Arroz con Leche

Aug 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Vanilla: Beans Easy

Creamy arroz con leche in a small ceramic bowl with a spoon, garnished as in the recipe

Traditional Spanish-style rice pudding simmered with whole milk, cinnamon, sugar, and enhanced with fresh vanilla bean for a comforting creamy dessert.

Prep 10 min

Cook 40 min

Cooling 5 min

Total 55 min

Servings 6

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

¾ cup (150.0 g)short-grain white rice
4.0 cups (960.0 ml)whole milk
⅓ cup (67.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 stick (7.0 g)cinnamon stick
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
½ tsp (1.3 g)ground cinnamon

Make it at home

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Instructions

Rinse the short-grain rice under cold water until the water runs clear; drain well.
In a large heavy saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, whole milk, granulated sugar, fine sea salt, and cinnamon stick.
Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds; add both seeds and pod to the pot.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for about 35-40 minutes until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens to a creamy consistency.
Remove from heat, discard the cinnamon stick and vanilla bean pod.
Stir in the ground cinnamon and mix well.
Let the pudding rest for 5 minutes before serving warm or at room temperature.

Tips

Stir frequently during cooking to avoid the rice sticking or burning at the bottom.
Using a fresh vanilla bean enhances the authentic flavor of arroz con leche more than extract.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make arroz con leche?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking, plus 5 minutes to rest. The recipe makes 6 servings.

How should I store arroz con leche?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.

Can I make arroz con leche ahead?

Prepare the arroz con leche a day ahead and refrigerate; flavors will deepen and texture improve.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Traditional Spanish-style rice pudding simmered with whole milk, cinnamon, sugar, and enhanced with fresh vanilla bean for a comforting creamy dessert.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

238 Calories / serving

5.7g Fat

39.7g Carbs

7.1g Protein

19.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~1428 cal · 34g fat · 238g carbs · 43g protein · 118g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 238 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 45 min·2.6 mi·~5250 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 32 min·1.6 mi·~3200 steps
Moderate cycling 24 min·4.8 mi
Swimming laps 33 min
Jogging 23 min·1.9 mi·~3700 steps
Stair climbing 22 min·~2000 steps
Dancing 39 min
Bodyweight circuit training 24 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 55 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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