This recipe was inspired by my father’s love for rice pudding. With a little Sicilian-style magic, we added cinnamon and orange zest to the beautiful custard to make it pop!
Classic Orange & Cinnamon Rice Pudding
A heritage-inspired, creamy rice pudding balanced with bright orange zest and warm cinnamon, perfected for an 8×8 glass dish.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Uncooked White Rice Long-Grain
- 1 1/2 cups Water
- 2 cups Whole Milk divided into 1 1/2 cups and 1/2 cup
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 Large Egg beaten
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Fresh Orange Zest
- 1/8 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon plus extra for garnish
Method
Step 1: The Sunday Simmer
- Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
- Add rice and orange zest, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed (15–20 minutes).
- Audit: Ensure rice is tender but holds its structure before proceeding.
Step 2: The Creaming Process
- Combine cooked rice with 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar, and salt.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thick and creamy (15–20 minutes).
- Whisk the egg with the remaining 1/2 cup milk in a separate bowl.
- Temper the Egg: Slowly stir a small amount of hot rice into the egg mixture to raise the temperature without curdling, then pour everything back into the saucepan.
- Cook for 2 additional minutes, stirring constantly.
- Step 3: The Heritage Finish
- Remove from heat and stir in butter, vanilla, orange zest, and cinnamon.
- Pour the mixture into an 8×8 glass dish.
- Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming
Nutrition
Calories: 204kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 157mgPotassium: 160mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 0.002mgCalcium: 114mgIron: 0.3mg
