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This arroz con leche is a creamy mixture of rice, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and coconut milk. Rice pudding (arroz con leche) is one of the most popular recipes in Latin America and for good reason.

Some of my other favorite latin dessert recipes include coconut flan and churros.

Let’s talk about arroz con leche. It’s rich, easy to make, and I absolutely love it. I also think it’s so underrated. Think about the last time you went to a restaurant and ordered it. You probably can’t remember because most places don’t offer it. Now you can make this comforting delicious dessert right at home.

Why I Love This Easy Arroz Con Leche Recipe

• This recipe requires minimal ingredients and those that you probably always have on hand like rice and canned milk.
• It’s inexpensive to make and feeds a crowd.
• Can be enjoyed at room temperature, hot, or cold.
• This recipe is Fail-proof.

Ingredient Notes

• Rice – You can use any type of rice, short grain, medium grain, or long-grain. Although I prefer using Jasmine rice, feel free to use basmati or arborio rice.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – make sure to use sweetened.
• Coconut Milk – if you’re not a fan of coconut milk, simply replace it with whole milk instead.
• Lime – My grandmother always adds fresh lime zest and I love the flavor it adds but, of course, it’s optional.
• Sugar – although we’re adding an entire can of sweetened condensed milk, I highly recommend adding granulated sugar.

How To Make Arroz Con Leche Step-by-Step

1. Begin by rinsing the rice, this will help remove most of the starch. Add the rice, lime zest, cinnamon stick, and water to a pot and cook for 30 minutes over medium-low heat or until the rice is completely tender.
2. Once the rice is fully cooked through, stir in the sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, evaporated milk, sugar, and salt. Let it cook uncovered, stirring frequently for 25-30 minutes or until the mixture thickens slightly.
3. Once the arroz con leche thickens slightly, taste it and add more sugar if needed.

Top Tips And Flavor Variations

• A lot of folks add raisins to their rice pudding. Feel free to add golden raisins, black raisins, or any type of dried fruit.
• Incorporate some salted butter, it will add some richness and a bit of saltiness.
• Top it off with some fresh whipped cream and ground cinnamon.
• Add some shredded coconut flakes, rum, or nuts.
• Add a splash of whole milk to the rice pudding, before serving if you find it too thick.
• Don’t let the rice pudding thicken too much or else it will become too dry.

Why Is My Arroz Con Leche Hard?

If you cook the rice in water until fork tender, you shouldn’t experience this problem. Make sure to cook the rice completely before adding the canned milk.

How Long Is Arroz Con Leche Good For In The Fridge?

Let the rice pudding come to room temperature before refrigerating. Place it in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Cooked rice should not be left out at room temperature for more than a few hours.

More Rice Pudding Recipes You’ll Enjoy

• Instant Pot Rice Pudding
• Classic Rice Pudding
• Rice Pudding With Peaches
• Instant Pot Pumpkin Rice Pudding

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