This is the best arroz con leche or rice pudding recipe. Creamy, sweet and easy to make this recipe is my all time favorite dessert and a holiday classic in my family!
What is Arroz con Leche?
There are different variations of arroz con leche in Latin America, this is my family recipe and it is simple and very easy to make. It's basically a dessert made with rice, milk, sugar and cinnamon. It will be the highlight of any meal.
This Colombian-Style arroz con leche is sweet, creamy and delicious. The rice pudding will thicken more as it cools, so be careful not to overcook it. The best part of making this rice pudding recipe for a dinner party is that you can make it the day before and it will taste even better after chilled in the fridge overnight.
This is one of my favorite Colombian desserts. I hope you enjoy making my simple and easy Arroz con Leche recipe!
To make this rice pudding you will need
Long-grain white rice, cinnamon sticks, water, whole milk, pinch salt, butter, vanilla extract, sugar and sweetened condensed milk. The exact amounts, tips, and cooking instructions are listed in the printable recipe card below, you can also find the step by step video to make this arroz con leche below the recipe.
This rice pudding recipe is sweet, if you prefer your rice pudding less sweet, just add less sugar, but don't skip the sweet condensed milk, because it adds a wonderful flavor and texture to the dish.
Here are other Colombian desserts you may want to try:
Coffee Mousse (Esponjado de Café)
Colombian Fruit Cocktail (Salpicón de Frutas)
Fried Bananas (Bananos Calados)
Arroz con Leche Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice washed
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups water
- 4 cups milk
- Pinch salt
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 12 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- In a small pot, add water and cinnamon sticks, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Set aside and discard cinnamon sticks.
- Place the rice and the cinnamon water in a large saucepan, over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add salt, butter, vanilla extract, 2 cups of milk, and sugar. Stir well to mix and cook uncovered for approximately 15 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium low. Add the remaining milk and condensed milk. Stir with a wooden spoon. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the rice pudding thickens to desire consistency.
- Stir well and remove from heat, and let it cool at room temperature. The consistency should be very creamy. Refrigerate for a least 1 hour or overnight.
Video
Notes
- Arroz con Leche can stay in the fridge up to 4 days.
- I like to use long grain rice to make this arroz con leche recipe
- If your rice is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add ¼ cup of more milk and ¼ of water and return to a simmer with the lid on.
- This rice pudding recipe is sweet, if you prefer your dessert less sweet add less sugar.
Emh
Best Rice Pudding!
I cook the rice a bit in the cinnamon water and add only 1/2 cup sugar. .. turns out perfect every time! I'm Italian but my Colombian and Puerto Rican friends love this recipe too!
Thanks!
Taylor
Hi Erica,
I made this recipe before, this time on a gas range. After letting it refrigerate it is less creamy then before, is there anyway to reverse this by adding more milk?
delilah
I will be making this for my Spanish class, for about 30 people. How many servings do I need?
Stella
Hi Erica. This is the best, reminded me of my grandma's. My kids loved it, even though the rice was still a little hard. We are trying your recipe once again and hopefully the rice will cook. It's for my son's school project. Keep your fingers crossed for us
Silvana
El arroz me quedo espectacular! Con un sabor delicioso, especialmente siendo primera vez haciéndolo.
Gracias por la receta, a mi esposo le encanto.
Yadira
Wow , so I made this tonight for a dessert and I added some coconut to it, tasted awesome kids loved it , will make again soon!!!
Kaylee
This is very easy to make, and very good!
Diana
Very easy to prepare! Delicious. I would also suggest to soak rice overnight.
Seynah
Bread pudding
Noelle
My husband is Colombian and I am Italian/Irish. He loves rice pudding and his mom rarely makes it for him and when she does she never adds enough Lechera. I'm making it for his birthday and already I am intoxicated by the smell. I personally do not like rice pudding but I will certainly be trying this!! Thank you for sharing
Koren
This dessert is wonderful . I made it 10 times and I love it more every time I make it. It's sweet and creamy. Very good!
Anonymous
How much does this make?
Erica Dinho
6 to 8 servings.
Meghan
Hello, I really want to try this recipe, but I live in Japan and only have short grain rice. Do you think this recipe could still work? Any suggested modifications? I was hoping to make this for Valentine's Day 😀
Erica Dinho
Yes, you can use short grain rice.
Meghan
Thank you so much!
Jerry
Is the rice already cooked when added with cinnamon water in step 2 or boil it as the cinnamon water is boiling then add them together in step 2?
Erica Dinho
The rice is uncooked.
Laura
WAY TOO SWEET!!!
Too much sugar on top of the whole can of condensed milk!!!
I would not put sugar at all next time and only use the condensed milk....
Other than that consistency is perfect and the cinnamon gives it the perfect flavor
Pamela Turner
Hey! I am excited because I am making this now! First time.... Should I cover the pot (somewhat) during the last hour & fifteen min.? Or just let it simmer on med low without lid? (:
Pamela Turner
Well, nevermind....I forgot I had to keep stirring it... Oops! I just finished it, Didn't take but about 45 min. to cook....I could have let it cook for an hour, but we are ready to try it! Looks & smells YUMMY! Thank You for the recipe.