Horchata Recipe

This horchata recipe is a traditional and refreshing Mexican beverage made with rice, cinnamon, and milk. Often called agua de horchata, it has a light sweetness and creamy texture that makes it perfect for warm days. This easy homemade version skips condensed milk and can be easily adjusted for vegan or lighter preferences. With basic ingredients and simple steps, this horchata recipe is smooth, fragrant, and great for everyday drinking or serving at gatherings.

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice
2 quarts hot water
½ cup white sugar, or to taste
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup milk (almond or oat milk works well for vegan horchata)
Ice cubes, for serving

Directions

• Add the rice, sugar, and cinnamon to the hot water in a large bowl or pitcher and stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved.
• Cover the mixture and let it soak at room temperature for at least 3 hours, or overnight for deeper flavor.
• Transfer the soaked mixture to a blender, add the milk, and blend until the rice is finely ground and the liquid appears milky.
• Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth, pressing gently to extract as much liquid as possible while removing solids.
• Chill the horchata, then stir well and serve over ice. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed before serving.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Soaking Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Yield: 2 quarts