discovered this recipe and I am anxious to try it. It sounds delicious. We all know that when Fall arrives everything will be Pumpkin Spice 🎃. I am going to try adding some additional spices or substitutions. Pumpkin Pie Spice Seasoning is a possibility. Maybe a bit of Pumpkin Puree. Even using a bit of Eggnog for the holidays. I am off to the store for the rice. Thank you for sharing your recipe. **

  5. 5 stars
    This stuff is great! 1st time making it & it couldn’t be easier. Plan on adding rum to it later this evening

  6. Do you know if I can substitute a different type of rice for the long-grain in the recipe? I have lots of basmati on hand..

  7. This sounds delicious! Do you need to chill this for 4 hours if you plan to warm it up, or can you warm it up right after straining it? Any suggestions for warming it up?

    1. Thanks! I haven’t tried it, right after. I have always chilled it. You can warm on low on the stove or possibly the crock pot.

  8. 5 stars
    Ive actually made this recipe more than once first time I did the minimum time still had flavor cuz I just couldnt wait. I totally love tons of ice when drinking this. So the next time I did the overnight super ..and then I tried the same rice for the second time batch I honestly wouldnt do that the flavors didnt hit the same..but then again but I am learning to become better ..thank Lil Luna

  9. I used a coffee grinder to pulverize the rice and cinnamon…Anxious and waiting…smell delicious…
    But I will wait…

    1. How did it turn out using the coffee grinder to pulverize the rice and cinnamon first? I just have a basic blender that doesn’t grind the rice very well. I just tried a different horchata recipe but am going to make this one. Sounds much better to use whole milk rather than evaporated. Thanks for the idea!

  10. 5 stars
    My husband LOVES horchata but was skeptical when I mentioned making it ourselves. After making this recipe he is completely sold and I’m sure he’s going to make this weekly!