Creamy Almond Milk Rice Pudding

This recipe is the combination of two recipes up on the blog: Vitamix Almond Milk and Grandma's Stovetop Rice Pudding. I never thought it would be possible to make a healthier, low-fat, vegan version of rice pudding until I experimented in the kitchen. I have made this recipe 5 times, tweaking it each time until it came out perfect.

For a cow's milk version of this delicious rice pudding, try this stovetop rice pudding recipe.

Ingredient Notes

• Almond Milk: I recommend using homemade almond milk to make this recipe because it's creamier than store-bought almond milk. You can use any type of alternative milk: oat milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk.
• Cooked Rice: This recipe calls for pre-cooked plain rice. It can be any type of steamed rice. For this exact recipe, I used leftover Calrose steamed rice from last night's dinner.
• Cornstarch: This rice pudding thickens up because of the added cornstarch. This is a MUST for this recipe.
• Sugar: You can use raw sugar, white sugar, or brown sugar for this recipe. Alternatively, you can sweeten this almond milk rice pudding with dates, by making homemade almond milk (with extra dates).

How To Make Almond Milk Pudding

Dissolve the cornstarch in cold almond milk. Whisk the almond milk for a good 30 seconds to a minute to make sure the cornstarch is completely dissolved into the almond milk before setting it on the stovetop.

Bring to a boil then reduce to medium heat. Don't keep the stovetop on high, otherwise, the bottom of the pan will burn.

Closely monitor the almond milk and stir frequently. Stir every 1 to 2 minutes to make sure the almond milk is not sticking to the bottom of the pan. This is a long process, possibly taking anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.

Add the rice once the almond milk is thickened up. Continue to cook on the stovetop for another 5 to 7 minutes.

Once the texture is where you want it, remove the rice pudding from the stovetop. Allow the rice pudding to cool for 30 minutes.

Tips and Tricks

1. Make your almond milk from scratch. It takes 5 minutes to blend and strain the milk with a cotton cloth.
2. Don't freak out if the almond milk is not thickening. I go into more detail in the section below for exactly how to thicken up almond milk with cornstarch. Just keep stirring and give it a little more time on the stovetop until the desired consistency is achieved.
3. Don't panic if your rice pudding is too thick. There's a quick fix for that issue as well. Just add a little bit more almond milk (and stir) until the right consistency is achieved.
4. Add nuts or spices to garnish. I prefer ground cinnamon or ground nutmeg to my almond milk rice pudding.
5. For thicker rice pudding, put it in the fridge overnight. The rice pudding thickens as it cools.

📋 Recipe

Creamy Almond Milk Rice Pudding

Author: Lily

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: International

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

5 from 4 votes

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Servings 4

Homemade almond milk rice pudding is so easy to make! It's creamy, vegan, dairy-free, and made from scratch using cooked rice.

Ingredients

 

US Customary - Metric

Almond Milk Rice Pudding

• 4 cups almond milk store-bought or homemade (see below)
• 3 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 cup cooked rice about 5.5 ounces or 160 grams
• ½ cup sugar

Homemade Almond Milk

• ½ cup raw almonds
• 2 Medjool dates
• 5 cups water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• pinch of salt

Instructions

Homemade Almond Milk

• If making homemade almond milk, add ½ cup of raw almonds, 2 Medjool dates, 5 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Blend on high. Strain the almond milk with a cotton cloth for a smooth milk base.

Make Almond Milk Rice Pudding

• In a pot, add the cornstarch, sugar, and almond milk together. Stir for 30 seconds to a minute until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.
• Put the pot on the stovetop on high heat. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer (medium-high heat). Continuously monitor and stir every couple of minutes until the almond milk thickens up (about 10 to 15 minutes). 
• Add in the cooked rice. Continue to stir until the rice expands slightly (about 5 to 7 minutes).
• Remove from the stovetop and allow to cool for 30 minutes. Serve with crushed nuts or ground spices.

Equipment

Blender

Notes

1. Thicken up the rice pudding while on the stovetop by continuing to stir on medium-high heat until the pudding mixture is at the desired consistency.
2. Thicken up the rice pudding by allowing it to cool at room temperature or in the fridge. 
3. If the pudding is too thick, add a little bit of almond milk and stir.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 150mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g