How to Make a Deliciously Easy Rice Pudding With Coconut Milk
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Last Updated on June 30, 2021 by Katherine
I love a good bowl of rice pudding and I wanted to swap regular milk for coconut milk in order to create a dairy-free option. Plus, all you need for this recipe (beyond 4 ingredients) is a saucepan, a stove and a stirring spoon.

This recipe is also perfect for summer because it won’t heat your house up too badly and it will make a deliciously cool dessert or snack for you if you pop that bowl in the fridge.
Rice pudding is a dish that you can either make sweeter for a dessert or more savory for a dinner. I like the dessert option and today I’m going to show you my favorite recipe that is so simple and yet delicious with only four ingredients!
Always Start With Medium Heat

The first step is to boil the coconut milk. I like to use medium heat because you’ll be less likely to burn or curdle it (yuck!). It may take a touch longer to cook, but the results will be so much better.
Once the milk has just started to boil (you’ll see tiny bubbles), you’re ready for the next step!
Add The Rice & Spice

Once you have a nice gentle boil, you’ll add in your rice. For this recipe, you do a 1:1 ratio for milk and cooked rice. You’ll want to add in spices as well. For this recipe, I just needed a touch of cinnamon (only ¼ tsp). You can experiment with different spices, some suggestions:
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
You can also add a bit of a citrus kick by adding in orange or lemon zest.
Reduce the heat by about half and continue to let the mixture cook for about five minutes or until it has thickened.
It’s Time For Sweet

Once your pudding mixture is thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in a tablespoon of brown sugar. You can let the sugar mix in with the heated pudding for a bit and let it thicken a bit more before placing it in a bowl in the fridge.
Other sweeteners to consider are maple syrup or honey.
When you serve your pudding, you can dress it up with your favorite fruits! Or try a delicious fruit syrup, like Fresh Strawberry Syrup or Sauce from Carlsbad Cravings! Yummy!

Coconut Milk Rice Pudding
Most rice pudding recipes call for heavy milk, eggs or cream, this delicious and easy recipe uses just coconut milk, spices and cooked rice to make a yummy sweet treat!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
In the saucepan, over medium heat, bring the coconut milk to a slow boil.
Reduce heat to medium low and add rice and cinnamon. Stir occasionally and cook for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to thicken.
Remove from heat and add brown sugar and continue to allow the pudding to thicken to your liking.
Remove pudding from saucepan and either serve immediately or refrigerate until cool.
Final Thoughts on Coconut Milk Rice Pudding

I love to mix things up a little with coconut milk rice pudding. The dish can be heavier than your regular pudding recipe, but I find using coconut milk keeps things light and nice. Do you have a favorite rice pudding recipe? Let me know in the comments down below, I’d love to hear from you.
Also, I’d appreciate it if you’d share this content on your favorite social media platform or pin it to Pinterest to refer to later as well.

For more delicious summer food ideas, be sure to check out 4 Easy And Delicious Summer Dinner Ideas You’ll Love!
Until next time, stay crafty, my friends!