Make this quick horchata recipe using leftover rice and save yourself time and hassle. A cool and refreshing cinnamon-flavored drink isn't too far away!
Horchata is a delicious cinnamon flavored rice drink best served cold over ice. It's so refreshing and tasty, especially on a hot summer's day.
I am a HUGE fan of cinnamon anything, so of course, horchata is one of my favorite cold drinks. But what makes this drink even better is how AFFORDABLE it is! An entire pitcher of homemade horchata was made for just pennies (twenty of them, to be exact).
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and easy horchata. Made with just a few steps, this recipe couldn't be any simpler. Blend, strain, add water, and serve.
- Minimal ingredients. While this is a recipe known for not having minimal ingredients it should be noted that a lot of the ingredients that are needed are already in your home- water, leftover rice, etc.
- One batch makes enough to share. One large pitcher of horchata is plenty to share with everybody and can be spread out even more when served in glasses filled with ice.
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🥘 Ingredients
- Cooked white rice
- Water
- Ground cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
- Granulated sugar
For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Blender
- Drinking Glasses
- Fine Mesh Strainer
- Wooden Spoon
🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make this quick horchata recipe with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Add 2 cups of water, rice, cinnamon, and vanilla to a blender.
Blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes or until the rice is finely chopped and blended.
Place a fine-mesh strainer over the top of a pitcher and strain the mixture into the pitcher so that there are no chunks.
Add in the sugar and stir well to combine until dissolved.
Add in the remaining water and stir to combine.
If desired you can stir in one cup of milk for a cloudier look.
Serve over ice in your drinking glasses.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and whipped cream.
🧾 Substitutions
Leftover rice- If desired you can cook fresh rice to use for this recipe. The results are too similar to notice any difference at all. Leftover rice can just be more convenient. I love finding new ways to use up leftover rice because we often have a lot of it on hand.
If you have more leftover rice you want to use up, check out my Hot Dog Fried Rice recipe.
📖 Variations
Horchata is usually made by grinding up uncooked long-grain white rice and cinnamon sticks in water and letting them soak overnight before adding the vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon.
There are recipes that show it being served with milk, condensed milk, almond milk, or just plain water. It can be served thin or thick and adjusted to suit your own tastes.
This recipe version is my own, but feel free to adjust it however you like!
💭 FAQs
Traditional horchata doesn't contain dairy which is great for those with allergies or trying to limit their dairy intake. I included a side note on the recipe card below on adding in cows milk, if desired.
This drink has been around for hundreds of years and some believe it to be one of the healthiest drinks you can have. Cinnamon is great for all sorts of health benefits and rice is packed with nutrients as well.
You can keep your horchata drink in the fridge for up to 1 week. This gives you plenty of time to sip away throughout the week!
More great beverage recipes to check out soon
- Milkshakes Without Ice Cream
- Strawberry Pink Lemonade
- Oreo Milkshake (No Ice Cream)
- Frozen Whipped Lemonade
- Purple Cow Float
- Caramel Iced Coffee
📖 Recipe
Quick Horchata Recipe (With Leftover Rice)
Equipment
- Blender
- Drinking Glasses
- Fine Mesh Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup leftover cooked white rice ($0.00)
- 12 cups water, divided ($0.00)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ($0.05)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla ($0.04)
- ½ cup granulated sugar ($0.11)
- 1 cup milk *optional
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of water, rice, cinnamon, and vanilla to a blender.
- Blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes or until the rice is finely chopped and blended.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over the top of a pitcher and strain the mixture into the pitcher so that there are no chunks.
- Add in the sugar and stir well to combine until dissolved.
- Add in the remaining water and stir to combine.
- If desired you can stir in one cup of milk for a cloudier look.
- Serve over ice in your drinking glasses. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and whipped cream.
Notes
- If desired you can cook fresh rice to use for this recipe. The results are too similar to notice any difference at all. Leftover rice can just be more convenient.
- Horchata is usually made by grinding up uncooked long-grain white rice and cinnamon sticks in water and letting them soak overnight before adding the vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon.
- There are recipes that show it being served with milk, condensed milk, almond milk, or just plain water. It can be served thin or thick and adjusted to suit your own tastes. This recipe version is my own, but feel free to adjust it however you like!
- You can keep your horchata drink in the fridge for up to 1 week. This gives you plenty of time to sip away throughout the week!
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