Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, we had those “gloppy” boxed Hot Cereals for Breakfast pretty regularly (even in the Summertime), and I, personally, loved them (probably because I didn’t know any better, since neither my Mom nor my Grandmother ever made any of them — except for the Cornmeal Mush/Polenta — from scratch, lol). And, as it turns out, Quaker’s Cream of Rice was my favorite (followed by their Cream of Wheat and Nana’s Cornmeal Mush; I’ve always abhorred Oatmeal). I haven’t been able to find Cream of Rice in too many years to count (only the Instant has been available, and I know better than to even TRY that!), so I was THRILLED to come across this recipe. I have everything I need to make it [Arborio Rice, Heavy Whipping Cream, Homogenized Milk, Vanilla Extract (which would be my “tweak”, lol), and an assortment of your suggested toppings] on hand, so I will be making it TOMORROW morning for Breakfast! I can hardly wait! I’m just SURE it will be delicious! (Another time I will make it in my Crockpot. I’m just too excited to even think about doing that this time. 🙂 )
JoAnn
I DID make this this AM, and, while it was VERY different from the “gloppy” boxed Cream of Rice I remember, it was also so far superior to it that it’s hard to find the words! I halved the recipe (it was only going to be for me, and I figured that 3 servings should be enough to last me all day, and possibly into tomorrow, too) and I added a pat of Butter, a 1/4 tsp. of Vanilla Extract, and a packet of Splenda to the Rice mixture as it cooked. When it was done and had cooled a bit, I topped it with some frozen berries and sat down to enjoy one of the fondest of my childhood memories once again. And I was NOT disappointed! Different, yes, but so wonderful (in both its deliciousness and its reminiscences) that I nearly cried. I skipped my usual Kinda’ Kobb Salad at Lunchtime and had a second cupful of this cereal instead. This time, I topped it with a sprinkling of Cinnamon and some Raisins (pretty much as I remembered doing years ago) and, while my reaction was not as dramatic as it had been earlier, the “experience” was equally delightful. (Note: I tried it cold at first spoonful but wound up heating it up a bit in my microwave. I definitely preferred it warmed to the hot side.) This recipe is definitely a “keeper” and one that I will be making time and time again (I can’t wait to try making it in my crockpot) — especially now that Winter is setting in. It’s easy to make, versatile, economical, delicious, and (I predict) my Grandchildren will love it, too. Thank you, Jessica, for this wonderful recipe 🙂 . AND for the memories <3 .
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. I wondered how it would be since I knew it wouldn’t be “gloppy” 😉
JoAnn
I don’t know why I NEVER thought to make this before finding your recipe. I mean, I’ve made Rice Pudding more than a number of times a year (for Church, School, “at work”, and Neighborhood potlucks over the years, for Family and Holiday desserts until just recently; for “just because” I felt like it, and etc.) but (for whatever reason) it just never occurred to me to make “Cream of Rice” for Breakfast. Once again, thank you, Jessica.
Donna Hackworth
Can you cook the rice in a rice cooker with the milk and cream then add toppings
Jessica Fisher
Dairy can easily burn in the rice cooker. If you want to go that route, I’d substitute water for the half and half so that you have a milky cooking water. Then add extra half and half (cream) at the end with the toppings.
Nita
I cannot have dairy but I use almond milk. So can I substitute? And how do I prepare it?
Jessica Fisher
I have done it with coconut milk and water. I have never tried it with almond, though. Let me know if you give it a go? Just make a small batch for a test.
Karen
I have this cooking on my stove right now. I actually needed half the rice and twice the time. I keep adding milk and 10 minutes on the timer and I think it’s just about done now after an hour of cooking. The bits I’ve been tasting to see if it’s done yet are so delicious though!
Jessica Fisher
Glad you’re enjoying it even if the time isn’t quite the same.
Juls Owings
Bfast every day was fried potatoes, fried bacon, milk gravy,fried eggs and canned biscuits. Brother got a small steak the morning of football games because his coach said he needed to eat more meat.
What you call cream of rice we called rice pudding.
Jessica Fisher
Yes, but I think most rice puddings have eggs added to them.
Diinaus
I’ve discovered that this recipe concept can be made in the slow cooker for those that are interested. Jessica would work for a breakfast bar that needs to feed lost of folks .
I use a can of coconut cream (pantry staple) ,approx 10cups of water ,1 cup of short grain rice and a dash of salt. If I only have long grain I add in 1/4 cup of polenta to make the texture more creamy.
It’s a really economical dish to make and great to wake up to in the morning if cooked on low over night .Pairs well with sweet or savoury depending on the topping . My kids love it with home made jam or chocolate sauce. Makes a great lunch time snack or desert too:)
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the tip! That’s great to know.
ashleigh
hi there! i am trying to make this, and i am having trouble… my first batch had the bottom burnt and liquid still on top…. am i suppossed to be stirring while its simmering? please help!
Jessica Fisher
It sounds like the heat is too high. Do you have a burner with a low setting. I have one on my stove that goes lower than the others. Also, is it a heavy duty pot or does it have a thin bottom. I used to have a thin bottomed one and it burned things like this all the time.
Lina
Thanks for this recipe ! Rice pudding is very common here in Egypt. I love it and so do dh and kids BUT I can’t seem to make it right LOL Many in my family make it yummy and I ask for thier recipe but no success with me.
I googled Arborio rice and it says it’s like Egyptian short grain rice.I hope your recipe works for me 🙂
Jessica Fisher
Good luck!
Stacey K
When I first made this, my husband ate a big bowl, but didn’t say anything. The next time I made it was a night I was too tired to make anything else and just wanted something warm and comforting. Hubby came home, took one look at the pot, and said, “Oh, yay! That stuff’s GOOD!” Win! It’s now our go-to meal when I’m too tired to make a full meal or nothing appeals to any of us. Then we eat leftovers for breakfast. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Jessica
That is a happy story!
Amy
Growing up, My mom would make us Arroz Doce [Portuguese Sweet Rice, as she and all of my family is from the Azores]. She would cook regular long-grain rice in milk, with granulated sugar, and lemon zest. After it was cooked, she would sprinkle it with Cinnamon. We ate it room temp or chilled, as a dessert, on special occasions or parties. I’ll have to try your version for breakfast!
Jessica
@Amy, that sounds very yummy. Do you have a recipe?
Donna Riopel
So, I’m absolutely addicted to this now! Also have 1…maybe 2 kids hooked as well. But what a mess I make of the stove when I cook it! It always boils over, even on low…mess on the stove, in the pot, outside the pot…it’s crazy! Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Too hot? I’m cooking on a gas stove and preparing according to this recipe exactly. I’ll still be making this anyway, despite the mess. In fact, I’m eating some right now. 🙂
Jessica
Try venting the lid just a smidge? That might help prevent the pot from boiling over. Do you have a burner that goes super low? Some stoves have one with a lower simmer setting than the others.
Dawn
I wonder if it would work if I used nonfat evaporated milk instead of half and half?
Growing up my parents made us rice cooked with raisins in it… we topped it with milk and brown sugar! It is one of me best food memories.
Tamara Dillon
Track this recipe from MONEY SAVING MOM and her meal plan. Looks like a great recipe- can’t wait to try!
Jen@anothergranolamom
Rice cooked in milk is a traditional Mexican dessert — arroz con leche. They even sing a song that if you know how to make arroz con leche you are ready to get married! They make it in a stirred version so that the milk never comes to a complete boil and it takes much longer — up to two hours to cook the rice. I pre-cook my rice in water about halfway, then finish it up in the milk. I like this because it is quite liquid. Flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, and a soft white bread roll on the side for dipping, this is a wonderful breakfast or dessert.
Using leftover rice for breakfast is a great idea! Would this fit well on your breakfast bar?
Jessica
@Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs, it probably would as long as the rice didn’t get cold waiting. Might work well in the rice cooker.
Shannon
My mom used to give us “sweet rice” for dessert & some times breakfast when we were little (& had very little extra money for treats.) She would simply reheat day old rice with milk, butter & sugar and then add a little cinnamon to it. I loved it so much and to this day if I don’t have the leftover rice ear marked for something else I’ll make it for myself. Still working on my own girls and know I’ll get there. 🙂
I make a slightly sweetened version of this. I add a grate of nutmeg too. We generally eat this as dessert. Mine is always egg free due to allergies to yolk. I know some who make this out of left over rice. I always cook mine in the oven.
Carla
Too bad my guys aren’t hot cereal eaters. I’m slowly getting one there, but considering he’s almost 11, I have a long way to go. Sounds good. Whenever we had leftover rice as a kid we knew what was for breakfast the next morning–Rice & Raisins. Mom would boil up some raisins and stir them in with left over rice, milk, and butter and serve it sprinkled with sugar. Didn’t have the best texture in the world but was a filling meal. Thanks for sharing.
Stacy
Looks good. I’m going to try this soon, this week, I think. I don’t have that type of rice, but I’ll see how it goes with my brown rice. I’ve made rice pudding in the past, but it has been a long time. I’m going to check out the egg version to see about adding some more protein. Thank you. I recently saw a recipe to make quinoa as a breakfast cereal too, but I have not tried it.
JoAnn
Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, we had those “gloppy” boxed Hot Cereals for Breakfast pretty regularly (even in the Summertime), and I, personally, loved them (probably because I didn’t know any better, since neither my Mom nor my Grandmother ever made any of them — except for the Cornmeal Mush/Polenta — from scratch, lol). And, as it turns out, Quaker’s Cream of Rice was my favorite (followed by their Cream of Wheat and Nana’s Cornmeal Mush; I’ve always abhorred Oatmeal). I haven’t been able to find Cream of Rice in too many years to count (only the Instant has been available, and I know better than to even TRY that!), so I was THRILLED to come across this recipe. I have everything I need to make it [Arborio Rice, Heavy Whipping Cream, Homogenized Milk, Vanilla Extract (which would be my “tweak”, lol), and an assortment of your suggested toppings] on hand, so I will be making it TOMORROW morning for Breakfast! I can hardly wait! I’m just SURE it will be delicious! (Another time I will make it in my Crockpot. I’m just too excited to even think about doing that this time. 🙂 )
JoAnn
I DID make this this AM, and, while it was VERY different from the “gloppy” boxed Cream of Rice I remember, it was also so far superior to it that it’s hard to find the words! I halved the recipe (it was only going to be for me, and I figured that 3 servings should be enough to last me all day, and possibly into tomorrow, too) and I added a pat of Butter, a 1/4 tsp. of Vanilla Extract, and a packet of Splenda to the Rice mixture as it cooked. When it was done and had cooled a bit, I topped it with some frozen berries and sat down to enjoy one of the fondest of my childhood memories once again. And I was NOT disappointed! Different, yes, but so wonderful (in both its deliciousness and its reminiscences) that I nearly cried. I skipped my usual Kinda’ Kobb Salad at Lunchtime and had a second cupful of this cereal instead. This time, I topped it with a sprinkling of Cinnamon and some Raisins (pretty much as I remembered doing years ago) and, while my reaction was not as dramatic as it had been earlier, the “experience” was equally delightful. (Note: I tried it cold at first spoonful but wound up heating it up a bit in my microwave. I definitely preferred it warmed to the hot side.) This recipe is definitely a “keeper” and one that I will be making time and time again (I can’t wait to try making it in my crockpot) — especially now that Winter is setting in. It’s easy to make, versatile, economical, delicious, and (I predict) my Grandchildren will love it, too. Thank you, Jessica, for this wonderful recipe 🙂 . AND for the memories <3 .
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. I wondered how it would be since I knew it wouldn’t be “gloppy” 😉
JoAnn
I don’t know why I NEVER thought to make this before finding your recipe. I mean, I’ve made Rice Pudding more than a number of times a year (for Church, School, “at work”, and Neighborhood potlucks over the years, for Family and Holiday desserts until just recently; for “just because” I felt like it, and etc.) but (for whatever reason) it just never occurred to me to make “Cream of Rice” for Breakfast. Once again, thank you, Jessica.
Donna Hackworth
Can you cook the rice in a rice cooker with the milk and cream then add toppings
Jessica Fisher
Dairy can easily burn in the rice cooker. If you want to go that route, I’d substitute water for the half and half so that you have a milky cooking water. Then add extra half and half (cream) at the end with the toppings.
Nita
I cannot have dairy but I use almond milk. So can I substitute? And how do I prepare it?
Jessica Fisher
I have done it with coconut milk and water. I have never tried it with almond, though. Let me know if you give it a go? Just make a small batch for a test.
Karen
I have this cooking on my stove right now. I actually needed half the rice and twice the time. I keep adding milk and 10 minutes on the timer and I think it’s just about done now after an hour of cooking. The bits I’ve been tasting to see if it’s done yet are so delicious though!
Jessica Fisher
Glad you’re enjoying it even if the time isn’t quite the same.
Juls Owings
Bfast every day was fried potatoes, fried bacon, milk gravy,fried eggs and canned biscuits. Brother got a small steak the morning of football games because his coach said he needed to eat more meat.
What you call cream of rice we called rice pudding.
Jessica Fisher
Yes, but I think most rice puddings have eggs added to them.
Diinaus
I’ve discovered that this recipe concept can be made in the slow cooker for those that are interested. Jessica would work for a breakfast bar that needs to feed lost of folks .
I use a can of coconut cream (pantry staple) ,approx 10cups of water ,1 cup of short grain rice and a dash of salt. If I only have long grain I add in 1/4 cup of polenta to make the texture more creamy.
It’s a really economical dish to make and great to wake up to in the morning if cooked on low over night .Pairs well with sweet or savoury depending on the topping . My kids love it with home made jam or chocolate sauce. Makes a great lunch time snack or desert too:)
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the tip! That’s great to know.
ashleigh
hi there! i am trying to make this, and i am having trouble… my first batch had the bottom burnt and liquid still on top…. am i suppossed to be stirring while its simmering? please help!
Jessica Fisher
It sounds like the heat is too high. Do you have a burner with a low setting. I have one on my stove that goes lower than the others. Also, is it a heavy duty pot or does it have a thin bottom. I used to have a thin bottomed one and it burned things like this all the time.
Lina
Thanks for this recipe ! Rice pudding is very common here in Egypt. I love it and so do dh and kids BUT I can’t seem to make it right LOL Many in my family make it yummy and I ask for thier recipe but no success with me.
I googled Arborio rice and it says it’s like Egyptian short grain rice.I hope your recipe works for me 🙂
Jessica Fisher
Good luck!
Stacey K
When I first made this, my husband ate a big bowl, but didn’t say anything. The next time I made it was a night I was too tired to make anything else and just wanted something warm and comforting. Hubby came home, took one look at the pot, and said, “Oh, yay! That stuff’s GOOD!” Win! It’s now our go-to meal when I’m too tired to make a full meal or nothing appeals to any of us. Then we eat leftovers for breakfast. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Jessica
That is a happy story!
Amy
Growing up, My mom would make us Arroz Doce [Portuguese Sweet Rice, as she and all of my family is from the Azores]. She would cook regular long-grain rice in milk, with granulated sugar, and lemon zest. After it was cooked, she would sprinkle it with Cinnamon. We ate it room temp or chilled, as a dessert, on special occasions or parties. I’ll have to try your version for breakfast!
Jessica
@Amy, that sounds very yummy. Do you have a recipe?
Donna Riopel
So, I’m absolutely addicted to this now! Also have 1…maybe 2 kids hooked as well. But what a mess I make of the stove when I cook it! It always boils over, even on low…mess on the stove, in the pot, outside the pot…it’s crazy! Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Too hot? I’m cooking on a gas stove and preparing according to this recipe exactly. I’ll still be making this anyway, despite the mess. In fact, I’m eating some right now. 🙂
Jessica
Try venting the lid just a smidge? That might help prevent the pot from boiling over. Do you have a burner that goes super low? Some stoves have one with a lower simmer setting than the others.
Dawn
I wonder if it would work if I used nonfat evaporated milk instead of half and half?
Jessica
@Dawn, I don’t see why not.
Karen
Growing up my parents made us rice cooked with raisins in it… we topped it with milk and brown sugar! It is one of me best food memories.
Tamara Dillon
Track this recipe from MONEY SAVING MOM and her meal plan. Looks like a great recipe- can’t wait to try!
Jen@anothergranolamom
Rice cooked in milk is a traditional Mexican dessert — arroz con leche. They even sing a song that if you know how to make arroz con leche you are ready to get married! They make it in a stirred version so that the milk never comes to a complete boil and it takes much longer — up to two hours to cook the rice. I pre-cook my rice in water about halfway, then finish it up in the milk. I like this because it is quite liquid. Flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, and a soft white bread roll on the side for dipping, this is a wonderful breakfast or dessert.
Jessica
@Jen@anothergranolamom, how cool is that?!
Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs
Using leftover rice for breakfast is a great idea! Would this fit well on your breakfast bar?
Jessica
@Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs, it probably would as long as the rice didn’t get cold waiting. Might work well in the rice cooker.
Shannon
My mom used to give us “sweet rice” for dessert & some times breakfast when we were little (& had very little extra money for treats.) She would simply reheat day old rice with milk, butter & sugar and then add a little cinnamon to it. I loved it so much and to this day if I don’t have the leftover rice ear marked for something else I’ll make it for myself. Still working on my own girls and know I’ll get there. 🙂
Jessica
@Shannon, we do that, too. Yum!
Suze
I make a slightly sweetened version of this. I add a grate of nutmeg too. We generally eat this as dessert. Mine is always egg free due to allergies to yolk. I know some who make this out of left over rice. I always cook mine in the oven.
Carla
Too bad my guys aren’t hot cereal eaters. I’m slowly getting one there, but considering he’s almost 11, I have a long way to go. Sounds good. Whenever we had leftover rice as a kid we knew what was for breakfast the next morning–Rice & Raisins. Mom would boil up some raisins and stir them in with left over rice, milk, and butter and serve it sprinkled with sugar. Didn’t have the best texture in the world but was a filling meal. Thanks for sharing.
Stacy
Looks good. I’m going to try this soon, this week, I think. I don’t have that type of rice, but I’ll see how it goes with my brown rice. I’ve made rice pudding in the past, but it has been a long time. I’m going to check out the egg version to see about adding some more protein. Thank you. I recently saw a recipe to make quinoa as a breakfast cereal too, but I have not tried it.