13 Rice Desserts That Turn Those Grains Into Gold
Rice pudding is far from the only way to turn a bag of rice into an after-dinner sweet. Some of the best rice desserts are simply simmered puddings, scented with cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, or lemon zest. But you’ll find more ideas below, including an Italian Easter pie filled with tender pieces of arborio rice, an apple-butter-swirled rice kugel, rice pudding ice pops, and the classic combo of coconut sticky rice with juicy mango. Grab the rice from your pantry and scroll down to get inspired.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks1/13Diner-Style Rice Pudding
Stacy Newgent2/13Salted Caramel Risotto
To really wow your dinner party guests, all you need is unsalted butter, short-grain rice, whole milk and cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt—plus a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream for serving. The key here is cooking the caramel until it develops a slightly smoky, complex flavor.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova3/13Sticky Rice With Mango
Waiting for a mango to get really ripe takes patience, but this dish is absolutely worth it.
Photo by Joseph De Leo4/13Coconut Rice Pudding Pie
This pie begins with a sweet and salty sesame-stick-crumb crust, layered with coconut milk caramel and filled with creamy jasmine rice pudding. The recipe is adapted from the one once served at MeMe’s Diner in Brooklyn.
David Cicconi5/13Pastiera di Riso
Italian wheat pies are often served for Easter, but this version made with rice is a family favorite.
Photo by David Loftus6/13Cardamom Kheer
Grind unsalted pistachios, edible flowers, and a touch of sugar together in a mortar and pestle to scatter over the top of this creamy kheer.
Ditte Isager7/13Apricot Rice Pudding Pops
Little bits of dried apricot add pops of sweetness and texture to these frozen pops, which are flavored with coconut, lemongrass, and ginger.
Photo by Christopher Testani8/13Instant Pot Lemon Vanilla Rice Pudding With Whipped Cream
The Instant Pot turns rice pudding into a 10-minute project.
Jacqui Melville9/13Caramel Rice Pudding
Homemade caramel sauce dresses up this vanilla-flavored rice pudding, which gets richness from three egg yolks.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman10/13Apple and Honey Rice Kugel
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton11/13Microwave Coconut Sticky Rice With Mango
