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Arroz con leche

Arroz con Leche

A classic creamy rice pudding made with simple pantry ingredients, flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, perfect for a comforting dessert.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Latin American, Spanish
Calories: 220
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the pudding
  • 1 cup short-grain white rice (Arborio or Valencia)
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 1 strip lemon peel (optional, avoid the white part)
  • ¾ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon (for garnish)

Method
 

Cooking the Rice
  1. Rinse the rice until the water runs mostly clear. Add rice + 1 cup water to a pot and simmer for 7–8 minutes until most water is absorbed.
Adding Milk and Flavor
  1. Pour in the milk, add the cinnamon stick and lemon peel. Simmer on low for 20–25 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking.
Sweetening and Finishing
  1. Stir in sugar and salt, and cook for an additional 5–7 minutes until creamy. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, then remove the cinnamon stick and lemon peel.

Notes

Serve warm for a cozy dessert, or chill for at least 1 hour for a thicker texture. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top before serving. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. When reheating, add a splash of milk and warm gently.