Glass bowl of rice pudding topped with cinnamon
Desserts

Easy Rice Pudding

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Need a comforting dessert recipe that is super easy to make? This easy rice pudding recipe hits the spot.

It is a great way to use some of that bag of rice that I know you have sitting in your pantry. Rice pudding is a staple among many people around the world. It is made a little bit different to fit the cultures of those countries.

But wherever rice is abundant and eaten frequently you will find some form of rice pudding there. I generally like to eat it sweet, but savory works just fine as well.

Eat it as a dessert or for breakfast, or for a middle of the day snack. If I can do it you can do it, let’s get started!

glass bowl of rice pudding with cinnamon sitting on a wooden chair

Step 1: Gather the ingredients and tools

For this easy recipe, you only need a few ingredients and tools. To make it you will need the following:

  • Rice – The star of this dish, no doubt. You can’t have rice pudding without rice. I typically use long grain rice, but you can use medium and short as well.
  • Water – Use filtered water if your tap water doesn’t taste good, like mine.
  • Salt – A bit of table salt to balance out the sweetness and enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.
  • Milk – The milk will add a creaminess to the pudding and a richer taste. I normally use whole milk, but you can use 2%, 1%, Skim, etc.
  • Granulated Sugar – For a nice sweet pudding use sugar. If you want it to be more savory lower the amount of sugar you use.
  • Vanilla extract – This hint of vanilla is perfect with a sweet rice pudding. You can leave it out if you are making the dish savory. It will enhance the flavor.
  • Ground cinnamon – An optional ingredient that to me is not optional. Cinnamon and spice make everything nice. I just really love cinnamon so I add it to a lot of dishes.
  • Raisins – This one is very debatable. It is another optional ingredient, some people love it, some people don’t. What about you? Do you like raisins in your rice pudding? Drop a comment down below and let me know.
Several ingredients in glass bowls on a wooden table for  making rice pudding.

Tools

  • Medium to Large stove pot
  • Stirring spoon or wooden spoon
  • Plastic wrap
  • Bowls
  • Stovetop or hot plate

Step 2: How to Make Rice Pudding

First, let us prep the rice. It is normally a very good idea to rinse the rice a few times until the water comes out clean.

Add the rice, water, and salt to a medium or large pot. If you are using the recipe as is a medium pot will work fine. If you are making more I would recommend using a larger pot.

Medium black pot filled with water and rice.

Step 3: Cook the rice

Now over at the stovetop, at your pot of rice and set the burner to medium-high heat. Let the water come to a boil, then turn the temperature down to medium-low and allow it to simmer to cook the rice.

If you have a lid cover the pot. Make sure to give the rice a stir every once in a while to make sure it doesn’t stick on the bottom. You may also use a rice cooker if you.

I love my rice cooker and use it all the time. But I wanted to show the “one-pot” rice pudding method. Cook the rice until the water has all absorbed.

Step 4: Milk and sugar time

Next, we need to sweeten this rice up and make it creamy. To do that add in the milk and sugar and turn the heat up to medium. Let it cook for 10 to 15 minutes until it thickens up.

It should be a nice porridge or oatmeal consistency. Unless you like it runnier then you can do that. The rice pudding will also thicken up more after it cools.

Note: If you like raisins in your rice pudding and you want them soft, make sure to add them about 5 minutes after adding the milk. Or if you want the raisins more like their normal hardness add them in when you add the vanilla.

Medium black pot filled with cooked rice pudding.

Step 5: Vanilla extract

After the 15 to 20 minute mark it will be bubbling a lot, keep stirring at this point, so it doesn’t stick or burn on the bottom. When it is ad the thickness that you want, turn off the heat and stir in your vanilla extract.

At this point, you can add in the raisins if you didn’t add them in earlier. Your rice pudding is complete.

What are some other things you like to put in your rice pudding? Drop a comment down below and let me know.

Step 6: Warm or cold rice pudding

Now it is time to serve that yummy easy rice pudding. You can eat it warm or cold, it is up to you. If you are going to eat it cold, place it in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge. Sprinkle it with cinnamon and any other toppings you like to have with it. Enjoy!

How long does rice pudding last in the fridge?

If you keep it covered and store it in the fridge it will last for 3 to 4 days. However, I am willing to bet it gets gobbled up before then.

Glass bowl of rice pudding topped with cinnamon
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4.92 from 12 votes

Easy Rice Pudding Recipe

A go-to comfort dessert is rice pudding. Adored by millions of people worldwide, if there is rice to be had, you can probably find someone eating rice pudding. This recipe for rice pudding is super easy to make and very delicious. Use the one-pot method or cook the rice in a rice cooker and use another pot to finish it off.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Mexican, Worldwide
Keyword: cinnamon, easy, simple
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 364kcal
Author: In the Kitchen with Matt

Equipment

  • Medium to Large stove pot
  • Stirring spoon or wooden spoon
  • Plastic wrap
  • Bowls
  • stovetop or hot plate
  • rice cooker (optional)

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. of rice long-grain, medium, or short (65g)
  • 3/4 cup of water 177ml
  • 1/8 tsp or a pinch of salt less than 1 g
  • 2 cups of milk whole, 2%, or 1% (480ml)
  • 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar 50g
  • 1/4 tsp. of vanilla extract 1.25 ml
  • pinch of cinnamon if desired
  • raisins if desired

Instructions

  • Clean and cook the rice. Rinse and drain the rice a few times until the water is clean. Place the rice in a medium pot on the stovetop or hot plate. Add the water and salt and bring to a boil then turn down the heat to medium-low and let simmer until the water is absorbed. Or you may use a rice cooker.
  • Now add in the milk and sugar. Turn the heat up to medium and allow it to cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the rice doesn't stick or burn on the bottom. Allow it to cook until it thickens up to your desired consistency. If you want to add raisins, add them about 5 minutes after adding the milk.
  • Once it gets pretty thick, like porridge or oatmeal, stir in the vanilla extract. And remove from the heat. The rice pudding will thicken up even more as it cools down. You can cook it less time and have it be runnier too if you like. It is up to you.
  • The rice pudding is done. Add more raisins if you like, top with ground cinnamon and serve it warm. Or cover and let it cool in the fridge and serve it chilled. Enjoy!

Video

How to Make Rice Pudding | Easy Rice Pudding Recipe

Notes

list of nutritional facts for rice pudding
Tried this recipe?Mention @WPRecipeMaker or tag #wprecipemaker!

Nutrition

Calories: 364kcal

Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.

Here are a few more recipes you may like:

Vanilla Cupcakes

Air Fryer Cake

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Easy Vanilla Pudding

Homemade Powdered Sugar

Easy Rice Pudding pin for Pinterest
(Pin it!)

58 Comments

  1. Julia Velasquez

    My mom made this on cold mornings for breakfast. She used condensed milk sometimes. Have never made myself but my sister’s have. She also used cinnamon sticks.

  2. I need to try this recipe out. The rice pudding looks so delicious!

  3. Wow! This looks delicious and easy to make. Would love to try this since here in the Philippines “Rice is life” Thank you for sharing the recipe. Can’t wait to try it.

  4. I love rice pudding. Great recipe it’s a real good dessert!

  5. I’ve only had rice pudding once on vacation in Bali. I will have to try this again and make it myself!

  6. katrina Kroeplin

    yes please! this looks amazing i love me some rice pudding. i’m cuban so we make it a lot.

  7. This looks so easy and so good! I’m adding these ingredients to my shopping list.

  8. This looks so good. Do you think it would work with left over (plain) rice?

  9. 5 stars
    I love it! Rice is something I can get easily. The milk, though…I don’t easily work with it. Can I substitute it with something else?

  10. Aw, Rice Pudding always reminds me of my grandmother, she also liked arroz con dulce – Puerto Rican Rice Pudding – since she passed I haven’t had it very often, but every time I see it I instantly think of her!

  11. My grandma used to make rice pudding. I’ve never tried making it myself, but I do remember liking it.

  12. 5 stars
    Thanks for this recipe! I had never made rice pudding until last night. Amazing!

  13. Wow! I haven’t had rice pudding in yearrrsssss. I used to eat it all the time as a kid. I will have to make some!

  14. 5 stars
    Holy smokes, man! This rice pudding is fantastic! I appreciate the video and step-by-step instructions.

  15. 5 stars
    I absolutely LOVE rice pudding! Your step-by-step instructions is going to make me popular this holiday season when I make this.

  16. 5 stars
    Yummy! I love to serve rice pudding as cold as possible. It’s tasty and a great way to cool down here in Arizona.

  17. This is making me so hungry! Rice pudding is one of my favorite desserts. It’s good cold or hot, so you can serve it any time of year.

  18. 5 stars
    So easy and I love how I can change things up by adding my favorite yogurt flavors to it!

  19. 5 stars
    We had a request for rice pudding at our house, so thanks for the detailed instructions and video! Turned out perfect!

  20. Oh yum, I love rice pudding, and I absolutely love that this recipe is so simple! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂

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