Arroz con Dulce – nothing says comfort food like a cozy bowl of Puerto Rican rice pudding! The best arroz con dulce recipe you can make this season!

Tender grains of rice are cooked in a fragrant cinnamon and spice infusion.

Studded with raisins and oh-so-creamy with coconut milk.

Coconut milk is what sets Arroz con Dulce Boricua apart from regular rice pudding which uses dairy milk.

Coconut lovers should also checkout our Coquito recipe and Tembleque (my fave!).

Arroz con Dulce

The secret to arroz con dulce is to soak the rice before cooking.

This ensures that each grain is plump and hydrated.

The end result will be creamy without turning to mush.

Everyone has their own tastes so I encourage you to use this as a basic recipe, adjust to your preferences or make some tweaks to get it just the way abuela made it!

For example, I don’t like raisins in my arroz con dulce. It’s a textural thing and just as easy to leave them out.

I will list the main ingredients, plus substitutions and changes you can make.

Arroz con Dulce Ingredients

• Rice – short grain or medium grain is best.
  • Long grain will result in drier, less creamy pudding.
• Spices – cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, nutmeg and fresh ginger.
  • Try to use whole, fresh spice for maximum flavor, not the pre-ground versions.
  • You can also add 1 star anise if you like the slight licorice flavor.
• Coconut milk – You can also increase the coconut flavor by substituting 1 can of cream of coconut (Coco Lopez). Reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup if doing so.
• Sugar – white or brown can be used.
  • Brown will change the color and give it more depth of flavor.
  • You can also use a mix of both.
• Raisins – if you don’t like them leave them out.
  • 1/2 cup of shredded coconut can also be added, if desired.

This recipe is naturally dairy-free (vegan) and gluten-free (double check ingredients).

I like to cook this in my caldero (same kind you use for Puerto Rican Rice), but any heavy bottomed pot will do.

How to Make Arroz con Dulce

1. Start by soaking the rice in water. Anywhere from 3 hours to overnight.
2. Make a spice infused tea by boiling the spices in coconut milk.
3. Cook the rice until tender.
4. Add the remaining ingredients and continue cooking until rice is creamy.

Puerto Rican arroz con dulce is typically served cold.

I like it best while it’s fresh and warm!

It will firm up a little after it’s chilled and you can cut servings, similar to bread pudding.

The final texture all depends how creamy it was at the end of cooking.

You can always add extra milk if it’s looking dry.

Buen provecho!

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Arroz con Dulce

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Puerto Rican Arroz con Dulce (rice pudding) with coconut milk, raisins, cinnamon and spice. Ultra creamy and a Christmas classic!

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Ingredients

• 1 cup short or medium grain rice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled & sliced
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 3 cans (13.5 oz) coconut milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup white or brown sugar
• ½ cup raisins
• Ground cinnamon, for garnish

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear. Soak
   the rice in 2 cups of water (enough to cover), at least 2 hours, preferably
   overnight. When ready to cook drain the rice and set aside.
2. In a large caldero or pot, add 1 can of coconut milk, the cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the cinnamon, cloves and ginger with a slotted spoon.
3. To the pot with the infused coconut milk add 1 ½ cans of coconut milk (reserve the remaining ½ can for the end) and salt. Bring to boil, then add drained rice. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
4. Add the remaining ½ can of coconut milk, sugar and raisins to the rice and gently stir. Continue cooking at a simmer, uncovered, until the rice is tender and creamy, about 15 minutes. Gently stir occasionally so rice doesn’t stick to bottom of pot. It should look runny, but not soupy.
5. Pour the arroz con dulce into a dish and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon before serving.
   
   

Recommended Products

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