The Easiest Homemade Horchata Recipe for a Refreshing Treat
This homemade horchata delivers a creamy, subtly sweet beverage with warm cinnamon notes. Chilled overnight, it uses pantry staples like rice, cinnamon, and non-alcoholic vanilla essence to create a silky, coffee-shop-quality drink. Customize sweetness and spice to enjoy year-round.
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 495
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: quick
- Method: Refrigeration
- Cuisine: Latin American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
2 Mexican cinnamon sticks
4 cups hot water, split into two batches
2 cups milk or unsweetened almond milk
2 teaspoons non-alcoholic vanilla essence
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
⅓–1/2 cups granulated sugar, adjusted to taste
Optional 1/2 tsp nutmeg for added spice
Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
1 cup sliced oranges or almonds for garnish (serving suggestions)
Instructions
Blend rice, 2 cups hot water, and cinnamon sticks in a blender (pulse 4-5 times)
Add remaining 2 cups hot water and puree until smooth
Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer into a sealed container
Refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours) for thickening
Transfer to a pitcher, add milk, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar
Whisk until sugar dissolves completely
Chill before serving; stir vigorously before pouring over ice
Notes
Use Mexican cinnamon sticks for authentic flavor
Double-line strain through cheesecloth for ultra-smooth texture
Store in sterilized bottles for up to 4 days
Increase sweetness during colder months
Optional nutmeg can be swapped with cardamom or omitted
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12 fl oz (350ml)
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 0.4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Find it online: https://yumandrun.com/homemade-horchata-recipe-the-easiest-way/