Description
Horchata is a refreshing, creamy, and lightly spiced Mexican rice drink, perfect for cooling down on a hot day. This homemade version blends soaked rice and cinnamon with vanilla and sweetener for a smooth, slightly nutty beverage. Enjoy it over ice for a deliciously sweet and comforting drink with a hint of cinnamon warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
-
Rice Base:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 cups water
-
Blending & Sweetening:
- 1 cup whole milk (or almond milk for dairy-free)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
-
Serving:
- 2 cups cold water or milk
- Ice cubes
- Ground cinnamon for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Soak the Rice: In a large bowl, combine the rice, cinnamon sticks, and 4 cups of water. Cover and let it soak for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.
- Blend the Mixture: Transfer the soaked rice and cinnamon (with the soaking water) into a blender. Blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is smooth.
- Strain the Liquid: Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large pitcher, discarding the rice solids.
- Sweeten and Flavor: Stir in the milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix well until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Chill and Serve: Add 2 more cups of cold water or milk to adjust consistency. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve Over Ice: Pour over a glass of ice and sprinkle with ground cinnamon for garnish if desired.
Notes
- For a vegan version, use almond or oat milk instead of whole milk.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar, or substitute with honey, maple syrup, or a sugar-free alternative.
- For an extra creamy version, add ½ cup sweetened condensed milk.
- Store horchata in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, stirring before serving as natural separation occurs.
- Prep Time: PT4H10M
- Cook Time: PT0M
- Category: Drinks, Beverages
- Method: Blended, No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican, Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: Mexican horchata, rice drink, cinnamon drink, agua fresca, authentic horchata, dairy-free horchata, homemade horchata, traditional Mexican drinks