Rice Pudding Doesn't Get the Love It Deserves, Here Are Our 7 Favorite Recipes

I'll be honest- it took me a long time to really appreciate rice pudding. However, that changed once I went to culinary school. Before graduating, all students were required to work in the kitchen that prepared the food for our cafe on campus. We were all assigned to different stations and had to get out our desserts on display right before opening. Guess what I was in charge of? Rice pudding!

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Every morning for about a week and a half, I would get to class around 4:30 in the morning and prep for the cafe's supply of rice pudding. It was repetitive after awhile, but I actually learned a few things: rice pudding is now one of my favorite desserts and I can now make it with my eyes closed (but I won't attempt doing that).

Rice pudding is such an easy dessert to throw together in no time and there are actually so many delicious varieties. Check out our list of recipes below.

1. Vanilla Rice Pudding with Passion Fruit Curd

This recipe is similar to the rice pudding I would make for the cafe. It's full of floral vanilla flavor from the vanilla beans and is super decadent from the heavy cream.

I also love the rice used in this recipe. Arborio rice (jasmine rice works too) is a little thicker and doesn't get mushy or lost in the pudding. In school we would fill the bottom of a mason jar with passion fruit curd, but lemon curd would also be delicious. This is one of the best rice pudding recipes.

Here's the recipe.

2. Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

This is a wonderful recipe for rice pudding- it's classic comfort food and so simple to make. Combine the whole milk, white sugar, and long grained rice in a saucepan over medium heat and cook until it starts to boil. Pour into a baking dish and cook until the white rice is tender.

Finish off with some vanilla extract, raisins (or golden raisins) and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Here's the recipe.

3. Cocoa Rice Pudding

If you want to take a break from the vanilla extract flavor that's common in rice pudding, you have to try out this chocolate rice pudding recipe-it's also the perfect opportunity to use any leftover rice.

This recipe combines cocoa powder, brown sugar, whole milk and a few other ingredients for a decadent and chocolatey treat.

Here's the recipe.

4. Slow-Cooker Coconut Brown Rice Pudding

This super creamy rice pudding is flavored with coconut water, coconut milk, white sugar, vanilla extract, brown rice, and lime zest. Using the slow cooker makes this such an easy recipe to make for a crowd. Top with you favorite fruit or coconut flakes for a fun twist on rice pudding.

Here's the recipe.

5. Almond Milk Rice Pudding

This is a great recipe because it's dairy-free, gluten-free, and egg-free, so if you have a food allergy or you're sensitive to one of those ingredients, this rice pudding is for you! Almond milk, short-grain white rice, white sugar, and vanilla extract are combined over low heat.

This recipe also calls for a small amount of rose water, but if you'd rather keep it out that's fine.

Here's the recipe.

6. Apple Rice Pudding

I always have a ton of apples in my kitchen, so this recipe is perfect. It's filled with some ingredients diced apples, leftover jasmine rice, golden raisins and topped with a crunchy panko breadcrumb topping.

Here's the recipe.

7. Creme Brûlée Rice Pudding

When rice pudding and creme brûlée cross paths, this is what you get! Arborio rice, whole milk, heavy cream, vanilla beans, white sugar, and a little cinnamon cook together over medium-low heat until the rice is tender and a custard forms.

Before serving, a generous topping of white sugar is sprinkled over the top and turned into a caramel shell using a blow torch or broiler.

Here's the recipe.

Watch: How to Make a Southside Rickey