The Best Vegan Rice Pudding

Nov 12, 2019 (Last updated Jan 9, 2024) by Hannah Sunderani

The Best Vegan Rice Pudding

Say hello to the creamiest Vegan Rice Pudding you’ll ever try! It’s healthy, super easy to make with only 5-ingredients, and made vegan with creamy almond milk. There is no better bowl to cozy up with and indulge for breakfast or dessert than this delicious vegan rice pudding. 

Why You’ll Love My Recipe

Most rice puddings are made with medium or short-grain white rice, but my version is made with arborio rice, a short grain rice with a high starch content. Arborio rice is notorious used in risotto recipes like this Vegan Mushroom Risotto. The cooking time is longer than if you were to use a short-grain rice, but  I find it to be the superior rice in making rice pudding because its so much more lush and creamy than basic white rice, like sushi rice or jasmine rice.

Plus, this recipe is just as sweet and creamy as the canned rice pudding, yet much healthier! We’re swapping the condensed milk and refined sugar with Almond Milk and maple syrup to sweeten. Serve to any vegan skeptic and I’ve no doubt they will love it as much as the traditional recipe! 

It’s no doubt that this rice pudding gives me all the warm and cozy feels. It was a staple recipe in my home as a child, which we would enjoy for breakfast or dessert. Finish with a dollop of jam and you couldn’t go wrong serving this sweet bowl. 

This Vegan Rice Pudding is….

• Naturally plant-based
• Gluten-free
• Ready in less than 30 minutes
• Healthy enough for breakfast
• Delicious creamy dessert
• Comforting
• Customizable 
• Toddler-approved

Ingredient Notes

Creamy rice pudding requires just 5 simple ingredients: 

• Arborio Rice – As mentioned above, the best type of rice to use in rice pudding is arborio rice. It makes the creamiest rice pudding without any heavy cream! 
• Spices – Ground cinnamon and cardamom add warmth and depth of flavor, making the pudding more enticing and cozy. You can even add a splash of vanilla extract to add extra warmth and flavor, too! 
• Almond milk – I prefer to use my Homemade Almond Milk, but if you don’t own a high-speed blender, try making Almond Milk at home with my quick 30-Second Almond Milk recipe! Or, if you prefer store-bought, check out my complete review of store-bought almond milks so you can find the best, creamy one near you. If you are allergic to nuts, use another plant milk such as Oat Milk, rice milk, soy milk, pea milk, etc!
• Pure maple syrup – Adds a natural sweetness without the need for any refined sugars. I like to add maple syrup to the pudding as well as drizzle some on top of the final dish right before enjoying. 

Scroll down to the recipe card for complete measurements and instructions. 

How to Make Vegan Rice Pudding

Making rice pudding at home is pretty straight forward, but there are a couple tips to nailing this creamy rice pudding. 

First, in a medium saucepan, stir together the rice, cinnamon and cardamom. This will help prevent the spices from clumping together in the pudding. 

Next, pour in the almond milk and bring to a simmer on a medium-high heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and cook the rice, stirring often for 20-25 minutes, or until the arborio rice is soft and pleasantly chewy. The key here is to stir often! Arborio rice is not like other rices where you can toss it in a pot and forget about it. Instead, arborio rice requires a lot of stirring to ensure the pudding doesn’t stick to the bottom of your pan and burn. It’s a simple task, but one you have to abide by nonetheless. 

Once cooked, drizzle in the maple syrup to sweeten, then stir again to combine. If the pudding is too thick for your liking, add a few additional splashes of almond milk to thin to your desired consistency. 

Lastly, scoop the pudding into individual serving bowls and top each with a tablespoon of jam, or other toppings of choice. Enjoy! 

Rice Pudding Toppings

I typically like to serve my rice pudding simply with a dollop of Raspberry Chia Jam or Strawberry Chia Jam and an extra drizzle of maple syrup, but there are many ways to garnish your rice pudding. Here are a few of my favourite suggestions, but just like with my chia pudding and oatmeal recipes, don’t be afraid to get creative! 

• Fresh fruit
• An extra sprinkle of cinnamon and cardamom or garnish with cinnamon sticks!
• Toasted nuts
• Handful of raisins or other dried fruit
• Coconut whipped cream
• Chocolate shavings, cacao nibs, or vegan chocolate chips
• Fresh lemon zest or orange zest 

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this rice pudding recipe with leftover rice?

I haven’t tried this recipe with cooked rice. For the best, creamy consistency, I recommend making it with dry arborio rice as directed in the recipe instructions. 

Can I use full-fat coconut milk as my dairy-free milk of choice?

If you’ve made my Creamy Quinoa Porridge or my Coconut Chia Pudding, you’ll know that I absolutely love cooking with full-fat coconut milk. You could certainly use it in place of the almond milk, but it will likely be much creamier and definitely higher in fat (coconut milk is high in saturated fat!). Instead, I’d recommend using 2 cups of almond milk and 1 1/2 cups (or 1 can) of full-fat coconut milk. This will yield a great creamy texture, without being too luxurious. 

Is rice pudding meant to be eaten hot or cold?

Growing up, we typically enjoyed our rice pudding while warm, but some people like to enjoy their pudding cold. When served cold, it can be quite a refreshing treat on a hot summer day. Feel free to add a splash more almond milk to thin the rice pudding if you find the texture is too thick when chilled.

Storage Instructions

Leftover pudding will keep best in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat over low heat on the stovetop until warmed through.

Once chilled, the pudding will be a much thicker texture. When reheating, add an additional splash of milk to help loosen it up to a creamy consistency again. 

More Vegan Dessert Recipes You Might Like:

• 10-Minute Vegan Chocolate Mousse (Mousse Au Chocolat)
• Gingerbread Chia Pudding
• Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal
• Apple Pie Oatmeal
• Steel Cut Oatmeal with Caramelized Bananas

I hope you love this cozy treat as much as I do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think and check out The Two Spoons App for more wholesome vegan recipes like this! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have. 

And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations. 

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