Best Rice Pudding Ever

I absolutely love rice pudding and have tried many recipes over the years. That is, until I found this recipe recently.

It is simply the best rice pudding you’ll ever taste.

Yummy, a favorite of mine.

This is an easier recipe than the one I used to make!

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why I Love the Best Rice Pudding Ever

I love this rice pudding recipe for these reasons:

• It’s super creamy.
• The level of sweetness is just right.
• The cinnamon and raisins provide added flavor.

What Type of Rice Is Best for Rice Pudding?

If your aim is to make the best ever rice pudding, go for white rice. While traditional rice puddings are typically made with long-grain rice, you can also opt for short-grain rice. The latter contains more starch, which can add extra creaminess to your rice pudding.

What Thickens Rice Pudding?

Although some recipes call for cornstarch to thicken a rice pudding, this is not really the way to go. The starch in the rice is meant to thicken the pudding, and so is the milk. The best rice pudding recipe ever also includes an egg that’s added at the end. It forms a custard-like texture, which further thickens the rice pudding.

How To Serve the Best Rice Pudding Ever

You can serve your rice pudding in a variety of ways. In fact, your imagination is the limit. You can serve it with fruit, such as berries or bananas, or you can add a dollop of cream on top. Sprinkling nuts, such as cashews or almonds, will add crunchiness to the creamy pudding. Other topping ideas include figs and honey, sweet mincemeat, and lemon curd.

Cooking Tips:

My top tip when it comes to making the best rice pudding ever is to be patient. Don’t rush the process. To ensure that the rice is cooked and that the pudding has the desired consistency, you need to give the rice time to absorb the milk. When most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is soft, your pudding is ready.

Variations:

Chocolate lovers can replace the milk in the recipe with chocolate milk, while those who like a more spicey flavor profile, can add spices such as cardamom, ginger, and cloves. Biko, which is a Filipino dessert made with coconut milk and sticky rice, is a delicious variation of rice pudding. You can also try the sweeter Cuban version of rice pudding, called Arroz con Leche.

Ingredients:

• Short or medium-grain rice
• Water
• Half and half
• Milk divided
• Granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• Egg beaten
• Butter unsalted
• Golden raisins
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon

How to make the Best Rice Pudding Ever:

Step 1. Place the water into a saucepan over medium-high heat on the stove. Bring the water to a boil, add the rice, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer the rice covered for 20 minutes.

Step 2. Add the butter to the cooked rice, and mix in the half and half, the milk, sugar, and salt.

Adding the half and half.

Adding the milk.

Adding the sugar.

Step 3. Place the other ½ cup of milk into a bowl with the beaten egg, and whisk to combine.

Step 4. Cook the rice mixture over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes until it thickens well.

Step 5. Add a small amount of the rice mixture to the bowl with the milk and egg, and whisk continuously.

Step 6. Slowly whisk the tempered egg and milk mixture into the rice pudding.

Step 7. Stir in the raisins.

Step 8. Cook for another few minutes, remove from the heat, and add the vanilla and cinnamon.

Adding the vanilla.

Adding the cinnamon.

Step 9. Let sit to cool and thicken, and then serve as desired.

SAVE this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

How To Store the Best Rice Pudding Ever

You can store your rice pudding in an airtight container in the fridge. If you want to freeze it, make sure that the pudding has cooled down completely first. It’s a good idea to freeze portions in zippered bags since doing so will allow you to thaw as much rice pudding as you want at any given time.

How To Reheat the Best Rice Pudding Ever

You can either reheat your rice pudding in the microwave, or you can warm it on the stove. If the rice pudding is too solid, you can add a little milk during the reheating process. Alternatively, you can also warm up your rice pudding in the oven.

How Much Does the Best Rice Pudding Ever Last in the Fridge?

You can store leftovers for three to four days in the fridge. If you have a lot of rice pudding left over, store it in the freezer for up to two months.

Can I Make the Best Rice Pudding Ever Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make your rice pudding a day before you want to serve it to your family or guests. In fact, doing so gives the rice time to absorb all the flavors. If you’re going to make rice pudding in advance, it’s best to use long-grain rice to prevent your pudding from becoming mushy.

Related Recipes You Might Enjoy

Here are a few recipes for other desserts you can make:

New Orleans bread pudding: Leftover rice is not the only leftover food you can turn into a delicious pudding. When you’ve reached the end-of-the-month budget, you can make a bread pudding dessert with bread, sugar, milk, and eggs.

Layered carrot cake: A carrot cake is not just delicious but also nutritious. This recipe consists of three layers of cake with frosting in the middle and crunchy nuts on the outside.

Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting: These moist bite-size pumpkin bars are made with ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and cream cheese.