This Atole De Arroz (Rice Atole Drink) recipe is a dreamy, creamy, and decadent drink that is beyond delicious. Enjoy your warm mug of Mexican atole, the ultimate cozy drink that everyone will love! 

One mug with atole de arroz.

If Arroz Con Leche & Horchata had a baby, it would be Atole De Arroz. Think of this atole de arroz as a hot rice pudding drink. It’s sweet, aromatic, and it has a delicious dense texture due to cooked rice. This drink will be the one you crave during cold weather as soon as you taste it!

Atole is one of the most traditional Mexican drinks, a heritage of indigenous peoples that to this day continues to be prepared in different versions throughout Mexico, as well as in other Central American countries. The original recipe was cooking corn in water or milk. Over time, some spices, fruits and other ingredients were added to create more flavors.

There is no doubt that we love Atoles in Mexico. You can check out these recipes with different ingredients that make each Atole a unique treat: Atole De Pinole, Atole De Avena, Atole De Maizena, Atole De Fresa.

Two mugs with atole de arroz and a candle in the background.

Ingredients

The ingredients for this recipe are simple and most likely you already have in your pantry. Enjoy!

  • White rice
  • Cinnamon stick
  • The milks: Whole or 2 % milk, evaporated & condensed milk. Sugar can replace the condensed milk if you prefer.
  • Vanilla extract
The ingredients for this recipe on a wood board.

How to Make Atole De Arroz

A saucepot with rice and water.
  1. In a large pot, place the water, cinnamon and rice, let it cook over medium low heat for 20 minutes. Cover pot with lid
A saucepot with cooked rice and a cinnamon stick.

The consistency will be watery since the water will not be completely absorbed.

Pouring milk into the blender's cup.
  1. When the rice is cooked, remove a cup of the cooked rice. Place it in the blender and add 2 cups of milk.
A blender's cup with the rice and milk mixture.

Process until you have a smooth consistency.

Pouring the rice and milk mixture into the saucepot.
  1. In same pot, add the remaining amount of milk and evaporated milk, keep over medium-low heat until it heats through, being careful not to let it boil.
Pouring condensed milk into the pot.
  1. When it’s almost boiling, add the previously pureed rice, condensed milk and vanilla. Mix to incorporated well.
A saucepot with a milk rice drink and a ladle.
  1. Stir continuously to prevent the milk sticking to the pot at the bottom. Cook until it comes to a boil or has thickened slightly. Serve hot and accompany with your favorite pan dulce.


Tips and Notes

  • Don’t Boil the Milk: Heat the milk gently over medium-low heat, and avoid boiling it. Boiling can change the texture of the milk and may lead to scalding. Stir the milk constantly to prevent a skin from forming.
  • Experiment with Milk Alternatives: If you’re lactose intolerant or prefer non-dairy options, try using almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. Each alternative adds its own unique flavor to the atole de arroz. Fortunately, these days you can find dairy free condensed & evaporated milk.
Pouring rice drink into a mug.

Serving Suggestions

Atole is a versatile beverage that can be enjoyed in different ways. Here are some ways to savor atole:

  • Serve with a side of Pan Dulce like Marranitos, classic mantecadas, or banana muffins.
  • Enjoy it with your favorite breakfast instead of coffee.
  • Frosty Atole: Allow your atole to cool and refrigerate it for a refreshing cold drink. Add ice cubes and a splash of your favorite milk for a chilled version, perfect for warmer days.
  • Pumpkin Twist: During the fall season, incorporate pumpkin puree and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon into your atole for a festive and pumpkin pie-inspired treat.
  • Fruity Infusion: Enhance this hot Mexican drink with fruit flavors by adding pureed fruits such as strawberries, bananas, or mangoes. The natural sweetness and vibrant colors make for a delightful variation.


How to Store

  • Fridge: If you don’t plan to consume the leftovers within a few hours, store it in the refrigerator. Pour it into an airtight container or cover the original container with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
  • Freezer: Use a container specifically designed for the freezer. Make sure it’s airtight to prevent freezer burn and absorption of other odors.
    • Leave Room for Expansion: When pouring the atole into the container, leave some space at the top to account for expansion as it freezes. Liquids tend to expand when they freeze, and leaving space helps avoid spills and container damage.

Reheating

Reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave. Stir it well to ensure even heating.

A mug with Atole Rice drink and a cinnamon stick on the side.

Thank you for stopping by!

I hope you like this recipe! Do you have any questions I can help you with? Or if you made it, I would love it if you leave a comment or rating below.
Gracias!!!! xx, Ana

Print Recipe:

One mug with atole de arroz.

Atole De Arroz

Servings 4 cups
Ana Frias
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
This Atole De Arroz (Rice Atole) recipe is a creamy and decadent drink that is beyond delicious. Mexican atole is the ultimate cozy drink!
4 cups

Ingredients  

  • ½ cup white rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 large cinnamon stick (or 2 medium ones)
  • 4 cups whole or 2 % milk
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • ½ can condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Rinse the rice with cold water and drain.
  • In a large pot, place the water, cinnamon and rice, let it cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes. Cover pot with lid.
    2 cups water, 1 large cinnamon stick (or 2 medium ones), ½ cup white rice
  • When the rice is cooked, remove a cup of the cooked rice. Place it in the blender and add 2 cups of milk, process until you have a smooth consistency.
    4 cups whole or 2 % milk
  • In same pot, add the remaining amount of milk and evaporated milk, keep over medium-low heat until it heats through, being careful not to let it boil.
    1 can evaporated milk
  • When it's almost boiling, add the previously pureed rice, condensed milk and vanilla. Mix to incorporated well.
    ½ can condensed milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Stir continuously to prevent the milk sticking to the pot at the bottom. Cook until it comes to a boil or has thickened slightly.
  • Serve hot and accompany with your favorite pan dulce.

Video

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Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 678mg | Sugar: 34g

The nutritional information and US conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this is important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or unit conversion tool.

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Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was rich, creamy and wonderful! Two people drank the whole recipe. Large mugs. No left overs here. Thank you so much for this recipe.

  2. 5 stars
    I love horchata and this atole de arroz sounds similar. I definitely need to make it – sounds like the perfect warm drink for winter too!

  3. 5 stars
    That’s it my friends! I hope you like this recipe as much as I do! Please leave me a comment or question and I’ll get back to you asap. Stay well! xo, Ana