What is arroz con leche?
Arroz con leche is a creamy and delicious rice pudding dessert made with rice, milk, sugar, and spices. It is very popular in Latin American countries and it is made in many different variations depending on the region.
It can be enjoyed warm or cold, however, it is super comforting when it is enjoyed warm during the winter months.
Why you’ll love arroz con leche:
It is a comforting dessert and it is versatile. Its sweet and creamy texture is so delightful and it can be enjoyed any time of the day.
Arroz con leche has always been a favorite of mine. Especially during childhood, it brings back so many good memories and it’s always a popular dessert in family holiday gatherings.
What ingredients do I need to make arroz con leche?
Water:
Filtered water is recommended for the best taste.
Rice:
Typically, long-grain white rice is used to make arroz con leche. I like to use Jasmine rice, it provides a sweet nutty flavor and a floral aroma. However, you can also use other types such as basmati or arborio rice.
Milk:
For optimal outcomes, whole milk is advised. However, you can also use 2% milk. In order to make my recipe creamier and thicker, I also like to add a cup of heavy cream. For a rich, creamy consistency, I also use condensed and evaporated milk. Non-dairy alternatives: You can use other kinds of milk, like oat or coconut milk. Although the texture and flavor will vary, it will still be very good.
Sweetener:
This recipe calls for 1 can of sweet condensed milk. Other options are brown sugar, regular sugar, or maple syrup. If you use other sweeteners instead of condensed milk, I would start with half a cup, taste it, and add a bit more to your liking. If you accidentally make it too sweet, you can add a little bit of milk to your bowl of rice pudding to lessen the sweetness.
Spices:
Vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. These spices release such wonderful, warm and sweet aromas making dessert dishes extra special. The star anise is reminiscent of clove. If you are pregnant, leave out the star anise or consult with your doctor before using it. We will also need a pinch of salt to balance all the sweetness and flavors.
What materials will I need?
You will need a large pot or Dutch oven. One large wood or metal cooking spoon. Although, the wooden spoon is better for gentle stirring and won’t scratch your cookware.
Step-by-step instructions:
1. Rinse the rice using a mesh strainer. This will remove some of the starch to prevent it from being too sticky. Do not over-rinse though. We do want some starch.
2. Add 4 cups of water to the pot, add the star anise, cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and rice. Cover it for ten minutes until it boils.
3. After ten minutes, stir the rice and add the 3 cups of milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. Cook uncovered for 15 minutes but stir occasionally to prevent it from overflowing, sticking to the pot, or burning. After 15 minutes, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 5 minutes. The consistency will slowly thicken, however the longer it sits the more the rice will absorb the milk.
4. Serve and allow it to cool a little before eating. Add any toppings you desire such as raisins, brown sugar, or sprinkle cinnamon on top.
Arroz con leche toppings:
You can add any topping of your choice. Usually raisins pair good with this dessert. Other options are brown sugar or ground cinnamon.
I hope you give this arroz con leche recipe a try and find it enjoyable. This is usually one of my favorites!
Thanks for stopping by! Love, Liz.
For more sweet recipes, check out:
How to make a creamy arroz con leche
Equipment
- 1 Large pot or Dutch oven
- 1 Large cooking spoon
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Water
- 1 whole Star anise
- 2-3 Cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1½ Cup Rice I use Jasmine rice (you can use long grain)
- 1 Pinch Salt
- 1 Cup Heavy cream
- 3 Cups Whole milk You can substitute with coconut milk
- 1 can Sweet condensed milk
- 1 can Evaporated milk
Instructions
- Rinse the rice using a mesh strainer. This will remove some of the starch to avoid it from being too sticky. Do not over rinse though. We do want some starch.
- Add 4 cups of water to the pot, add the star anise, cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and rice. Cover it for ten minutes until it boils.
- After ten minutes, stir the rice and add the 3 cups of milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. Cook uncovered for 15 minutes but stir occasionally to prevent it from overflowing, sticking to the pot, or burning. After 15 minutes, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 5 minutes. The consistency will slowly thicken, however the longer it sits the more the rice will absorb the milk.
- Serve and allow it to cool a little before eating. Add any toppings you desire such as raisins, brown sugar, or sprinkle cinnamon on top.
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