Servings: 6–8 generous slices
Pan: 8 × 8-inch / 20 × 20 cm glass baking dish
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 50 minutes
Total time: About 1 hour 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy ❤️
❤️ Introduction
Some recipes are more than just food. They are memories served in a dish. 🥰
This Baked Rice Pudding is one of those wonderfully simple desserts that can take you straight back to childhood. It is creamy, comforting, gently sweet, and finished with a beautiful golden top. Every spoonful has that old-fashioned homemade feeling that makes you think of family kitchens, warm ovens, and desserts being prepared with love. 🍚🏡❤️
As one nostalgic home cook beautifully described it:
“My Nana and aunties used to make this when I was young, but it turns out the recipe was never written out. When I asked them for it they could remember the ingredients, but not the ratios so I was thrilled to find your recipe. Tasted just as I remember… maybe even better. Simple and delicious!”
That is exactly what makes a recipe like this special. Sometimes the best family recipes were never measured carefully. A grandmother would simply know how much rice to use, how much milk to pour in, and when the pudding looked just right. 👵❤️
This version keeps that traditional spirit while giving you clear measurements so you can make it successfully every time.
🌾 A Little History of Rice Pudding
Rice pudding has been enjoyed in many parts of the world for centuries. 🌍🍚
Rice itself traveled across cultures and became an important ingredient in both sweet and savory cooking. As rice became more widely available, cooks discovered that gently simmering it with milk created a naturally creamy and satisfying dessert.
Different countries developed their own versions. Some use cinnamon and raisins, some use vanilla and nutmeg, while others add citrus zest, cardamom, coconut, or eggs. In many families, rice pudding became a practical dessert because a small amount of rice could be transformed into a generous dish of creamy sweetness. 🥛✨
The baked version is especially comforting. Instead of cooking everything quickly on the stovetop, the pudding is allowed to spend time in the oven, where the rice absorbs the sweetened milk and cream. The surface slowly turns golden while the inside becomes soft and creamy.
It is the kind of dessert that feels both humble and luxurious at the same time. 🤎
🛒 Ingredients
🍚 For the Rice Pudding
- ½ cup short-grain rice or Arborio rice — 100 g, uncooked
- 2 cups water — 500 ml
- 4 cups whole milk — 1 liter
- 1 cup heavy cream — 240 ml
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar — 130 g
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 🌼
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon — plus extra for the top
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg — optional
- ¼ teaspoon salt 🧂
- 1 tablespoon butter — for greasing the dish
- Optional: ¼ cup raisins — about 40 g 🍇
🌟 Optional toppings
For an especially beautiful presentation, you can finish the pudding with:
- A light dusting of cinnamon 🤎
- A little powdered sugar ❄️
- Fresh berries 🍓
- A spoonful of whipped cream ☁️
- A drizzle of honey 🍯
- Toasted almonds or walnuts 🌰
👩🍳 Why Short-Grain Rice or Arborio?
The rice you choose makes a big difference.
Short-grain rice releases starch as it cooks, giving the pudding its naturally creamy texture. 🍚
Arborio rice, the same type commonly used for risotto, is another excellent choice because it contains plenty of starch. It creates a particularly rich and creamy pudding while allowing the individual grains to remain pleasantly soft and plump.
Avoid long-grain rice if you want the classic thick, creamy texture. It can work, but the pudding may not be quite as creamy.
🥣 Preparation Method
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C. 🔥
Grease an 8 × 8-inch (20 × 20 cm) glass baking dish generously with butter.
Make sure the bottom and sides are coated. This helps prevent sticking and adds a subtle buttery flavor around the edges