Dairy Free Rice Pudding {Guyanese Sweet Rice}

Dairy Free Rice Pudding or Guyanese Sweet Rice is the classic dish you love but made with coconut! It’s sweet, creamy and delicious. Enjoy either hot or cold!

Rice Pudding is thought to originate in Asia and India where rice is a staple in both diets (Arcadia Publishing). Now, you can find versions of sweet rice around the world. In Europe it’s known as Rice Pudding and in Latin cultures, it’s known as Arroz con Leche (Arcadia Publishing).

Rice Pudding is made by simmering cooked rice with milk then flavoured with spices. The Sweet Rice I know is made with condensed milk and evaporated milk with red glace cherries and raisins.

In my family, Sweet Rice is made for Holidays such as Holi or Diwali. Even for special occasions like weddings or birthdays, Sweet Rice can be made!

Dairy Free Sweet Rice Ingredients

• White short grain rice: Any type of rice will work, but short grain rice is preferred. Always rinse your rice before using!
  
  
• Water
  
  
• Coconut Condensed milk – I use the Let’s do Organic brand which you can find at health food stores or well.ca
  
  
• Coconut evaporated milk – I use the Nature’s Charm brand which you can find at health food stores or Well.ca
  
  
• Cinnamon stick: Cinnamon sticks add a lot of flavour, just make sure to remove the stick before eating
  
  
• Ground cinnamon and nutmeg: My personal favourite spices to use in desserts, I have a page full of recipes made with cinnamon and nutmeg, check it out too! These 2 spices are warm and full of flavour
  
  
• Raisins: Add sweetness to the rice pudding/sweet rice with raisins, any type will work
  
  
• Red glace cherries: Also known as candied cherries, and is available at Bulk food stores or grocery stores
  
  
• Brown sugar, optional: For additional sweetness, add in brown sugar
  
  
  See below for substitutions

What Makes this Dairy Free?

Traditional Sweet Rice has condensed milk and evaporated milk. (I know, this is the GOOD stuff). In this recipe, we are substituting those classic milks to a coconut based milk. Although this sweet rice is made without those milks, it is still creamy and delicious!

How to Make Dairy Free Sweet Rice

1. Parch rice: Heat a medium saucepan on the stove top. Lightly toast the rice with margarine in the saucepan for about 2-5 minutes until the rice starts to brown.

2. Add water: Now to boil the rice, add water. Boil the rice until very soft. Turn down the heat to a simmer.

💡 Pro Tip:
For a mushy rice texture, add more water and keep boiling until your desired rice texture.

3. Pour in milks: Next pour in the coconut condensed milk and coconut evaporated milk. Then add in the cinnamon stick, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and raisins. Stir to combine. Simmer until the mixture becomes thick, about 20 minutes.

4. Add red glace cherries: Once the mixture is thick, turn off the heat and add the chopped red glace cherries.

💡 Pro Tip:
If you prefer a more moisture, do not simmer the rice in the coconut milks for too long. If you prefer a drier rice pudding, simmer for longer!

5. Test for sweetness: For extra sweetness, add brown sugar 1 tbsp at a time.

6. Enjoy: Spoon into small bowls, enjoy warm or cold.

The Dairy Free Rice Pudding recipe serves 8 people and store in the fridge for leftovers. Eat either warm or cold!

Substitutions

• Rice: Use any white short grain or long grain rice
• Raisins: Sweet rice can be made without raisins. Instead add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top!
• Cherries: Omit the cherries if you prefer!

Questions about Dairy Free Sweet Rice?

1. How do you store? After the sweet rice has completely cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge.
2. How long can you keep? Store the sweet rice for 5 days. This is a great dessert to make ahead and serve when needed!
3. Do you eat Sweet Rice hot or cold? Enjoy this delicious dessert either hot or cold. Warm up leftovers in the microwave or eat cooled from the fridge!
4. Do you taste the coconut? I do not taste any harsh coconut flavour.

💡 Pro Tip:
As the rice pudding begins to cool, it becomes drier. Before eating leftovers, stir in coconut milk to add back moisture!

Tools Required

• Medium saucepan
• Spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons

Check out these recipes

Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
Slow Cooker Chili with Kidney Beans and Corn
Dairy Free Maple Vanilla Chai Latte
Lactose Free No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake

Dairy Free Sweet Rice {Coconut Rice Pudding} by Ashley Bakes

Dairy Free Rice Pudding or Guyanese Sweet Rice is the classic dish you love but made with coconut! It's sweet, creamy and delicious. Enjoy either hot or cold!

5 from 13 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean

Servings 8 Servings

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup Long grain rice
• 1½ cup Water
• 1 can (360mL) Coconut evaporated milk*
• 1 can (195mL) Sweetened Coconut condensed milk*
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp Ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup Raisins
• 1/4 cup Red glace cherries, chopped
• 1-2 tbsp Brown sugar, to preferred sweetness

Instructions

 

• Heat a medium saucepan on the stove top. Lightly toast (parch) the rice in the saucepan with margarine for about 2-5 minutes until the rice starts turning brown.
• Add in water, stir frequently to prevent rice from sticking at the bottom. boil until almost all the water has disappeared and the rice is fully cooked. The rice should easily break apart.
• Turn down the heat to a simmer. Next pour in the coconut condensed milk and coconut evaporated milk. Then add in the cinnamon stick, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and raisins. Stir to combine. Simmer until the mixture becomes thick, about 20 minutes.
• Once the mixture is thick, turn off the heat and add the chopped red glace cherries.
• Optional: Add brown sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, to your desired sweetness.
• Spoon into small bowls, sprinkle with toasted shredded coconut. Enjoy warm or chilled.

Notes

Ingredient notes:

• Coconut Evaporated milk: This recipe uses the Nature’s Charm brand
• Sweetened Coconut condensed milk: This recipe uses the Let’s Do Organics brand

 

Substitutions:

• Rice: Use any white short grain or long grain rice
• Raisins: Sweet rice can be made without raisins. Instead add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top!
• Cherries: Omit the cherries if you prefer!

How do you store?  After the sweet rice has completely cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Do you eat Sweet Rice hot or cold? Enjoy this delicious dessert either hot or cold. Warm up leftovers in the microwave or eat cooled from the fridge!

Expert Tips:

1. For a mushy rice texture, add more water and keep boiling until your desired rice texture.

2. If you prefer a wetter rice pudding, do not simmer the rice in the coconut milks for too long. If you prefer a drier rice pudding, simmer for longer!

3. As the rice pudding begins to cool, it becomes drier. Before eating leftovers, stir in coconut milk to add back moisture.

If you tried this recipe, leave a comment below!
On Instagram, tag @ashleycbakes and #ashleycbakes so I can see your bakes!

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