How to Make the Best Homemade Cream of Rice Pudding

Start the day with a hearty bowl of Creamy Milk Rice Pudding for breakfast! It is a super simple comfort food that is so versatile you can add whatever toppings you like. You only need a saucepan and a handful of ingredients to make this creamy rice pudding recipe, an easy alternative to grocery store cream of rice or cream of wheat.

One of my kids’ favorite recipes for hot cereal, you’ll love this homemade cream of rice cereal topped with dried fruit, Baked Apple Compote, or even leftover Cranberry Sauce for a comforting dish at breakfast. The main ingredients are all grocery staples on our budget grocery list, so you can be sure it’s a good cheap eat.

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Rice pudding, arroz con leche, milk rice, cream of rice, rice kheer, congee — there are many different names for a rice mixture cooked in milk and served for breakfast or sometimes dessert. Cultures all over the world feature these easy recipes of cooked rice because they are filling, cheap to make, and comfort food that the entire family can enjoy.

If you’ve been disappointed by boxed rice pudding recipes or instant rice cereal, time to try this one. This Creamy Milk Rice Pudding is a completely different dish than the boxed version your parents may have insisted you eat as a child. Easier than old fashioned rice pudding, it’s a perfect option for breakfast and can be a great breakfast-on-the-go.

Why Make This

It’s easy. This is actually one of the easiest recipes in my world. Cook rice in milk and cream instead of water! How simple is that? You can add a dash of salt to the cooking rice for flavor and zhuzh it up with chia seeds, vanilla extract, or a cinnamon stick, but it’s tasty on its own and can go sweet or savory, depending on what you have on hand.

It’s versatile for most diets. Years ago, I heard a friend waxing eloquently about the rice pudding she was making. I’d never had it, so I looked up recipes. The added egg mixture or egg whites were a turn-off due to an egg allergy in the house. So, I opted for a quicker, egg-free version that can be made with coconut milk, almond milk, or other vegan milk for those who prefer plant-based milk. It is an easy recipe to make everyone happy!

It’s delicious. Similar to a rice pudding, this cream of rice is toothsome with whole grain rice which gives it a hearty texture. As a former child who shuddered over the gruel my parents fed me, I appreciate the whole grain texture of this dish, much like Not Mushy Oatmeal. The rice grains are a bit al dente so that it’s not too mushy. And it makes a delicious dessert on a dime!

Ingredients 

Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this cream of rice recipe:

half and half as well as milk – I use half-and-half and nonfat milk because that is what I usually have on hand. I buy the half-and-half in large containers for a great price at Costco. But, feel free to experiment with the cream-to-milk ratio. Obviously, the dish will be more economical if you use less half-and-half and more milk. You can also substitute a bit of cream for the half-and-half. (For non-US readers, half and half is a product of heavy cream and whole milk. You can make your own.) This is a great recipe for using up a lot of milk before it goes to waste.

uncooked rice – I use arborio rice because it tends toward a creamier texture, but I have also made this with brown rice, white rice, long grain as well as short. Use what you have and/or what fits the budget. Jasmine rice, basmati rice, and medium grain rice will all work. Love rice? Be sure to try our Black Bean and Rice Salad for a fun lunch or dinner.

salt – You just need a dash of slat to help round out the flavors of plain rice. 

optional vanilla bean paste – If you know you’re going to top your rice pudding with sweet toppings, add a bit of vanilla bean paste to the milk. It adds a wonderful aroma!

toppings – The world is your oyster when it comes to how to top this creamy porridge. Serve it with a splash of milk and your favorite toppings. Go sweet with brown sugar, dried fruit, maple syrup or honey, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, peanut butter, or other dessert toppings. Go savory by sprinkling it with parmesan cheese, garlic powder, chopped veggies, or even a fried egg. You can even top it like a loaded baked potato with chopped scallion, shredded cheese, and bacon bits.

Variations:

• Make this easy rice pudding with leftover rice by heating the rice in a bit of milk or cream on the stove until warm and rehydrated. Season with a dash of salt and add your favorite toppings. 
• Cream of Rice is actually a trademarked name for a commercial boxed porridge made of ground rice. You can make a homemade equivalent by grinding rice and cooking the powder in milk or cream.
• For easy coconut rice, use canned coconut milk and hot water.
• Congee is an Asian rice porridge that is long-cooked with extra water and served with other savory foods.
• Arroz con Leche is a Spanish version of creamy rice pudding flavored with vanilla, lemon zest, and cinnamon. The rice dish is often cooked with sweetened condensed milk.
• Milkreis is German rice pudding, made with sugar, and served with cinnamon and fruit.
• Rice kheer is a sweet dessert in Indian cuisine made from rice, milk, nuts, and saffron.
• To make this more like a dessert rice pudding, you can add a vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, or dried fruit to the pot while the rice cooks. You may need to add more liquid to account for the dried fruit.
• I like to keep this dish more neutral flavored so my kids can add the flavors they prefer. Leftovers work well for both savory and sweet dishes. I’ve even added the leftovers to soup.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to make this easy cream of rice pudding:

In a medium saucepan, combine the half and half and milk. Bring to a low boil over medium heat. Boiling milk can burn; stirring constantly while it comes to heat will help that. You can add the optional vanilla bean paste at this point as well.

Stir in the rice and salt. Cover and reduce to the lowest heat. Let the rice cook for 20 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.

Serve with toppings.

FAQs

Costs of Making Homemade

How much does it cost to make rice porridge from scratch?

We often assume that making something homemade will cost less than the commercial alternative. Certainly, homemade tastes better and allows you better control of the ingredients.

That said, it’s helpful to know the bottom line.

Homemade, whole-grain cream of rice is made from standard kitchen staples: rice and milk. Let’s see what these specific ingredients cost when not on sale at a mid-range grocer:

• half and half – $0.90 ($1.79/qt)
• milk – $0.19 ($3.09/gallon)
• arborio rice – $1.25 ($2.49/#)

This works out to be $2.34/batch or 39 cents per serving. The commercial, name-brand cream of rice costs 41 cents per serving. So…homemade is better tasting and less expensive!

How to cut your costs even more:

Shop the sales. Avoid paying full price whenever you can. Keep an eye on how prices fluctuate in your area and stock up when you see a sale. Remember milk can be frozen.

Use lower cost alternative ingredients. This recipe is dairy-heavy. You can use more milk than half and half or substitute some water in the recipe to lower the cost. It will still be creamy made with less cream. Accordingly, long grain rice is usually less expensive than arborio rice. Use a cheaper rice to cut the costs even more.

More Easy Breakfasts

This post was originally published April 22, 2012. It has been updated for content and clarity.