Old-Fashioned Baked Rice Pudding

Jul 18, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Vanilla: Beans Medium

Creamy old-fashioned baked rice pudding in a small ceramic bowl with a spoon, garnished as in the recipe

This classic baked rice pudding is rich and creamy, made with whole milk, short-grain rice, and fragrant vanilla bean for a comforting dessert.

Prep 15 min

Cook 40 min

Cooling 10 min

Total 1 hr 5 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
¼ tsp (1.25 g)fine sea salt
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
2.0 large (100.0 g)eggs
½ tsp (2.5 ml)pure vanilla extract
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
¼ cup (40.0 g)raisins (optional)
¼ tsp (0.5 g)ground nutmeg or cinnamon

Make it at home

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease a 2-quart (1.9 L) baking dish with butter.
Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, whole milk, granulated sugar, fine sea salt, and the scraped seeds plus pod of the vanilla bean. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 20 minutes until the rice is tender but not fully cooked, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
Remove the vanilla bean pod and discard it. In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs with the pure vanilla extract.
Gradually stir about 1 cup (240 ml) of the warm rice mixture into the eggs to temper them, then pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the rice mixture, stirring thoroughly to combine.
Stir in the unsalted butter until melted and fully incorporated. Add raisins if using.
Pour the custard into the prepared baking dish and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the top lightly with ground nutmeg or cinnamon if desired.
Place the baking dish in a larger pan. Add hot water to the larger pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the baking dish to create a water bath.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the pudding is set but still slightly wobbly in the center and the top is lightly golden.
Remove the baking dish from the water bath and let the pudding cool for 10 minutes before serving. The pudding will thicken as it cools.

Tips

Rinsing the rice removes surface starch and prevents the pudding from becoming gluey.
Use a whole vanilla bean split and scraped for the richest vanilla flavor and stir in vanilla extract when adding eggs.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make old-fashioned baked rice pudding?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking, plus 10 minutes to rest. The recipe makes 6 servings.

How should I store old-fashioned baked rice pudding?

Store leftover pudding covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven, covered, adding a splash of milk if needed.

Can I make old-fashioned baked rice pudding ahead?

This pudding can be baked ahead and served warm or chilled chilled.

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.

This classic baked rice pudding is rich and creamy, made with whole milk, short-grain rice, and fragrant vanilla bean for a comforting dessert.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

312 Calories / serving

11.0g Fat

44.3g Carbs

9.3g Protein

23.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~1872 cal · 66g fat · 266g carbs · 56g protein · 142g sugar

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

Per serving · 312 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 59 min·3.4 mi·~6900 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 42 min·2.1 mi·~4200 steps
Moderate cycling 32 min·6.4 mi
Swimming laps 44 min
Jogging 31 min·2.6 mi·~4950 steps
Stair climbing 29 min·~2600 steps
Dancing 51 min
Bodyweight circuit training 32 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 72 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.