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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Dessert

Rice Pudding

Mar 15, 2023 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 12 Comments

86 shares
  • 62
Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegetarian
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Creamy rice pudding with a text title overlay.
Creamy rice pudding with a text title overlay.

A classic old fashioned creamy rice pudding is the ultimate comforting dessert. Soft rice in a rich creamy milk sauce with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon. This is a no-fail, one pot recipe that involves just 2 minutes prep time and minimal ingredients.

Two bowls of rice pudding one topped with cinnamon, one topped with jam.

Most of us have probably got memories of school rice pudding, and you might get flashbacks of it being bland and a weird gluey texture! This is nothing like that! This is cooked low and slow (but totally worth it) and is rich, creamy and luxurious. Super filling, but you are going to want seconds!

There are lots of different ways to cook rice pudding out there (like our Slow Cooker Rice Pudding), but this is our family favourite. It's simple, works every time and you get perfect result. If you are looking for something a little different, then why not try our Coconut Rice Pudding?

Jump to:
  • Why you will love it
  • Ingredients needed
  • How to make rice pudding - Step by step
  • The best rice for rice pudding
  • Toppings
  • Storage
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Extra tips
  • More dessert recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why you will love it

  • Less than 5 minute prep time - All you have to do is mix everything together in a large pan and then put it in the oven and leave it until it is cooked to perfection.
  • Adaptable - There is so much you can do with this dessert and we have shared all our favourite topping ideas below.
  • Total comfort food - Rice pudding is such a warming dessert, it will feel like a big hug in your belly.
  • Stores well - Make a big batch of this, as it stores well. More on the storage instructions below.
  • Fool proof - this is such an easy recipe to make and anything that could go wrong, is easy to fix.
  • Budget friendly -  This is really cheap to make, and much cheaper (and better tasting) than the tinned kind.

Ingredients needed

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.
  • Pudding rice - We used pudding rice. You can find this in the same aisle as the pre-made rice pudding in the supermarket. However any medium grain white rice will work.
  • Milk - For the best flavour and creaminess, use whole milk. You could use skimmed, or even oat milk or almond milk if you wanted to make it vegan. You won't get as good results though.
  • Sugar - We used dark brown sugar, as it adds a nice colour and lovely rich sweet flavour.
  • Vanilla - This adds a depth of flavour to the rice pudding. Vanilla does to sweet food what salt does to savoury food - it really brings out the other flavours.
  • Cinnamon - This adds a lovely warming flavour.

A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

How to make rice pudding - Step by step

One: Preheat your oven to 165°C/325°F/Gas 3. Wash and drain the rice.
Two: Grease a large oven-proof baking dish. Add the rice, sugar, cinnamon, milk and vanilla. Stir well.

Four shot collage of rice, sugar, cinnamon, milk and vanilla added to a pan.

Three: Put into the oven and cook for 2 hours.

A pan of cooked rice pudding with a browned skin on top.

The best rice for rice pudding

The type of rice you use is important, as you will get different results depending on the rice you use. Trust me on this, I have made MANY batches of this, using every different type of rice.

Pudding rice - You can buy pudding rice, a long grain rice, which is specifically for rice pudding. It results in the best finished pudding in our opinion.

Short/Medium grain rice - If you want a mushier pudding, then this would be the rice to use. We like ours to still have a little bit of texture though, as it's too easy for it to turn to baby food texture with short grain.

Risotto (arborio) rice -  This works just as well as pudding rice in my opinion, however you will need to use a little extra liquid and it will take a little longer to cook.

Basmati - In terms of texture, this will work the same as pudding/long grain rice. However the flavour doesn't work well with all the rest of the ingredients.

Brown rice - This doesn't work in my opinion. It doesn't soften as well and it has a nutty texture.

A dollop of jam, two raspberries and some cinnamon sticks on top of some rice pudding.

Toppings

There are so many options when it comes to rice pudding, which is one of the many reasons we love it. We went with some raspberry jam and a little extra cinnamon and sugar. But here are some more of our favourite topping ideas:

  • Chocolate chips
  • Nutella
  • Biscoff
  • Chopped nuts
  • Raisins
  • Stewed plums
  • Dried cranberries
  • Lemon curd
  • Stewed apples
  • Caramelised peaches
  • Figs

Storage

These storage instructions assume you have used pudding rice. Other rice will store and reheat with mixed results in our opinion.

Store: Put the pudding in an air tight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Freeze: You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months in ziplock freezer bags.

Defrost: Defrost in the fridge overnight.

Reheat: You will need to loosen it up a little before reheating, as it firms as it cools. Add a little water or milk and reheat in the microwave. You can also eat rice pudding cold.

A spoon lifting some rice pudding and jam from a bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the brown skin on top of rice pudding?

This is just a natural result of baking the rice and milk. The skin is actually very delicious.

Can I use cooked rice?

No, it needs to be uncooked rice. This is because the starch that is released from the rice as it cooks is what makes the sauce nice and creamy. The rice will also become too mushy.

Why is my rice still hard?

Every oven cooks differently, so if yours still isn't cooked, then put it back in the oven until cooked.

Can you cook rice pudding in the slow cooker?

Yes, you can cook this in the slow cooker, but the texture will be a bit different and a little more mushy. Simply stir everything together in the slow cooker and then cook on high for 2-2.5 hours stirring every hour. You may need to add a little more milk if it is too thick.

Is rice pudding healthy?

Portion control is always key, however a lot of rice pudding recipes add egg yolk and cream, which ours doesn't. So this is a lighter option.

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Extra tips

• Make sure you butter the baking dish well before you add the rest the ingredients. This will stop everything sticking to the sides.
• For some extra richness, stir in a little cream before serving.
• To make this dairy free, swap the whole milk for almond or cashew milk. It won't have the same rich creamy texture though.

More dessert recipes

  • Easy Biscoff Mug Cake next to some lotus biscuits.
    Easy Biscoff Mug Cake
  • Apple and Cherry Crumble in a bowl with vanilla ice cream
    Apple and Cherry Crumble
  • Croissant French Toast Bake in a baking dish.
    Croissant French Toast Bake
  • A decorated cheesecake topped with berries and caramel sauce.
    How to Decorate a Cheesecake

If you’ve tried this rice pudding recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Creamy rice pudding topped with jam, raspberries and cinnamon.

Rice Pudding

By: Dannii Martin
A classic old fashioned creamy rice pudding is the ultimate comforting dessert. Soft rice in a rich creamy milk sauce with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
Vegetarian
5 from 11 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Prep: 2 minutes mins
Cook: 2 hours hrs
Total: 2 hours hrs 2 minutes mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 249kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy

Ingredients

  • 200 g (1 cups) Pudding rice
  • 1.4 l (6 cups) Whole milk
  • 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 100 g (0.5 cups) Light brown sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 165°C/145°C(fan)/325°F/Gas 3. Wash and drain 200 g Pudding rice.
  • Grease a large oven-proof baking dish. Add the rice, 100 g Light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, 1.4 l Whole milk and 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract. Stir well.
  • Put in the oven and cook for 2 hours.

Recipe Tips

  • Make sure you butter the baking dish well before you add the rest the ingredients. This will stop everything sticking to the sides.
  • For some extra richness, stir in a little cream before serving.
  • To make this dairy free, swap the whole milk for almond or cashew milk. It won't have the same rich creamy texture though.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 293IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 236mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

 

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Comments

  1. Hannah says

    October 28, 2022 at 10:57 am

    How much sugar is needed please? It's missing from the ingredients list. Thanks

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      October 28, 2022 at 3:42 pm

      Thanks for letting me know - I will add it now. It's 100g.

      Reply
  2. Lyn says

    June 12, 2022 at 12:27 am

    5 stars
    Such a simple dessert recipe! I think my family will love it. Giving it a try this weekend!

    Reply
  3. Ryan says

    June 11, 2022 at 10:25 pm

    5 stars
    This rice pudding was fantastic! It reminds me of the kind my grandmother used to make when I was growing up.

    Reply
  4. Tara says

    June 11, 2022 at 10:11 pm

    5 stars
    This definitely is the ultimate comforting dessert! That texture looks fantastic and I love the warming flavors.

    Reply
  5. MJ says

    June 11, 2022 at 9:52 pm

    5 stars
    I feel like I missed out - none of my schools ever served rice pudding! This is a great recipe. Easy to follow, and the pudding comes out so delicious.

    Reply
  6. Artney says

    June 11, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    5 stars
    Such a delicious, classic recipe! This is one I will be revisiting often!

    Reply
  7. Andrea says

    June 11, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    5 stars
    Such a classic dessert. Perfectly creamy and comforting. Yum!

    Reply
  8. Jacqueline Meldrum says

    June 11, 2022 at 6:03 pm

    5 stars
    That looks so good Dannii. I've been craving rice pudding for weeks but end up not making it as I would be the only one eating it

    Reply
  9. kushigalu says

    June 11, 2022 at 5:46 pm

    Love how creamy and delicious this pudding looks. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Sarah James says

    June 11, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    5 stars
    Oh yes please, your rice pudding looks delicious. I love how you've got such a crispy skin on the top, the best bit.

    Reply
  11. Suja MD says

    June 11, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious yet simple recipe that the whole family loved. Can’t wait to make it again!

    Reply
5 from 11 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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