American · Desserts

Creamy rice pudding

Name: Creamy rice pudding
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (100 grams) Arborio or medium-grain white rice; 3 cups (720 grams) whole milk; 1 cup (240 grams) heavy cream; 1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar; 1 cinnamon stick; 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 large egg yolk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; Ground cinnamon, for serving

Tender rice suspended in vanilla-cinnamon cream, equally comforting warm or chilled.

About 55 minTotal

About 40 minActive

$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 6 servings

Equipment

Any lidded pot of at least two quarts works; a very large pot loses heat faster.
Best value
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 2-quart Saucepan
View at Amazon
Built for frequent use
All-Clad D3 2-quart Saucier with Lid
View at All-Clad
Another workable path: Any lidded pot of at least two quarts works; a very large pot loses heat faster.
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How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We compared two-quart stainless pans for even heat, pouring, lid fit, handle behavior, induction compatibility, durability, and value. Independent side-by-side testing informed the tier distinction; manufacturer specifications established construction and care. Kwilt has not made this soup in these pans.
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 2-quart Saucepan: The responsive tri-ply construction and two-quart size suit a small soup while remaining useful for grains and sauces. Trade-off: Its conventional corners hold onto food more than a rounded saucier, and the finish is less refined than the All-Clad.
All-Clad D3 2-quart Saucier with Lid: The fully bonded body and rounded base make stirring and pouring easy while the lid holds a small soup warm. Trade-off: Its premium price is difficult to justify for an occasional soup if a basic lidded saucepan already covers the job.
Another workable path: Any lidded pot that comfortably holds at least two quarts works. Avoid an oversized pot if possible; the shallow soup loses heat faster while you finish the omelet.
Sources
The Kitchn saucepan comparison
Cuisinart exact model listing
All-Clad D3 product details

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 6 servings

1/2 cup (100 grams) Arborio or medium-grain white rice
3 cups (720 grams) whole milk
1 cup (240 grams) heavy cream
1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Ground cinnamon, for serving

Instructions

Combine rice, milk, 3/4 cup cream, sugar, cinnamon stick, and salt . Bring just to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently so milk does not scorch.
Reduce to low and cook uncovered 25 to 35 minutes, stirring every few minutes and more often near the end, until rice is tender and the mixture is loose and creamy. It should flow from the spoon because it thickens while cooling.
Whisk yolk with remaining 1/4 cup cream. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup hot pudding, then stir the tempered mixture into the pot. Cook over low heat 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until 170°F; do not boil.
Remove cinnamon stick and stir in vanilla and butter. Rest 15 minutes and serve warm with ground cinnamon, or press parchment on the surface and chill. Loosen cold pudding with a splash of milk before serving.

United StatesAmerican baking and dessert traditions

From the table

About this recipe

Rice pudding appears across many cultures; this familiar American stovetop expression is dairy-rich, vanilla-forward, and cinnamon-scented, with short grains releasing starch into a loose creamy base.

Rice pudding appears in many cuisines; this familiar American stovetop version is vanilla-forward, cinnamon-scented, and dairy-rich. Short plump grains release enough starch to make the pudding creamy without flour. The key is stopping while it still looks loose: chilled rice keeps absorbing liquid, and a splash of milk restores the spoonable texture. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Use the recurring short-grain milk-and-cream stovetop pattern, add a safely tempered yolk for silkiness, and make the loose endpoint and cold-thinning step explicit to prevent the most common texture failure.

Sources

Dinner does not stop at the recipe