Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (2024)

5 from 4 votes

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January 14, 2019

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This Rice Pudding Recipe is flavored with vanilla bean and almond. It is also gluten-free, sugar-free and low-fat. Healthy and delicious!

Sweet and creamy Rice Pudding Recipe is comfort food that tends to taste exactly 14.2 times better when it’s cold and wet outside. Comfort food I refuse to forget because it’s amazing. And simple to make. And delicious. And naturally gluten-free {bonus!} that I happened to make low fat and sugar-free {double bonus!} so I didn’t have to feel guilty eating the entire thing in one sitting. True story.

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (1)

Rice Pudding Recipe

  • Arborio Rice – Short grain rice originating from Italy. Most rice puddings are made with this rice variety.
  • Skim Milk and Fat-Free Half & Half –I pulled all the stops to make this recipe as low fat as possible.
  • Truvia – You can also use Splenda or regular sugar if you don’t want that sugar free part of the recipe.
  • Almond Extract and Vanilla Bean Paste – A ton of flavor comes from these two ingredients plus a pinch of salt to balance it all out.

Feel free to fatten this up with whole milk, brown sugar, more butter, and straight-up cream. But, I’m warning you–you make it once that way and you will be addicted for life. {Not that that’s a bad thing…}

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (2)

How to Make Rice Pudding

{and all you rice pudding haters out there–>give this a chance. It will change your life.}

  1. In a large pot, melt butter and stir in arborio rice to coat grains. Pour in enough milk to cover the rice by 1/3 inch or so (about a cup). Continuously stir the rice until the milk has been absorbed and mixture turns very thick.

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (3)

  1. Keep adding and stirring until all the milk has been poured in and the rice has soaked it all up.
  2. Stir in half & half and Truvia until rice is cooked to your liking and the desired consistency is reached. Feel free to add in a few more splashes of milk to make the pudding thinner or cook it longer to have it thicker.

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (4)

  1. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract and vanilla bean paste. Top with toasted almonds (optional) and serve warm.

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (5)

Toasted Almonds

As a finishing touch, you can toast some almonds too. Mmmm…

To toast almonds, simply heat them in the pan over medium heat. Toast until almonds turn slightly brown and smell nutty. This should only take a couple of minutes. Remove from heat.

So, dish this up and top it with your almonds. Voila! Rice Pudding that is to die for.

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (6)

Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers (not likely because this recipe is THAT good), you can store this rice pudding recipe in the fridge for up to 4 days or even longer in the freezer! Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (7)

Freezing

To freeze, cool your rice pudding completely. Then seal it in an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to three months! Defrost in the fridge overnight then reheat on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (8)

More Rice Pudding Recipes to Try!

  • Easy Rice Pudding Recipe
  • Pumpkin Maple Rice Pudding for One
  • Rice Pudding Risotto Style

Easy, healthy, delicious! I hope you all have crummy weather so you can try this out too 🙂 Printable recipe card below!

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (9)

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5 from 4 votes

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe

This Rice Pudding Recipe is flavored with vanilla bean and almond. It is also gluten-free, sugar-free and low-fat. Healthy and delicious!

servings 4 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup arborio rice
  • 3 1/2 cups skim milk
  • 1/2 cup fat free half & half
  • pinch salt
  • 4 tablespoons truvia or splenda or regular sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 1/4 cup toasted almonds

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large pot, melt butter and stir in arborio rice to coat grains. Pour in enough milk to cover the rice by 1/3 inch or so. Continuously stir the rice until the milk has been absorbed and mixture turns very thick. Continue this process until all milk has been added.

  • Stir in half & half and Truvia until rice is cooked to your liking and the desired consistency is reached. Feel free to add in a few more splashes of milk to make the pudding thinner or cook it longer to have it thicker.

  • Remove from heat and stir in almond extract and vanilla bean paste. Top with toasted almonds and serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 496mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 540IU | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 2.5mg

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how to make rice pudding, Rice Pudding, Rice Pudding Recipe

Vanilla Almond Rice Pudding Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of rice is best for rice pudding? ›

For the same reason you wouldn't normally make risotto with basmati or jasmine or brown rice, you wouldn't normally make rice pudding with it. Calrose, a short/medium grain rice, works well with this recipe because it gets soft and sticky when cooked.

Why is my rice pudding not thick enough? ›

However, you can add, if, if your rice pudding di or vanilla pudding didn't thicken it is not only because of the kind of milk you used, you generally you need to use some kind of a starch, either arrow root or corn starch.

How do you keep rice pudding from getting watery? ›

Don't cover when it's still hot. Do not cover when the pudding is still hot, but should be covered when the pudding has cooled. This is to avoid the presence of steam which makes the pudding runny.

Why didn't my rice pudding set? ›

If your rice pudding has ended up too thin, it is likely that it didn't cook it long enough at the end to thicken the custard. If it needs rescuing, pour it into a saucepan, heat, then stir in a bit of cornstarch mixed with cold water, a bit at a time, until the pudding thickens as needed.

Should you rinse your rice for rice pudding? ›

While we've mentioned before that this dessert gets its perfectly creamy texture from the starch that is released when the grains are cooking, we do suggest a rinse for this recipe in order to wash off excess debris and added starch.

Why is the rice in my rice pudding still hard? ›

As a result, the rice in the pudding can become firm and hard when it cools down. It's a natural process that occurs with certain types of rice. To prevent this, you can try adding a bit more liquid or cream to the rice pudding before refrigerating it.

What can you use to thicken rice pudding? ›

Rice pudding will thicken as it cools, but if you prefer your pudding thicker, you can whisk in a beaten egg while the pudding is warming and continue cooking until it's thickened. To thicken cooled, cooked rice pudding, fold in whipped cream.

Why is my rice pudding gummy? ›

If your rice has absorbed too much liquid, the grains may have split and the starches may have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency. One way to fix that? Add even more liquid. Pour in some milk, a dash of vanilla, and spoonful of sugar, and suddenly your mushy rice is a rich rice pudding.

Why can't you reheat rice pudding? ›

Rice is more problematic than some other leftover foods as it may contain bacteria called Bacillus cereus, which survive some cooking processes . This bacterium is often the cause of food poisoning from reheated or cooked rice.

Should you refrigerate rice pudding? ›

You can serve your rice pudding immediately, or let it cool to room temperature and store it in the fridge for a cold, fruit-topped breakfast or snack. The pudding will keep in your fridge for about 4 days. But unlike that bowl of cooked rice, it probably won't last that long.

Should rice pudding be hot or cold? ›

Depending on where you are in the world, rice pudding can be eaten cold or warm. In the United States, where rice pudding is traditionally served as a dessert, it is usually cold. Whereas in Sweden, for example, rice pudding is warmed and eaten for breakfast.

How do you fix pudding that didn't set up? ›

Mix in a slurry of cornstarch: One common method is to create a slurry by mixing a small amount of cornstarch with water. Gradually whisk the slurry into the pudding while it's heating. This can help thicken the pudding [1].

How do you fix runny pudding? ›

Your best bet would be to mix a tablespoon of cornstarch and a teaspoon of sugar with some of the beverage and add it to the warm pudding. Heat it to a bubble and stir until it thickens.

Why wont my pudding set with almond milk? ›

Almond milk has a thinner consistency compared to dairy milk, which can affect the overall texture of the pudding. To compensate for this, you may need to adjust the amount of almond milk used or add a thickening agent, such as cornstarch or tapioca starch.

Is short or long grain rice better for rice pudding? ›

It's what gives risotto a desirable al dente texture, but we found it unwelcome in pudding. For pudding with a creamy texture boasting rice with a pleasant, mild chew, long-grain rice is still the best choice.

Is pudding rice just short grain rice? ›

Though there are many different types, the rice we buy is mainly of two kinds: long grain (most brown and white rice) and short grain (risotto and pudding rice).

What is traditional rice pudding made of? ›

Rice pudding is a creamy mixture of rice and milk that is cooked until it's thick and soft. It can be sweet or savory. This raisin-studded dessert rice pudding is thickened with an egg, sweetened with sugar, and enhanced with vanilla.

Is rice pudding rice the same as normal rice? ›

A specific type of rice is available and widely used for rice pudding, called pudding rice. Similar to Arborio rice, its grain is round and short, and when cooked produces a creamier consistency than savoury rice. However, other short grained rice can be used as a substitute.

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