Old-Fashioned Creamy Rice Pudding: The Ultimate Comfort Dessert
Make the creamiest, old-fashioned rice pudding right on your stovetop. This simple recipe uses basic ingredients to create a rich, nostalgic dessert flavored with vanilla and cinnamon.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 60 min
- Total Time: 65 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup short-grain white rice (Arborio or medium-grain works best)
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (plus extra for topping)
Instructions
- Combine the rice, whole milk, and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring often to prevent sticking.
- Once simmering, reduce the heat to low. You want a very low, slow bubble.
- Cook uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, especially scraping the bottom of the pan. The pudding thickens as the rice absorbs the liquid and releases starch, creating creaminess.
- When the pudding is thick and the rice is tender, remove the pan from the heat.
- Stir in the sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until fully dissolved. The sugar should dissolve quickly in the hot pudding.
- Serve the rice pudding warm, or transfer it to a bowl, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming, and chill completely for a cold dessert.
- Sprinkle with extra ground cinnamon before serving.
Notes
- For the creamiest texture, do not rinse your rice before cooking. The starch on the grains is necessary for thickening.
- If the pudding becomes too thick while cooling, stir in a splash of extra milk or cream until you reach your desired consistency.
- This recipe is excellent made ahead; it keeps well in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 25