Description
A refreshing, creamy, and cinnamon-spiced rice milk drink that is easy to make with pantry staples. This cold-brewed beverage requires no cooking and offers a perfect balance of rich texture and light spice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (185g)
- 4 cups warm water (for soaking)
- 2 cups whole milk (480ml)
- 2 large cinnamon sticks (or 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup granulated white sugar (100g)
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- Ice (for serving)
- Optional: 2-3 tablespoons condensed milk
- Optional: Extra cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the long-grain white rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. Drain well.
- Place the rinsed rice in a large bowl with the warm water and cinnamon sticks. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes, or overnight in the refrigerator for best results.
- Pour the soaked rice, water, and cinnamon sticks into a blender. Add the milk, vanilla extract, lime zest, and ground cinnamon (if using).
- Blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is milky, smooth, and thick with no visible rice chunks.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer or nut milk bag over a large pitcher or bowl. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer.
- Press down on the rice pulp with a spoon or squeeze the bag gently to extract all the liquid. Discard the pulp.
- Add the sugar to the strained liquid and stir vigorously until completely dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably 2-4 hours, to chill and meld flavors.
- Stir well before serving as separation is natural. Add a splash of water or milk if the mixture has thickened too much.
- Serve over ice, garnished with a cinnamon stick and lime slice.
Notes
Do not skip rinsing the rice to prevent cloudiness. Soaking overnight yields a smoother texture. If using ground cinnamon, add it during blending rather than soaking. The drink will thicken in the fridge; thin with water or milk before serving. It keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (approx. 16
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: horchata, cinnamon horchata, homemade horchata, summer drink, Mexican rice drink, dairy-free option, gluten-free drink, refreshing beverage