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The easiest arroz con leche recipe

Desserts For A Crowd

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Looking for a fun dessert? This arroz con leche, or Mexican sweet rice, is the perfect recipe. It’s easy to make on the stove top, in your Instant Pot or even in the crock pot! It’s a versatile dessert that some people even enjoy for breakfast. Dessert for breakfast? Yes, please!

Arroz con leche recipe

When we lived in Michigan one of the things I missed most was HEB, our local grocery store.  I literally grew up going there and they have some of the best products.  From the pre-seasoned fajitas to the Texas shaped corn chips or cheese. There was so much that I missed when we lived up north!

I missed the craziest things while we lived in Michigan.  Homemade tortillas smothered in butter.  Quesadillas with extra grilled onions.  Big fat avocados.  Homemade arroz con leche.  All the best comfort food that I grew up enjoying.

What is arroz con leche?

Arroz con leche means rice with milk when translated from Spanish to English. Some people call it Mexican sweet rice  and that’s essentially what it is – rice pudding drenched in sweetened condensed milk and cinnamon. It’s absolutely delicious! The best part of this sweet treat is that it is really easy to make. Toss all the right ingredients together and then let it simmer to perfection. You can also add in some raisins and have it for breakfast!

Where is arroz con leche from?

It is though to have originated from Spain around the time of the 1800s. It has also been a popular treat in many Spanish speaking countries for decades now.

Easy arroz con leche recipe

Arroz con leche ingredients

To make this Mexican rice pudding on the stove top you will need:

  • cinnamon sticks
  • water
  • rice
  • milk
  • vanilla extract
  • sweetened condensed milk
  • ground cinnamon

Cinnamon sticks – These help flavor the rice pudding. You will allow them to simmer with the rice and water and then discard them after.

Rice – You will need white long grain rice for this recipe. Instant rice will not work.

Milk – The key to making this arroz con leche creamy, is the milk. You will need 4 cups of whole milk here.

Vanilla extract – You can use store bought vanilla extract, or try your hand at homemade! It’s really easy and great for all kinds of baking.

Sweetened condensed milk – This is what sweetens your arroz con leche. You can find it in the baking aisle at most grocery stores. Scroll down for substitutions.

How to make arroz con leche on the stove top

Once you have gathered all your ingredients, you will also need to grab:

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Large pot
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
how to make mexican sweet rice or arroz con leche

Step 1 Cook the rice Place the cinnamon sticks, water and rice in a large pot over medium heat. Allow the water to come to a boil.

Step 2 Add the milk Once the rice has come to a boil, add in half the milk, until the rice starts to thicken. Stir constantly and add in the other half of the milk, the vanilla extract and the sweetened and condensed milk.

Step 3 Simmer and serve Allow the rice to simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Scoop into bowls and top with ground cinnamon.

Can I make arroz con leche ahead of time?

You sure can! In fact, it stores beautifully! Make it as the directions are written and then place it in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat it on the stove or in the microwave. Make sure to add some extra milk as the rice will have absorbed some in storage.

easy arroz con leche recipe

How to make Mexican sweet rice in the Instant Pot

I love this recipe because you can easily make it even faster in your Instant Pot! You even use almost the same ingredients! You can get the full Instant Pot arroz con leche recipe HERE, but a quick rundown of how to make it is –

  1. Place everything in the Instant Pot.
  2. Cook for 20 minutes on the “Porridge” setting.
  3. Naturally release the pressure.
  4. Stir and serve.

How to make it in the crock pot

It’s also super simple to make in your crock pot or slow cooker! Here is how –

  1. Place everything in your crock pot. Stir to combine.
  2. Cook on low for 3 hours or high for 1 hour. It is done when all of the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
  3. Remove your cinnamon sticks.
  4. Serve into bowls and top with cinnamon.

FAQs about arroz con leche

Can you make arroz con leche with almond milk?

Yes! You can. Just replace the whole milk with almond milk in this recipe. If you are going dairy free, I would also suggest not using the sweetened condensed milk and replacing it with regular sugar.

Can you make arroz con leche without sweetened condensed milk?

Yup! You can make this without the sweetened condensed milk. It won’t be as creamy, but it will work. Add in 3/4 cup more milk and 3/4 cup of sugar to replace it. Sweetened condensed milk is just milk and sugar. It’s easy to substitute.

Do you remove the cinnamon sticks?

Yes! You do! Once the rice has thickened, you remove and toss the cinnamon sticks. You can add ground cinnamon or raisins on top of the cooked rice dessert.

What toppings work for arroz con leche?

This sweet rice is great plain but you can also add a few easy toppings to it. Some of our favorites are:

  • dash of cinnamon
  • raisins
  • brown sugar
  • ground nutmeg
  • touch of ground cloves
Mexican sweet rice recipe

Tips and tricks

This recipe is pretty straightforward but some ways to make it even easier is:

  1. You will want to stir the rice constantly once it starts to thicken. It can go from just thick enough to needing more liquid really quickly.
  2. Substitute 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar in place of the sweetened condensed milk in this recipe.
  3. Spoon it into individual bowls before adding them to the fridge for easy breakfasts in the morning.

How to store leftovers

Allow the arroz con leche to cool and place any leftovers in an airtight container. The container will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing this dish as the texture will not be the same once it’s thawed.

Can you eat arroz con leche cold?

Yes! You absolutely can! I love eating cold arroz con leche the for breakfast. Scoop out some rice pudding and add a bit of milk to your bowl. Stir to together and enjoy your cold arroz con leche. Some people like to add raisins as well.

PS.. I made arroz con leche popsicles!  Check them out for a cool treat!

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Arroz con leche

Arroz con leche

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Arroz con leche or "sweet rice" is a Mexican inspired dessert of breakfast that everyone will love.

Ingredients

  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 cup white rice
  • 4 cups of milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • ground cinnamon for topping

Instructions

In a large saucepan, bring the water and cinnamon sticks to a boil. Add the rice, reduce heat and bring to a boil again.

Stir in 2 cups of the milk until the rice starts to thicken. Add in the other two cups of milk, vanilla extract and the sweetened and condensed milk. Allow to simmer until til thick or your desired consistency.

Remove the cinnamon sticks, allow to cool, sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!

Notes

Instant Pot -

  1. Place everything in the Instant Pot.
  2. Cook for 20 minutes on the “Porridge” setting.
  3. Naturally release the pressure.
  4. Stir and serve.

Slow cooker -

  1. Place everything in your crock pot. Stir to combine.
  2. Cook on low for 3 hours or high for 1 hour. It is done when all of the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender.
  3. Remove your cinnamon sticks.
  4. Serve into bowls and top with cinnamon.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 147Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 97mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

If you loved this recipe, we would love for you to leave a review to help others!

© Kelley Grant
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Easy Desserts

More Mexican inspired recipes to try:

Have you make this recipe? I would love for you to leave a review in the recipe card above or in the comments below. Want to make it later? You can pin the image below. Thank you so much for the support!

How to make creamy arroz con leche on the stove top crock pot or instant pot
Kelley
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Comments

  11. Marissa says

    When it says reduce heat and bring to a boil again, you should reduce the heat to about medium and allow it to boil at that heat correct? Or do you turn it back up to high to bring it back to a boil?

    Reply

  13. Mari says

    I am making this as I write this with my daughters who are 9 & 4. My mother would make this for us all the time. This is my first attempt. My husband also grew up on it and my girls will test it for the first time (homemade). Thanks for posting the recipe.

    Reply

    • Kelley says

      It doesn’t take long to make – about 30ish minutes. It makes quite a bit, I’d say about 8 cups. I used 2% milk. Hope that helps!

  18. Marvin Aviles says

    This turned out great. This is one of my favorite deserts of all time. It brings me back to my childhood. I am from El Salvador and this is a typical dish for us. Thank you for sharing this.

    Reply

    • Kelley says

      I’m not sure – I haven’t used it before and I’m not sure how it would work in the recipe. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!

  20. Elly says

    It taste so good but the only thing that bad is the instructions. You shold explain how long should the rice boil, how it take etc etc other then it’s so good.

    Reply

  22. Teresa S says

    I make this all of the time but have never used sweetened condensed milk! I’ll have to give it a try….. btw, u make Michigan sound so “Northern” and bland…. we have a huge Hispanic population here… did u never hear of “Mexicantown” when u were here??? My point is that there is an abundance of authentic Mexican food being sold everywhere and stores to buy the ingredients in order to make the food in ur own home…..

    Reply

    • Kelley says

      Where is Mexicantown?! I need to go! I apologize for making it sound bland – that was not my intent! It was a culture shock coming from South Texas to the mitten. I apprecaite your comment Teresa!

  23. Linda says

    Hi this is Linda,
    When I was growing up in Michigan, I REMEMBER this rice dish so well. My mother made it for us for breakfast. Over the years I would mention to my younger sibs, how Mom would make this ‘rice cereal’. They had no idea what I was talking about. U see, I was the second oldest of 10. My parents came from Texas, as my dad was seeking a better living. My dad followed his uncle, who lived in Saginaw, MI. They got as far as Erie, MI. And there we grew up. Great memories.

    Reply

    • Kelley says

      Hi Linda! Are you still in Michigan? We love it up there! I sure hope you enjoy this “rice cereal” and it reminds you of your mom!

  24. Mayra says

    I haven’t had this for YEARS, like many other comments before mine. Mom use to make it when I was a child. Made it last night and it was soon GOOD. Thank you!!!

    Reply

  25. Karen says

    How long am I boiling the rice? Usually I simmer rice for 15-20 minutes. I’m just not clear if the longer cooking time is in Section 1 with the water or in Section 2 when the milk is added.

    Reply

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