Caramel Rice Pudding

Sep 7, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Vanilla: Extract Easy

Creamy caramel rice pudding in a small ceramic bowl with a spoon, garnished as in the recipe

A rich and creamy caramel rice pudding featuring tender short-grain rice simmered in whole milk with vanilla and finished with a luscious homemade caramel sauce.

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, rinsed
4.0 cups (960.0 ml)whole milk
⅓ cup (67.0 g)granulated sugar
¼ tsp (1.0 g)fine sea salt
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
⅓ cup (80.0 ml)homemade caramel sauce
½ cup (120.0 ml)heavy cream
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter

Make it at home

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Instructions

Rinse the short-grain rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch; drain well.
In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, whole milk, granulated sugar, and fine sea salt. Stir gently over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Bring the mixture just to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cook gently, uncovered, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens to a creamy consistency, about 35 to 40 minutes.
While the rice cooks, prepare the caramel sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar (about 1/3 cup) without stirring until it turns a deep amber color. Remove from heat and carefully whisk in the heavy cream and butter until smooth. Let cool slightly.
When the rice pudding is cooked, stir in the pure vanilla extract and the prepared caramel sauce thoroughly. Continue to heat gently for 2 to 3 minutes to marry flavors, stirring constantly to prevent sticking.
Remove from heat and let the pudding rest for 5 minutes; it will further thicken while cooling slightly.
Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally garnished with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a sprinkle of sea salt.

Tips

Use short-grain rice for the creamiest texture; rinsing removes excess starch but preserves necessary creaminess.
For pronounced vanilla flavor, substitute 1 vanilla bean split and scraped for the extract during cooking.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make caramel rice pudding?

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 caramel rice pudding?

Store leftover rice pudding 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 caramel rice pudding ahead?

Prepare the rice and caramel sauce up to 1 day in advance and combine before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). 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.

A rich and creamy caramel rice pudding featuring tender short-grain rice simmered in whole milk with vanilla and finished with a luscious homemade caramel sauce.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

381 Calories / serving

17.9g Fat

48.0g Carbs

7.6g Protein

27.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~2286 cal · 107g fat · 288g carbs · 46g protein · 163g sugar

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

Per serving · 381 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 72 min·4.2 mi·~8400 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 52 min·2.6 mi·~5200 steps
Moderate cycling 39 min·7.8 mi
Swimming laps 53 min
Jogging 37 min·3.1 mi·~5900 steps
Stair climbing 35 min·~3150 steps
Dancing 62 min
Bodyweight circuit training 39 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 88 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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