Arborio is the stuff that risotto is made of. Its fat, starchy grain makes for silky, rich delicious rice dishes, even for dessert. One of my favorite desserts of all time is rice pudding. The silky richness from the arborio sends it over the top.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup Arborio rice
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Few dashes ground cinnamon
- Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
Bring water, salt, and butter to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the rice, return to a boil, and then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Shake the pan occasionally and cook until rice has absorbed the water but it still al dente, about 15 minutes.
Bring milk, sugar, vanilla, and a few dashes of cinnamon to a simmer in a separate saucepan. Add the cooked rice and cook at a simmer over medium-low heat until rice absorbs most of the milk and mixture starts to get thick and silky, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer pudding to a large bowl and cool to room temperature. Place in refrigerator until cool and set. Serve with whipped cream and a dash more cinnamon.
Photo: Arborio Rice Pudding Recipe

















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By rnformoms
on May 10, 2013
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If one could mix silk and sweetness, the end result would taste like this pudding. The arborio rice feels smooth and luxurious in the mouth while the sugar and spices elicit feelings of comfort and home. This is my go-to recipe when I just want to indulge in a sweet treat.
By kirstenparris@h...
Virginia
on May 04, 2013
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I had a craving for rice pudding and had a whole box of arborio rice that had been sitting on the shelf for a few months, so I tried this recipe. Boy, am I glad that I did. I did not have whole milk, but had whipping cream and 2% and combined a cup of each. I increased the cinnamon and used my homemade vanilla, and was very pleased with the results. The rice does take a lot longer to absorb the milk, but it was worth the wait. The pudding is creamy and lush and next time I will add some dried fruit, like another reviewer did--raisins and dried apricots. This recipe will be my new go-to recipe when I have a craving for rice pudding. The arborio rice puts this recipe over the top. Thanks, Dave!
By mmccorvey_11255400
Westmont, IL
on December 29, 2012
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This rice pudding leaves nothing to be desired! I must confess I did alter the recipe based on the reviews I read. I doubled the recipe and used half coconut milk and half cow's milk (I used 2% and it didn't affect the richness. My husband loved the fact that it was sweet without being overly sweet. I don't think I'll ever make rice pudding again using regular rice.
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