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Horchata — Rice-Cinnamon Cooler

Horchata

Rice-Cinnamon Cooler

Raw long-grain rice soaks overnight with a cracked cinnamon stick, then gets blended and strained into a silky, subtly sweet cooler finished with real vanilla and a dusting of ground cinnamon.

15 min
Serves 8
VegetarianNo CookMake Ahead
Focus

✦ Antes de Empezar

Before you cook

Is horchata dairy-free?

Yes — the whole milk is optional. Made with just rice, water, cinnamon, and vanilla, horchata is naturally dairy-free and vegan without it.

Ingredientes· 9
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Soak Base

  • 1 cupLong-Grain White Riceuncovered and raw
  • 2Mexican Cinnamon Sticks (Canela)broken into pieces
  • 6 cupsWaterdivided

Milky Mix-ins

  • 2 cupsWhole Milk
  • 12 oz canEvaporated Milk
  • 1/2 cupSweetened Condensed Milkadjust to desired sweetness
  • 1 tbspVanilla Extract
  • 1/4 cupGranulated Sugaror to taste

Garnish

  • for dustingGround Cinnamon

Instrucciones

5 pasos
  1. Remoja el arroz

    Soak the rice

    Rinse the rice, then combine it with the broken cinnamon stick and hot water. Let it cool, cover, and soak for 6 hours or overnight.

  2. Licúa el arroz

    Blend the rice

    Blend the soaked rice, cinnamon, and soaking water in batches until very finely ground.

  3. Cuela

    Strain

    Strain through a nut-milk bag, cheesecloth, or fine sieve, pressing firmly to extract all the liquid.

  4. Mezcla los líquidos

    Combine the liquids

    Stir in the cold water, optional milk, sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.

  5. Enfría y sirve

    Chill and serve

    Chill well and stir before serving over ice with a dusting of ground cinnamon.

✦ Herramientas Tradicionales ✦

Authentic Culinary Gear for this Recipe

Heritage Mexican cooking relies on dedicated craft tools to develop authentic blisters, toasts, and emulsified textures.

Cast Iron Comal

10.5" Heavy Cast Iron Comal

Distributes high, dry radiant heat for charring poblanos, toasting chiles, and warming tortillas.

Tortilla Craft

Cast Iron Tortilla Press (8")

Heavy calibrated leverage to press fresh heirloom masa dough into thin, supple rounds with zero sticking.

Heritage Pantry

Heirloom Masa & Dried Chiles

Single-origin Mexican dried chiles (Ancho, Guajillo, Pasilla) and heirloom nixtamalized corn masa.

✦ Recommended gear reflects genuine kitchen utility standards. Outbound links support our independent culinary archive.