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!
Recipe: $0.28 | Per Serving: $0.04 | Servings: 8
Horchata, a cold cinnamon-flavored rice drink, is incredibly refreshing, especially during hot summer days.
As a cinnamon enthusiast, it's one of my favorite cold beverages, and its affordability makes it even more appealing. With rice being a staple in our pantry, I often repurpose leftovers into new recipes, making horchata a welcomed addition.
We ALWAYS have rice on hand because it's such a Frugal Pantry Staple, and it's versatile too. From Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos to Easy Salsa Rice, and Hot Dog Fried Rice, it can be used to stretch meals, make a simple side dish and then some.
However, surplus cooked white rice often leads to leftovers. This recipe is perfect for utilizing those leftovers, offering a quick and budget-friendly solution.
A pitcher of homemade horchata costs mere pennies to make, making it even more affordable than Strawberry Pink Lemonade.
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🍯 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 too many 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.
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Cooked white rice- You will need already cooked rice. This is great for using up leftovers when you aren't making Bacon Fried Rice.
Water- You'll need some water to be the base of this recipe, but if you'd prefer to add in the milk or use a combination of milk and water, you may.
Granulated sugar- Use granulated sugar to get the horchata drink sweetened.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🧾 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, serve it up with some Honey Soy Chicken Bites.
📖 Variations
Uncooked vs cooked rice. Traditional horchata requires grinding uncooked rice and cinnamon sticks in water, soaking overnight, then adding vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Cooked rice speeds up the process, making it quick and easy to prepare in minutes.
Adding milk. Horchata can be served with milk, condensed milk, almond milk, or just water, and can be adjusted to your preferred thickness. Feel free to experiment with different variations to suit your taste preferences.
Vegan-friendly. For a vegan or dairy-free version, use water and/or plant-based milk like almond milk. Adding almond milk is optional, as horchata can be made exclusively with water as the base. Adjust the recipe to your liking!
🔪 Instructions for Quick Horchata Recipe
Step 1: Add 2 cups of water, rice, cinnamon, and vanilla to a blender.
Step 2: Blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes or until the rice is finely chopped and blended.
Step 3: Place a fine-mesh strainer over the top of a pitcher and strain the mixture into the pitcher so that there are no chunks.
Step 4: Add in the sugar and stir well to combine until dissolved.
Step 5: Add in the remaining water and stir to combine.
If desired you can stir in one cup of milk for a cloudier look.
Step 6: Serve over ice in your drinking glasses.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and whipped cream.
👩🏻🍳 Storage
You can keep your horchata drink in a pitcher in the fridge for up to 1 week. This gives you plenty of time to sip away throughout the week!
💭 Recipe 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 benefits and rice is packed with nutrients as well.
This drink is usually made with medium or long grain white rice, but it can be made with other types of rice as well. Basmati, brown rice, or even jasmine rice can be used instead, but note that the flavors may change slightly with more flavorful types of rice.
❤️ More Delicious Beverage Recipes
If you tried this Quick Horchata Recipe, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Quick Horchata Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 cups water, divided ($0.00)
- 1 cup leftover cooked white rice ($0.00)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ($0.04)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract ($0.06)
- ½ cup granulated sugar ($0.18)
- 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.
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