Comforting and sweet, eating homemade rice pudding is a memory that we all share. Served up in kitchens across the country, this dessert has a nostalgic place in many hearts. It’s a humble dish, with simple ingredients and a good old-fashioned flavor.
For most of us, eating rice pudding was a fundamental part of our childhoods. However, when it comes to making rice pudding, it’s easy to be a little baffled. Luckily, we made the step-by-step guide below!
How to Make Rice Pudding
We’re using the recipe for Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding. It’s simple, creamy and delicious.
Ingredients
- 3-1/2 cups 2% milk
- 1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon, optional
Step 1: Preheat the oven
The traditional (and best!) way to make rice pudding is in the oven. Before you do anything else, be sure to preheat the oven to 325° F so it’s all ready to go.
Step 2: Mix your ingredients
Place the milk, rice, sugar and salt in a large saucepan and mix thoroughly. Bring everything to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Use butter to grease a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. (I don’t know about you, but my Gram had CorningWare bakeware with a wildflower design. Try modern white version works just as well.) Transfer the whole rice mixture from your saucepan to the dish.
Step 3: Bake
Bake, covered, for 45 minutes, stirring gently every 15 minutes. Then stir in the raisins and vanilla, and bake, covered, until rice is tender, about 15 more minutes. When you notice that the rice pudding looks firm and jiggles in the dish, it’s ready to eat.
Pro Tip: If you’re making the rice pudding for a special occasion, you might want to add a sprinkle of cinnamon powder to the finished dish.
Step 4: Serve and enjoy
Serve it warm—with a dollop of whipped cream or scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can also refrigerate the dish and serve cold. Either way, rice pudding is a delicious dessert. Just goes to show that a few basic ingredients can make something special!
More Delicious Old Fashioned Desserts
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Orange Natilla Custard PieAfter tasting
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Banana Bread PuddingWhen I visited my grandmother in summer, I always looked forward to the comforting banana bread pudding she'd make. With its crusty golden top, custard-like inside and smooth vanilla sauce, this pudding is a real homespun dessert. Now I make it for my grandchildren. —Mary Detweiler, Middlefield, Ohio
Mom's Lemon Custard PieMy mother often made this lemon pie back when we were growing up. You might say it's stood the test of time because today it's still my 75-year-old brother's favorite! The beaten egg whites give it a delicate texture and make this custard pie quite unique! It's a great way to finish off any meal. —Jeannie Fritson, Kearney, Nebraska
Updated: Mar. 31, 2021
