Description
This Creamiest Rice Pudding is a warm, nostalgic dessert made with Arborio rice simmered slowly in sweetened milk until luxuriously thick and tender. Finished with a swirl of butter and a dash of vanilla, it’s a comforting, silky-smooth treat perfect for any time of day.
Ingredients
¾ cup Arborio rice
4 cups whole milk
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Ground cinnamon for topping (optional)
Instructions
1. Rinse the Arborio rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear.
2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the whole milk, granulated sugar, and salt. Warm over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Stir in the rinsed rice and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
4. Reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for 30–35 minutes, stirring frequently.
5. When the rice is tender and the pudding has thickened, remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
6. Spoon into bowls and serve warm or chilled. Top with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon if desired.
Notes
Use Arborio rice for best creaminess—don’t substitute with long grain.
Stir frequently during cooking to prevent sticking or scorching.
For a richer version, stir in a few tablespoons of heavy cream or condensed milk at the end.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: rice pudding, creamy dessert, classic pudding