Description
A refreshing, creamy, and sweet homemade Mexican horchata made with rice, cinnamon, and vanilla. This simple drink requires no cooking and offers a rich, authentic flavor that pairs perfectly with spicy foods or serves as a cool summer beverage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (200g) white long-grain rice
- 4 cups (950ml) water
- 2–3 cinnamon sticks
- 1–2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup (100-150g) granulated sugar
- 1–2 cups (240-480ml) milk (whole milk recommended)
- Ice cubes for serving
Instructions
- Place the rice, cinnamon sticks, and 4 cups of water in a large bowl. Stir to submerge the cinnamon, cover, and soak for at least 2 hours or ideally overnight.
- Pour the soaked rice, water, and cinnamon sticks into a blender. Add the vanilla extract and half of the sugar. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is milky, white, and smooth with no visible rice grains.
- Set a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag over a large pitcher or bowl. Pour the blended mixture through the strainer. Press on the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible, then discard the rice pulp.
- Add the remaining sugar and milk to the strained liquid. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness or thickness by adding more sugar, milk, or water as needed.
- Refrigerate the horchata for at least 30 minutes to chill and allow flavors to meld.
- Serve over ice cubes in tall glasses. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or a sprinkle of ground cinnamon if desired.
Notes
Soaking the rice overnight ensures the smoothest texture. Do not use ground cinnamon as it creates grittiness; use whole cinnamon sticks instead. If the horchata thickens in the fridge, add a splash of water before serving. It does not freeze well due to the milk content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: Mexican horchata, homemade horchata, rice drink, cinnamon drink, summer drink, gluten-free drink, vegan horchata, easy recipe