Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding) is a cozy dessert my family absolutely loves. It's wonderfully easy to make, and the gentle warmth of cinnamon gives it a special touch. I enjoy preparing it for celebrations or anytime we crave something sweet, simple, and comforting. Each spoonful brings back joyful memories, turning even ordinary days into something special.

Recipe

Every time I make Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding), it takes me right back to my childhood at my grandmother's house. I remember her kitchen filled with the warm, cozy scent of cinnamon as she made this simple yet delicious dessert.

There are many ways to prepare arroz con leche, some recipes add more water, while others use evaporated or condensed milk. At my home, we prefer using regular milk, and we always add cinnamon and a hint of lemon. The cinnamon makes the rice pudding comforting and warm, while the lemon gives it a fresh, bright touch. It’s amazing how one dessert can hold so many sweet memories!

Jump to:

⭐Why You'll Love This Arroz Con Leche
🧾Arroz Con Leche Ingredients
👩🏻‍🍳How to Make Arroz Con Leche (Rice Pudding)
💭Tips for Recipe Success
🍮More Pudding Recipes!
🍰More Dessert Recipes!
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

⭐Why You'll Love This Arroz Con Leche

Easy and Comforting: You'll love how simple this recipe is, just basic ingredients you already have at home, yet the result is wonderfully cozy and comforting.
Warm Cinnamon Aroma: The sweet blend of cinnamon with orange and lemon peel fills your kitchen with an inviting fragrance that instantly makes you feel at home.
Creamy Texture: Cooking pudding rice with whole milk creates a smooth, creamy rice pudding (Arroz con Leche) that's so delicious you won’t resist another spoonful.
Buttery Richness: A touch of butter adds extra richness, making every bite feel indulgent and comforting.
A Taste of Tradition: Preparing this dessert connects you to the warmth of tradition, letting you experience the classic flavors of authentic arroz con leche, a dish loved for generations.

🧾Arroz Con Leche Ingredients

Here is a list of everything you need:

Milk: I prefer using whole milk because it makes the arroz con leche beautifully rich, creamy, and comforting.
Cinnamon Stick: I always include a cinnamon stick while cooking, as it adds a gentle warmth and fills my kitchen with a cozy, inviting aroma.
Orange and Lemon Peel: I like to use both orange and lemon peels together; the combination adds a lovely citrus aroma and brightens the dessert with a refreshing, balanced flavor.
Pudding Rice: Using pudding rice is essential, it absorbs the milk and becomes wonderfully creamy, giving this dish its signature velvety texture.
Sugar: Adding sugar ensures the pudding is sweet enough without being overwhelming; just the right touch of sweetness.
Butter: A small amount of butter makes the arroz con leche delightfully smooth, enriching every spoonful and making it even more comforting.
Cinnamon (Ground): I love finishing it off with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top, enhancing the flavor and adding that final touch of warmth.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

👩🏻‍🍳How to Make Arroz Con Leche (Rice Pudding)

These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.

1. Combine milk, pudding rice, cinnamon stick, orange peel, and lemon peel in a large pan.

2. Simmer gently on low heat for about 35 minutes, stirring often, until creamy and tender.

3. Stir in sugar and cook 5 more minutes; remove cinnamon and citrus peels.

4. Turn off heat, add butter, stir until melted, then serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

💭Tips for Recipe Success

Choose the Right Rice: I always use short-grain rice like Arborio or Valencia because it absorbs milk beautifully, creating that creamy, dreamy texture we all love.

Cook It Low and Slow: Cooking the rice gently on low heat and stirring often helps prevent sticking, giving the arroz con leche a smooth, even consistency.

Watch Carefully (Don't Overcook): I like to keep an eye on the pot so the rice stays tender and creamy without turning mushy. Perfect arroz con leche has just the right balance.

Cool to Perfection: It might seem slightly runny when warm, but trust me, it thickens beautifully as it cools, becoming the perfect creamy pudding.

Get Creative with Toppings: My favorite part is adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or even a little sugar on top. Don’t hesitate to experiment to find your own favorite finishing touch!.

Storage: I always store leftover arroz con leche (rice pudding) in an airtight container in the fridge, it stays fresh, creamy, and delicious for up to 3 days. Before serving again, just give it a quick stir to restore its creamy texture!

🍮More Pudding Recipes!

I have also made a few more pudding recipes like:

🍰More Dessert Recipes!

Here are more of my favorite dessert recipes! Try these:

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📖 Recipe

Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)

Bring warmth to your table with Arroz con Leche, a deliciously creamy rice pudding that's simple to prepare and tastes just like sweet memories!

5 from 2 votes

Print Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Spanish

Prep Time: 40

Total Time: 40

Servings: 4

Calories: 352

Author: Estefania

Ingredients

Instructions

In a large pan, pour the milk and add the cinnamon stick, orange peel, lemon peel, and pudding rice.
Place the pan over low heat and bring the milk mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally every 4 minutes to prevent sticking. Be careful not to let it boil.
Cook for 40 minutes or until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens.
After about 35 minutes, add the sugar gradually to the rice and milk mixture, stirring continuously to dissolve the sugar. Adjust the amount of sugar according to your taste preferences.
Continue to simmer the rice pudding for 5 minutes. The pudding will thicken as it cools, so keep that in mind.
Remove the cinnamon stick, orange peel, and lemon peel from the rice pudding.
Once the rice is cooked and the pudding has reached your desired consistency (usually around 40 minutes), add the butter to the mixture. Turn off the heat and stir until the butter melts and incorporates into the pudding.
Transfer the rice pudding to serving bowls.
Garnish the rice pudding with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top for added visual appeal and flavor.
Serve warm or chilled, depending on your preference.

Notes

Pick Your Rice Wisely: I always choose short-grain or pudding rice because they absorb milk perfectly, creating a wonderfully creamy texture.

Rich, Creamy Milk: Whole milk is my go-to; it gives arroz con leche that luxurious richness everyone loves.

Aromatic Touches: Infusing the pudding with cinnamon sticks and citrus peels (orange and lemon) fills my kitchen with an irresistible aroma and adds bright, cozy flavors.

Gentle Cooking: Cooking the rice slowly on low heat lets it soak up all the delicious flavors. I stir occasionally so it stays smooth and doesn't stick.

Buttery Finish: A small touch of butter at the end makes the pudding silky and adds that extra hint of richness, totally worth it!

Perfect Consistency: I always check that the rice is tender and the pudding is creamy but not overly thick or watery, just right!

Finishing Touch: A sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top adds warmth and makes it look extra inviting.

Enjoy Your Way: Whether you prefer it warm or chilled, arroz con leche is delicious either way, so go with what you love!

Nutrition

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

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