3 years ago our family spent 1 month in Costa Rica for a Spanish immersion program in preparation for our move to Peru. As part of the experience, my daughters and I took a cooking class once a week in the afternoon. In one of the sessions we learned how to make arroz con leche.
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Arroz con leche means rice with milk. Three different types of milk are used, and there are no eggs in the recipe, which it makes it different from traditional rice pudding. I actually made the mistake of comparing it to rice pudding during class. My teacher quickly set me straight. : )
Arroz con leche is my go to holiday dessert recipe for a number of reasons.
- It is delicious.
- It’s easy to make.
- It serves a lot of people. Because arroz con leche is really filling it could easily be divided into little glass jars like the photo above. Or it could be served in little dessert shot glass sized containers. I’d say it would serve 20-25 people when in jars, and at least 30-40 in shot glasses.
- It’s so comforting. The combination of the aromatic cinnamon and the warm, creamy texture of the “pudding” (sorry Profe!) make you feel as if you’ve curled up with a favorite book in front of a warm fire.
I created a printable of the recipe for you. Simply click on the button below to download and print, check to make sure you have all the ingredients, and make a batch for one of your holiday gatherings this season! I included a little preview image of the recipe below.
To get the printable recipe that shows you how to make arroz con leche in 5 easy steps, simply click the button below.
How To Make Arroz Con Leche In 5 Easy Steps
Not in a spot where you can print? No worries. You can still make some amazing arroz con leche in 5 easy steps. First, make sure you have all the ingredients listed in the preview above. Next, follow the instructions below.
- Cook rice with 2 1/2 cups of water and sugar. Just add all ingredients to a large pot, bring to a boil, give it a good stir, lower heat to simmer, and cover with a lid.
- When the rice puffs up add the three milks. I like to make sure the rice is pretty soft before adding the milk.
- Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring often. (add cinnamon sticks if using)
- Add cinnamon, raisins, and coconut if using, to taste.
- Allow to cool. Then serve warm, or refrigerate, and serve the next day.
This is definitely my go to holiday recipe. I make arroz con leche for Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and other occasions. My kids also love it when I pack it in these containers for their school lunches. I hope your family enjoys it as much as ours! And out of your curiosity, what’s your favorite go to recipe?