Creamy Baked Rice Pudding (Printable Version)

Classic comforting dessert of creamy baked rice with cinnamon and sweet raisins.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly butter a 2-quart baking dish.
02 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear, then drain thoroughly.
03 - In a large saucepan, combine milk, cream, sugar, butter, cinnamon, and salt. Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves and mixture is steaming but not boiling.
04 - Stir in the rinsed rice and raisins. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.
05 - Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and stir gently to distribute rice and raisins evenly.
06 - Cover dish tightly with foil. Bake for 55 minutes, stirring gently halfway through baking.
07 - Remove foil and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes until pudding is thick and rice is tender.
08 - Let rest for 10 minutes. Serve warm or chilled, garnished with ground nutmeg if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's hands-off cooking that fills your kitchen with the most incredible aroma while you do something else.
  • Creamy, naturally sweet, and takes just 10 minutes of actual work before the oven does the heavy lifting.
  • Works equally well as a fancy dinner finale or a quiet midnight spoonful straight from the fridge.
02 -
  • Rinsing the rice isn't optional—it's what separates creamy pudding from starchy mush.
  • The texture depends on that halfway stir while covered; skip it and you'll have a hard bottom layer.
  • Vanilla extract added off-heat preserves its flavor instead of cooking it away.
03 -
  • Double-check that your raisins are fresh before using; old raisins won't plump properly and will taste dusty.
  • If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the sugar by a tablespoon and let the cinnamon shine instead.
  • A tiny pinch of cardamom added with the cinnamon adds an understated depth that people can't quite name but absolutely notice.
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