Just about all of us have rice sitting in our pantries right now. And at least some of us cook with it regularly. Rice often plays a supporting role in our dinners and lunches—sometimes, even our breakfasts. But too rarely does it make its way into our desserts. Yes, rice does savory really, really well. But it can just as easily act as the base for a seriously sweet treat—just ask the myriad rice pudding recipes in the zeitgeist right now.
For the uninitiated, rice pudding looks like a thick, creamy porridge. Imagine oatmeal made from fluffy, chewy rice—and paired with delicately sweet flavors, like coconut and vanilla. The dessert is thick, but it’s not quite as solid as pudding. And it tastes delightful, whether served cold or hot. Of course, flavors and textures can vary from recipe to recipe—but that’s the case with just about any dish. Some variations call for it to be baked like an almost crumbly casserole, while others will prepare it more like a chia pudding.
While rice pudding is decidedly delicious, its greatest strength isn’t its flavor—but instead, how ridiculously easy it is to whip up. Many rice pudding recipes call for a mere handful of ingredients, and most of them are things you probably already have. Got rice, eggs, milk, butter, and sugar? Congratulations, you’re well on your way to making a rice pudding. If you want to get a little fancy, you can absolutely do that. But this is one dessert that consistently tastes delightful—without ever demanding much of you.
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Classic Rice Pudding
Why not start by mastering rice pudding in its most classic iteration? This straightforward recipe gets its flavor from raisins, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. And when you want to level up, you can scroll down to see all the substitutions Lemon Tree Dwelling recommends. Think: dried cranberries, chocolate chips, chopped pecans, and more.
Coconut Rice Pudding
Rice pudding pairs beautifully with delicate flavors, like the soft sweetness shredded coconut has to offer. This recipe boasts a seriously creamy base, crafted from whole milk, coconut milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. And the shredded coconut it’s topped a delightful dose of texture to the mix.
Baked Rice Pudding
Baked rice pudding is an excellent choice for those who prefer a thicker, cakier texture. (Confessions of a Baking Queen warns: “If you are looking for a soupy, liquidy rice pudding, this is not the recipe for you.”) This recipe calls for a number of standard ingredients and isn’t terribly hard to throw together. All you need is the patience to wait for 2+ hours while your oven works its magic.
Chocolate Rice Pudding
Most of the time, you’ll find rice pudding flavored somewhat delicately. But those looking for rich flavor have found it in this decadent chocolate rice pudding recipe. This dish calls for a standard light rice pudding to be swirled with homemade chocolate fudge—and topped with butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and chopped nuts. Consider it a homemade chocolate sundae—with rice pudding as the base instead of ice cream.
Danish Rice Pudding
Fans of fruity flavors will surely appreciate this Danish rice pudding recipe, which gets its taste (and texture) from chopped almonds, frozen cherries, and vanilla extract. Though it may be more tart than some of the other rice puddings you’ve tried, its fresh vibrance makes this recipe worth adding to your arsenal.
Creamy Vegan Rice Pudding
Most rice pudding recipes call for some kind of dairy to be used, but Conoisseurus Veg has managed to whip up the dessert using only vegan ingredients. The secret? Swap whole milk with a combination of coconut milk and your nut milk of choice. Through a little vegan butter into the mix, and you’ve got a decidedly creamy dessert—no dairy needed.
Pumpkin Rice Pudding
This pumpkin rice pudding recipe is fit for enjoying during any time of year—and during any time of day, too. Since it’s crafted from simple ingredients like brown rice, almond milk, maple syrup, and pumpkin puree, it’ll taste as delicious at breakfast as it will after dinner. Just think of it as a really yummy, really flavorful oatmeal alternative.
Instant Pot Rice Pudding.
Instant Pot fans will surely be delighted to know it’s just as easy to make rice pudding in an Instant Pot as it is to bake it in your oven. Spend 5 minutes prepping your ingredients and 20 minutes letting your Instant Pot work its magic—and voila, you’ll have a delicious rice pudding in nearly one-quarter of the time it takes to whip up the dessert in a standard oven.
Instant Pot
Of course, in order to make Instant Pot rice pudding, you’ll first need an Instant Pot. If you don’t have one yet, you can get one here.
Vanilla Bean Rice Pudding
In this recipe, sugar, vanilla bean paste, milk, and whipping cream come together to create a dessert that’s as creamy as it is delicious. Whether served warm or cold, this dessert is sure to delight—offering subtly sweet flavor that won’t overwhelm the palette.
Vanilla Nutmeg Baked Rice Pudding
Many oven-baked rice puddings are almost cakey in texture. But this recipe offers a particularly custard-y take the dessert. The key? Pudding rice—plus a whole lot of milk, and a fair amount of heavy cream, too.
Breakfast Rice Pudding
It’s entirely possible to make rice pudding using brown rice, and the thick, chewy grain can add a delightful dose of texture to just about any rice pudding recipe. This Breakfast Rice Pudding recipe was designed with brown rice in mind, and it offers a subtle sweetness that’s present without being overwhelming.
Chocolate Rice Pudding
This exceptionally moist rice pudding is sweet, rich, and smooth in equal measure. Crafted from cocoa powder, rice, and sweetened condensed milk—and topped with even more sweetened condensed milk—this dessert is almost like a cereal. Just a really sweet, really decadent cereal.
Rice Cooker Rice Pudding
One of the easiest ways to make rice pudding? Using a rice cooker. You’ll still need a fair amount of patience, as this dessert takes nearly 3 hours to come together. But you can spend 10 minutes prepping it, and then you can set it and forget it until it’s time to taste your delicious treat.
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