Creamy Cinnamon Raisin Rice (Printable Version)

Luxuriously thick baked rice infused with cinnamon and raisins, slow-cooked in creamy milk.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 2/3 cup short-grain white rice

→ Dairy

02 - 4 cups whole milk
03 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Sweeteners

05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar

→ Fruit

06 - 1/2 cup raisins

→ Spices & Flavorings

07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
09 - 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

→ Optional Topping

10 - Ground nutmeg for garnish

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly butter a 2-quart baking dish.
02 - Rinse the rice under cold running water until clear, then drain thoroughly.
03 - In a large saucepan, combine milk, cream, sugar, butter, cinnamon, and salt. Warm over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and the mixture steams without boiling.
04 - Stir in the rinsed rice and raisins. Remove from heat and mix in the vanilla extract.
05 - Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish, stirring gently to distribute rice and raisins evenly.
06 - Cover tightly with foil and bake for 55 minutes, gently stirring halfway through.
07 - Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until thickened and rice is tender.
08 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled, garnished with ground nutmeg if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels indulgent and decadent but comes together with just a handful of ingredients and minimal hands-on time.
  • The cinnamon and vanilla create this subtle warmth that tastes homemade in the best way, nothing artificial or overdone.
  • You can serve it warm straight from the oven or chilled the next day, making it perfect for any moment you need comfort.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the rice—I learned this the hard way with a batch that turned into wallpaper paste instead of pudding, and there's no coming back from that.
  • Stir it halfway through baking, not because the recipe says so, but because some parts cook faster than others and you want consistency throughout.
  • If your pudding seems too thin when it comes out, it will thicken more as it cools, so don't panic and add extra something.
03 -
  • If you want extra richness or a different flavor entirely, replace half the milk with coconut milk—it changes the whole character without changing the method.
  • Taste the pudding before serving and adjust sugar if you need to, because some people like it barely sweet and some people like it like dessert.
Go Back