Description
A rich, velvety rice pudding made with whole milk, heavy cream, and real vanilla beans, featuring toasted cinnamon for a warm, comforting flavor that rivals high-end bakery desserts.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup Arborio or short-grain white rice (200g)
- 3 cups whole milk (720ml)
- 1 cup heavy cream (240ml)
- 2 large vanilla beans (seeds and pods)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess surface starch. Shake off excess water.
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the ground cinnamon and stir constantly for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
- Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir to coat every grain in the spiced butter. Toast for 2-3 minutes until the rice turns slightly opaque and makes a cracking sound.
- Pour in the whole milk, heavy cream, scraped vanilla beans (seeds and pods), sugar, and salt. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 30-35 minutes, stirring every 5-7 minutes and scraping the bottom to prevent sticking. The pudding is done when the rice is tender and the mixture coats the spoon heavily.
- Remove from heat and carefully remove the vanilla pods. Stir in a final knob of butter if desired for gloss. Let rest for 10 minutes to thicken before serving.
Notes
Rice pudding thickens significantly as it cools and in the refrigerator. If leftovers are too thick, stir in a splash of warm milk when reheating. Do not freeze as the texture becomes grainy. For oven method, bake at 325°F (160°C) for 45-60 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 85
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
Keywords: rice pudding, vanilla bean, cinnamon, creamy dessert, comfort food, homemade pudding, arborio rice