Easy Horchata
Horchata is a classic Mexican beverage known for its refreshing taste and creamy texture. It's a perfect drink to cool down on a hot day or to enjoy as a delicious treat anytime. With just a handful of ingredients, you can easily make your own homemade horchata.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice dry and uncooked
- 2 small cinnamon stick
- 1 (14 oz) can full fat Sweetened condensed milk or ½ cup of sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 cups hot water
- 6 cups cold filter water
- 1 (12oz) can full fat evaporated milk or whole milk (you can use almond milk or rice milk as a dairy-free alternative)
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract , optional but highly recommended
Instructions
- In a blender, add 1 cup of white rice. Blend the rice on high speed until it is ground. Add the cinnamon sticks and 2 cups of hot water to the blender. Cover the blender and let the mixture soak on your counter overnight or for at least 4 hours to allow the rice to hydrate and soften. Once the soaking time is complete, blend the rice mixture again at high speed until it becomes smooth and creamy.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher. Lay a cheesecloth over the strainer, ensuring it covers the entire surface area.
- Pour the rice mixture into the cheesecloth-covered strainer, allowing it to strain into the pitcher. Discard any residue left in the strainer.
- Add 6 cups of cold filtered water to the pitcher. Pour in the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract. Stir the mixture vigorously until everything is well combined and smooth. Taste the horchata and adjust the sweetness by adding sugar if necessary. Place the horchata in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to let it chill and allow the flavors to meld. Before serving, give the horchata a good stir to ensure it is well-mixed. Serve the horchata over lots of ice to keep it refreshingly cold.
- 👀👉Note: Keep horchata at room temperature for no more than 30 minutes.
Notes
How to Store & Re-Heat
Horchata can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you have leftover horchata that you want to reheat, pour the desired amount into a small saucepan and heat it over low heat, occasionally stirring, until warm. Do not boil or heat it high, which may cause the ingredients to separate or curdle. Alternatively, you can heat the horchata in the microwave in 20-30 second increments, stirring in between until warm. Once heated, serve the horchata immediately over ice or at room temperature, garnished with a cinnamon stick or sprinkle of ground cinnamon, if desired.
Note that the texture and flavor may slightly change after reheating, but it should still be enjoyable.
Make-Ahead
You can make it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. To make this recipe ahead, follow the recipe instructions and allow the drink to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
When ready to serve, stir it well and pour it over ice or reheat as desired, following the earlier instructions. Note that its flavors will intensify as it sits, so it may taste slightly stronger if you make it ahead of time. Additionally, the rice particles may settle to the bottom of the container, so give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the ingredients evenly.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Horchata
Amount per Serving
Calories
180
% Daily Value*
Fat
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
0.1
g
1
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.3
g
Sodium
22
mg
1
%
Potassium
62
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
38
g
13
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
0.4
g
0
%
Protein
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
4
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
0.1
mg
0
%
Calcium
38
mg
4
%
Iron
0.5
mg
3
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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