Description
Creamy, cool, and sweetly spiced, Classic Mexican Horchata is the refreshing drink you didn’t know you needed. With notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and rice, this easy recipe is perfect for hot summer days, festive meals, or cozy comfort cravings. Whether you’re looking for quick breakfast ideas, healthy snacks, or easy dinner drinks, this traditional horchata recipe delivers all the nostalgic flavor with minimal effort. It’s gluten-free, adaptable for vegan diets, and perfect for pairing with spicy or savory dishes. A true must-try among food ideas and easy recipes for any occasion.
Ingredients
1 cup long grain white rice
1 cinnamon stick
4 cups water
2 cups milk (or dairy-free alternative)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ground cinnamon, for garnish
Instructions
1. Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch.
2. In a blender, combine the rinsed rice, cinnamon stick, and water. Cover and soak for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
3. After soaking, blend the rice, cinnamon, and water mixture until smooth, about 1–2 minutes.
4. Strain the mixture using a fine mesh sieve or nut milk bag into a large bowl or pitcher, discarding solids.
5. Stir in the milk, sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined and sugar is dissolved.
6. Chill the horchata in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
7. Serve over ice and sprinkle ground cinnamon on top. Stir gently if it settles.
Notes
Use a nut milk bag or cheesecloth for the smoothest horchata texture.
Adjust the sweetness to taste before chilling—it can be easy to over-sweeten.
Soaking overnight provides the best flavor and creaminess.
- Prep Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 2.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg