Arroz con Leche is a Mexican rice pudding made with sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, and plenty of cinnamon.
This heartwarming dish offers a taste of tradition and comfort to anyone lucky enough to taste its creamy goodness. Arroz con Leche is a crowd-pleaser every time we make it.
What is Arroz con Leche?
Arroz con leche, which translates to “rice with milk” in English, is a sweet rice pudding enjoyed across Spanish-speaking regions worldwide.
This is a Mexican rice pudding recipe made with sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, and plenty of cinnamon.
While the ingredient list is about as basic as a dessert recipe can get, the result is a rich, creamy, flavorful dessert that we absolutely love.
Arroz con Leche
As soon as I opened my friend Krysten’s cookbook and spied her recipe for Arroz con Leche, I knew that recipe needed to be made as soon as possible. Luckily, with a handful of ingredients I already had on hand, I was stirring this together in less than an hour.
There are so many awesome, easy-to-make recipes in this cookbook, it really is named appropriately: So Easy & So Yummy!
Rice Pudding
This recipe for rice pudding makes enough to serve at least ten people. I don’t recommend reducing it either, because cold rice pudding straight from the fridge is absolutely delicious.
I have a few family members who inevitably try to hide the leftovers in an attempt to keep them for themselves. Cold arroz con leche really is that good, my friends.
One thing to note about this recipe before you get started, you’re going to stir continuously for about 20 minutes after you add the milks to the rice. I promise you that arroz con leche is absolutely worth the effort!
And that’s another reason why I’d never reduce the amount of servings here. You definitely want to make the full amount when you’re going to the trouble of stirring something for a good little while.
There’s nothing at all complicated about this recipe, just grab a book or chat with a friend while stirring the rice. Then grab a spoon and taste comfort food happiness.
How to Make Arroz con Leche
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- long-grain white rice
- cinnamon sticks
- water
- sweetened condensed milk
- evaporated milk
- whole milk
- ground cinnamon
Arroz con Leche Recipe
Combine the rice, cinnamon sticks, and water in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil uncovered.
Lower the heat to maintain a medium boil and continue cooking, uncovered, for 16-18 minutes.
Stir and scrape the sides of the pot occasionally, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Drain any remaining liquid, if needed. Remove the cinnamon sticks.
Add the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, and ground cinnamon to the pot. Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring and scraping the sides and bottom of the pan constantly.
The milk mixture can easily burn, so it’s important to stir constantly as it thickens.
Scoop into individual bowls and sprinkle each serving with additional cinnamon, if desired.
Comfort Food Desserts
Next time you’re craving comfort food, give this Arroz con Leche recipe a try! And then check out a few more of our favorites:
Chewy edges, crazy moist blondies, and a crackling crust add up to these mouthwatering, slightly sweet Apple Brownies.
This cake. Hershey’s Chocolate Cake is the most versatile and the easiest perfect one-bowl chocolate cake recipe I have ever made.
Oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, M&Ms, and a drop of maple syrup all combine to make my grandmother’s Monster Cookies.
Sweet and juicy with plenty of real peach flavor and just the right touch of cinnamon, this cobbler is the last homemade Peach Cobbler recipe you’ll ever need.
Homemade Vanilla Pudding is a classic dessert that simply doesn’t get the love that it deserves. So, often we reach for chocolate or caramel or peanut butter to satisfy a sweet craving, but I’ve come to appreciate the awesomeness of a great vanilla dessert. Vanilla does not equal boring, my friends.
Arroz con Leche
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 7 cups water
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine the rice, cinnamon sticks, and water in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil uncovered.
- Lower the heat to maintain a medium boil and continue cooking, uncovered, for 16-18 minutes. Stir and scrape the sides of the pot occasionally, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Drain any remaining liquid, if needed. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Add the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, and ground cinnamon to the pot. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring and scraping the sides and bottom of the pan constantly. The milk mixture can easily burn, so it's important to stir constantly as it thickens.
- Scoop into individual bowls and sprinkle each serving with additional cinnamon, if desired.
Nutrition
madelene garza says
…. best comfort food ever … with fresh baked muffins or cookies or raisin toast ….
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like it, Madelene!
Kim says
Great recipe! Had to add a little honey for added sweetness. It’s a Very delish recipe and I had left overs for cold rice pudding cups.
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad the rice turned out so well, Kim. Enjoy!