Growing up in a Cuban family, you make arroz con leche for dessert all the time. Whether it’s for Sunday dinner, a regular weekday, or Cuban Christmas, this creamy Cuban dessert is always a good idea.
My aunt sometimes makes Cuban rice pudding with a coconut twist and it’s SO DELICIOUS. But this rice pudding is a flawless Cuban family recipe that we’ve enjoyed for years. It tastes so creamy that you’ll want to devour it all in one sitting!
What is arroz con leche?
Arroz con leche is a sweet rice pudding made by cooking down the white rice with different milks, lemon zest, cinnamon, and salt until you get a creamy consistency.
There are tons of different versions of this recipe but this one is my Cuban family recipe.
Let me show you how to make it!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Uncooked long-grain white rice: Technically, you can use any rice for this recipe. I prefer long-grain white rice but you can also use arborio rice.
- Water: Needed for initially cooking the rice.
- Zest from one lemon: Adds a lot of brightness to the rice pudding. You can also use orange zest or even an orange peel if you prefer.
- Cinnamon: Adds a sweet, spicy, woody flavor to this dish.
- Whole milk and sweetened condensed milk: Both of these cooked together will give the rice that delicious creamy consistency!
- Vanilla extract + salt: The perfect flavor enhancers.
When you’re done making this recipe, make my Cuban Buñuelos with Cinnamon-Anise Syrup!
Recommended For This Recipe
3-piece Mini Round Dutch Ovens
These mini dutch ovens are absolutely precious! Oven safe and perfect for individual portions.
How To Make Cuban Arroz Con Leche
This Cuban rice pudding is simple to make and as deliciously creamy as I remember it to be as a kid. This is what cooking is all about after all. Attaching memories to food experiences and cooking adventures.
It’s what I’ll always remember about my childhood and what I, myself, strive to do in my own kitchen. Making arroz con leche is easy.
- Cook the rice. You first cook the rice in a saucepan with water, lemon zest, and a cinnamon stick. After 10-15 minutes, the rice should be soft.
- Add the milks. Drain any excess water and remove the cinnamon stick. Add milk, condensed milk, salt, and vanilla extract to the rice and cook for about an hour, stirring occasionally, until thick.
- Serve in these adorable dark blue mini cocottes with ground cinnamon on top. That’s all folks!
I hope you make this arroz con leche and LOVE it as much as we do!
Arroz Con Leche (Cuban Rice Pudding)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- Zest from one lemon
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- In a saucepan, add the rice with water, lemon zest and cinnamon stick. Cook until the rice is soft, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and drain off any excess water. (Most of the water should be absorbed into the rice.) Place saucepan back on the stove.
- Add milk, condensed milk, salt, and vanilla extract to rice and cook over low heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally until thick, for about 1 hour.
- Remove from heat. Serve, sprinkle with ground cinnamon and enjoy!
Dinorah Penabad says
GREAT RECEPIES!
Theresa says
I only have medium grain rice. Will this work?
Jamie Silva says
I think so!
Jose Bonilla says
So amazingly delicious
Melissa Kraus says
How long can this be stored in your fridge before going bad?
Jamie Silva says
3-4 days in an airtight container!
Jay says
I can’t wait to try the recipe. I don’t have whole milk. I have heavy cream and 2% milk. Which do you recommend?
Jamie Silva says
I’d recommend heavy cream so it’s super creamy (2% doesn’t have enough fat). To replace the 2 cups of whole milk, whisk together 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of water to dilute it a bit. Let me know how it turns out!
KalinnaRosa Aub says
Hello I’m looking forward to trying your recipe. Those I knew that made this always added a can of evaporated milk. Does the 2 cups of whole milk replace a can of evaporated milk? Thank you
Jamie Silva says
Hi! I’ve never made this with evaporated milk so I can’t really say. I always use whole milk and it always comes out creamy and delicious!
Marilyn says
In the first step, cooking the raw rice, does the rice need to have a soft center (fully cooked) before adding the milks?
Jamie Silva says
Yes
Maria Reyes says
First time here but this recipe was awesome. The only thing I changed was adding only 1/2 of the condensed milk because I don’t like it too sweet. But everything from the texture to the flavor was great! Thanks for the recipe!
Jamie Silva says
Happy you loved the recipe, Maria!
Jackie P says
Whenever I ask Mami for the arroz con leche recipe she rattles off ingredients without measurements! I am a horrible cook and need exacts. After a few failed attempts with other recipes, I found yours and It’s a success! I did add an additional cup of whole milk during the last 10 minutes just to cut the sweetness a bit. I am sitting here scraping the bottom of the sauce pan while I type! Delish!
Lauren says
Hey, it doesn’t say what size condensed milk to use?
Jamie Silva says
14 oz! Sorry about that. I updated the recipe. Thanks for the heads up!
Cristina M Alayeto says
Question…regular long grain white or valencia ?
Jamie Silva says
Long grain white rice
Judie Zevack says
Hi! I too love my abuela’s arroz con leche!! Cubans make it the best in my opinion…lol. Now where in your recipe do you add the leche condensada? I don’t see it in the recipe.
Jamie Silva says
Judie! Thank you for bringing this to my attention! I was so leche condensada excited that I missed it in the recipe – oy vei. Recipe is now updated! And yes I agree with you – Cubans make it best… but I’m biased ;)