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Arroz con Leche, or Mexican rice pudding, is a comforting and simple no-fuss Mexican dessert guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth! It can be served hot or cold and is made with only 6 ingredients.
Want more Mexican desserts? You’ve got to try this tres leches cake, fresas con crema, or Mexican brownies!
What is Arroz con Leche?
Arroz con Leche, or Mexican rice pudding, will forever remind me of my family. It’s a comforting, simple, and easy dessert made from a few ingredients, including long-grain white rice, sugar, milk, and cinnamon sticks. It can be served hot or cold and is eaten year-round!
There are many arroz con leche recipe variations out there. Some include sweetened condensed milk, others use whole milk, some use evaporated milk, and some use a combination of all three!
I like to keep things as simple and as uncomplicated as possible, and this version is just how my mom makes it. This recipe uses only 6 simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your kitchen.
Arroz con Leche Ingredients
- Milk: Whole milk is best for a creamy and thick consistency, but 2% also works.
- Sugar: I used granulated sugar, but you could also use dark brown sugar to add a subtle caramel flavor.
- Rice: Long-grain white rice is best. Varieties like jasmine and basmati also work.
- Cinnamon: You’ll need 2 cinnamon sticks. Either the Ceylon or Cassia variety works great.
- Salt: A pinch of salt adds balance to all the sweetness in this recipe.
How to Make Arroz con Leche
- Cook the rice: In a large pot or Dutch oven, mix together the water, rice, cinnamon sticks, and salt. Bring it to a boil, reduce to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Add milk and sugar: Stir in the milk and sugar and bring to a boil again. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring often, until the arroz con leche has thickened.
- Serve: Serve in bowls with desired toppings or refrigerate for 2 hours and serve cold.
Recipe Tips
- Keep stirring. Stir the mixture often to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot and the milk from burning.
- Too thick? If the arroz con leche thickens too much, stir in a splash of milk or water until the pudding reaches your desired consistency.
- For the best results, use long-grain white rice. Jasmine and basmati rice also work great.
Variations
Add mix-ins like raisins or other dried fruits. I recommend adding it when you add in the milk. This gets the fruit to plump up in the pudding and adds a great texture to each bite!
Use sweetened condensed milk instead of granulated sugar. This is a popular variation that makes the pudding decadent, extra creamy, and sweet. To make this variation, omit the sugar and add 1 (14-ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk.
Arroz con Leche Toppings
Once your arroz con leche is ready to eat, here are a few great options for what to top it with:
- Chopped pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds
- A dusting of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice
- Brown sugar or shredded coconut
- A drizzle of honey, cajeta, or dulce de leche
Storing and Reheating
Storing and Freezing: Arroz con leche can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just be aware that the texture may change slightly when reheated.
Reheating: It is best reheated in a pot on the stove or in a bowl in the microwave. You should add a splash of milk or water as it may have thickened a bit too much in the fridge.
More Mexican Recipes
Arroz con Leche
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups water
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups milk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Optional toppings: ground cinnamon, chopped nuts, raisins
Instructions
- Combine the water, rice, cinnamon sticks, and salt in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the milk and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring often until thickened.
- Serve warm or refrigerate for 2 hours and serve cold.
- Garnish with ground cinnamon, chopped nuts, or raisins if desired.
Video
Notes
- Milk: Whole or 2% milk is recommended. I don’t recommend using skim/nonfat milk. This recipe has not been tested using a milk alternative like almond, soy, oat, or cashew milk, though I’m sure it would work!
- Mix-ins: If you’d like to add in a mix-in like raisins or other dried fruit, I recommend adding it when you add in the milk.
- Storage + Freezing: It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just be aware that the texture may change slightly when reheated.
- Reheating: It is best reheated in a pot on the stove or in a bowl in the microwave. You may need to add a splash of milk or water since it will have thickened in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published in December 2017 and has been updated with new photos, more helpful tips, and a slight recipe tweak for better overall results.
Thanks so much for the recipe. It came out right the first time; it was so easy to follow.I prefer less sugar so I used less than the cup. It came out perfect thanks to you.
I’m so glad you liked it, Tricia! Thank you!
I am in the process of trying this recipe. I wanted to double check, beside boiling in the beginning and raising heat at the end, are you simmering during the cooking process? I cannot to taste this and hopefully tastes like my grandmother’s she made for us as kids. Thank you!!
Hi Vida! Yes, it continues cooking on a simmer!
I made half the recipe (because I’m the only one who will eat it), kept it simple just as the recipe is. It was amazing with my afternoon coffee! I make sprinkle some orange rind shavings onto it tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!
This is the best authentically made recipe, the proportionate result makes delicious true Hispanic arroz con leche. I come from generations of true Sonoran Hispanic recipes and served them in our family owned restaurants for over 30 years, we are all retired now but still have an appreciation for the authenticity in real Mexican food when done correctly, thank you for sharing your delicious recipes and I will continue to refer people who ask about an array of recipes to your site.
“ Buen Provecho”
Made this for the first time not long ago and am remaking it again tonight! Added peaches to the first batch plus coconut for topping today I’ll do the same but have left over cream cheese frosting from a cake that I’ll use to sweeten it 😉 this is definitely a keeper of a recipe!
Dear Isabel
Do you think l could substitute Almond milk or soy milk in this recipe? Thank you in advance. Nancy F.
Hi Nancy! This recipe has never been tested using a milk substitute, but if you try it let me know! The consistency may turn out a little different and not as creamy.
Very nice recipe I used your recommendations because my family likes sweet also. I also added some raisins and extra cinnamon along with a few cashews for toppings but I’ll tell you the truth the raisins are all you need for the perfect compliment to the rice pudding such delicious pairing yummy,thanks for sharing!
It came out perfect thanks to your help….. thanks so much!:)
HOLY MOTHER OF ALBENIZ AND TARREGA THIS IS HEAVENLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you soooooooooo much! I may or may not have made some dulce de leche at the bottom of the pot haha, but its chewy and amaziiiiiiiiing. I learned that those from Asturias burn the rice at the bottom.
– Avishai
I love this recipe in the middle of making it now! It is perfectly simple just like how my mom made it. I will note it did have probably more sugar than I would prefer and used somewhere around 2/3rds of a cup instead of a full cup, and it could have actually used a little less for my taste.
Thanks, Paty. I’m so happy to hear that you like it! And yeah, I totally understand. I actually have tasted arroz con leche that’s wayyy sweeter, so I thought mine was on the less sweet side. I guess everyone just makes it a little differently!
Made this for the first time and it came out great! It so super easy and simple.
Thank you so much, Tiffany 🙂