Horchata is a popular Mexican sweet drink that tastes a lot like rice pudding with cinnamon. It’s creamy, refreshing and super easy to make. While horchata is usually a non-alcoholic drink you can also find many ‘spiked’ versions out there as well. So, in addition to this easy horchata recipe I’ll share my favorite way to add a little alcohol.
Related: Next up learn to make Mexican Coffee or an Iced Chai Latte.
Ingredients
- Rice
- Water
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Granulated white sugar
Directions
First, cook the rice and allow it to cool. Then add the rice and water to a blender and blend for one minute. Let rice and water sit in the blender for 2 hours and up to overnight.
Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the rice water. Add rice water, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend for 30 seconds. Serve over ice.
Tips & Notes
- To make a delicious spiked version, add 3 ounces RumChata to your iced horchata.
- If you’re making the spiked version I would personally enjoy it without sugar, since the Rumchata is already so sweet. I’m a fan of semi-sweet cocktails, and you can always add more sugar later if you choose to!
- You can use any kind of milk in this recipe! I usually use 2% dairy milk but a milk alternative like soy or oat milk will work just as well.
- Store any leftover horchata in the refrigerator in a covered container for at least 3 days. If you notice the cinnamon settling at the bottom give it a good stir before pouring over ice to serve.
More Iced Drink Recipes
- Agua Fresca
- Arnold Palmer
- Taro Milk Tea
- Fruit Punch
- Pink Lemonade
- Italian Soda
- Cherry Limeade
- Roy Rogers drink
- Virgin Mojito
- Shirley Temple
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Ingredients
- 1 cup rice
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ⅓ cup granulated white sugar
Equipment
- Blender
Instructions
- First, cook the rice and allow it to cool.
- Then add the rice and water to a blender and blend for one minute.
- Let rice and water sit in the blender for 2 hours and up to overnight.
- Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the rice water.
- Add rice water, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend for 30 seconds. Serve over ice.
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Yum!! Gonna try this with just straight up rum. Another great addition to Horchata is a shot or two of espresso…mmm! Making this right now, thanks ladies!
I had no idea Rumchata was horchata with rum. Horchata is a traditional agua fresca(fresh water)in mexico and one of my favorites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horchata here in Valence we made horchata from tigernuts. Amazing!!!
Hola Jas, eres latina?? yo soy salvadoreña, viviendo en Costa Rica mientras saco nuevos estudios 😀 y si la horchata de centro américa es diferente, me alegro que te guste la de El Salvador.. please tell me if you understand this XDD
horchata is the BEST. there’s a vegan diner near my house that had an horchata milkshake special in the summer and i never got around to going to try it. i’m still super bummed.
this looks delicious although I have never seen something similar before in my life – I m pinning it right now and will try it out soon!
If you add sliced almonds with the rice and water, leave overnight in the fridge then add the rest of the ingredients, you have a drink with a stronger flavor. I use very little sugar, instead add extra vanilla and cinnamon.
To spike it, try vodka instead of rum, that’s the Mexican way!
yummy!!
xxoo,
nikki
www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
Mmmm-I’ve never tried Rum Chata! This looks DELICIOUS!! Even though it’s chilly out, you might enjoy my very easy Horchata Popsicle recipe:
http://sparkleandgrime.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/easy-horchata-pops/
❤️
Wow!! I didn’t know this recipe of horchata. Here, in Spain, we call horchata to a drink made of tiger nut (chufa), sugar and water and it’s typical of the east of Spain (Valencia).
This looks amazing! I’ll try it.
Do you have to add milk or can it be left out? I’m thinking of making it for a historical feast I’m planning and need to cater for dairy intolerance.
Ooh I need to try that!
I just finished making homemade horchata when I decided to log on and check y’alls blog today! That’s a pretty funny coincidence 🙂 I think you guys might like this horchata recipe. It uses almond milk and sweetened condensed milk. It involves a little more work but its delicious!
http://www.mangoesandpalmtrees.com/2013/05/horchata.html
This sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it.
ahhh I immediately thought of that song when I saw this blog post! Vampire Weekend + A Beautiful Mess blog posts = happy Betty 🙂
Actually, horchata is made of just water and chufas (don’t know the english word for it). See the fruit here http://www.lovevalencia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/xufletes.jpg and is usually drunk nearly iced, granizada we call it. It’s a valencian drink, spanish. No rice involved, nor milk.
Nice recipe!! is a very fresh and yummy drink, I love the horchata of my country, EL Salvador, in general in Central america we have great horchata
xo
i just tried this recipe! so good! and this is coming from a texan! =)
Ah I horchata, thanks so much for sharing!
http://beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
http://beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
amazing! want to make this…
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/