Creamy Horchata Recipe – Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rice Drink
This creamy horchata is a nostalgic, ultra-luxe Mexican cinnamon rice drink made with pantry staples and a blend of dairy and sweetened condensed milk for irresistible flavor and texture. It’s easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for cooling off after a spicy meal or serving at any gathering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Ground cinnamon (for garnish, optional)
- Cinnamon sticks (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl or pitcher, combine rice, cinnamon sticks, and water. Stir, cover, and soak at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight (8-12 hours).
- Remove cinnamon sticks, break them into smaller pieces, and add back to the rice-water soak. Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend on high for 2-3 minutes until very smooth.
- Strain the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or nut milk bag into a large bowl or measuring jug, pressing or squeezing to extract all liquid. Discard the rice and cinnamon pulp.
- Pour the strained liquid into a clean pitcher. Stir in milk, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to chill and meld flavors.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice, pour horchata over, and garnish with ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick.
Notes
For vegan/dairy-free, use almond or oat milk and sweetened condensed coconut milk. Soak rice and cinnamon overnight for best flavor. Double strain for smooth texture. Adjust sweetness to taste. Serve well-chilled over ice. Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days; freeze for longer storage. Add blanched almonds for a nutty twist or cocoa powder for chocolate horchata.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (8 oz)
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 90
- Fat: 4.5
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 4
Keywords: horchata, creamy horchata, cinnamon rice drink, Mexican beverage, homemade horchata, easy horchata, summer drink, gluten-free, dairy-free option