Low Sugar Arroz Con Leche

Total time50 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time45 min

Creamy, slow-simmered rice pudding gets its silky texture from whole milk and just enough time on the stove to let the rice release its starch and thicken naturally. A cinnamon stick and a peeled strip of lemon zest infuse the whole pot as it cooks, giving the base a warm, citrusy backbone before they're fished out at the end. A touch of vanilla stirred in off the heat rounds out the flavor, and a final dusting of ground cinnamon on top adds that classic finishing touch. Serve it warm right out of the pot for a cozy, spoonable dessert, or chill it under plastic wrap for a few hours if you prefer it cold and extra dense. Either way, this one spoons up thick, comforting, and completely at home on an Added Sugar–conscious table.

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Ingredients

6 servings

4 cups whole milk
a2 Milk Whole Milk - Half Gallon Organic Valley Grassmilk Organic Whole Milk Horizon Organic Shelf Stable Whole Milk - 12-8 Fl. Oz.Horizon Organic Whole Milk - 6pk/8 fl oz Boxes Maple Hill 100% Grass fed Organic Whole Milk 59 fl oz
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1 cup water
¾ cup medium-grain white rice, uncooked
1 cinnamon stick
1 strip lemon zest (about 3 inches), peeled with a vegetable peeler
½ cup sugar
Chef's tip
Use the same volume. Baking behavior varies by blend: some brown faster or stay softer, while others brown less. Follow the package's baking guidance and start checking a few minutes early.
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla extract

For serving

¼ tsp ground cinnamon, for serving

Instructions

1
Combine the water, rice, cinnamon stick, and lemon zest strip in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the water is almost fully absorbed, about 8–10 minutes.
2
Pour in 3 cups of the milk, add the salt, and increase the heat to medium. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula, until the mixture thickens and the rice is very tender, about 25–30 minutes. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a steady, gentle bubble — do not let it boil hard.

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