4.8 from 95 votes
Horchata Recipe
Horchata is a creamy Mexican drink made from soaked rice and almonds blended with milk, evaporated milk, sugar, and vanilla. Its smooth texture and cinnamon warmth come from soaking whole spices with the rice and nuts, then straining to remove solids. Traditionally served cold over ice, horchata offers a refreshing and slightly sweetened flavor with a nutty base enhanced by cinnamon aroma.
Prep Time
10 mins
Additional Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 10 mins
Servings:
8
servings
Calories:
287 kcal
Course:
Drinks
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain white rice uncooked
- ½ cup almonds blanched, slivered
- 1 cassia cinnamon stick broken in half (also known as Ceylon cinnamon, Mexican
- 6 cups water divided
- 3 cups milk whole
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- ½ - ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon for topping
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under running water until the water runs clear.
- Add the rinsed rice, almonds, cinnamon stick, and 3 cups of water to a large bowl or pitcher. Cover and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, up to 24 hours.
- Pour the bowl of ingredients into a large blender and add in the 3 cups of remaining water. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 2 to 5 minutes depending on the power of your blender. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your blender.
- Strain the blended mixture through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag to remove any solids. This may require straining 2 to 4 times to remove all the grittiness.
- When completely smooth, pour it into a large pitcher and mix in the milk, evaporated milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Serve over ice and top with ground cinnamon.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use Ceylon (Mexican) cinnamon sticks for a softer, layered flavor; remove cinnamon before blending if using other types.
- If the horchata separates after refrigeration, stir well before serving to recombine ingredients.
- Substitute dairy milk with plant-based milks like almond, soy, or oat for a dairy-free version.
- Omit almonds to make nut-free horchata; no replacement is needed as the flavor will be milder.
- Replace granulated sugar with sweetened condensed milk for a richer, creamier sweetened drink.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1cup
Calories
287kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
41g
(14%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Trans Fat
0.001g
(0%)
Cholesterol
23mg
(8%)
Sodium
91mg
(4%)
Potassium
340mg
(7%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
22g
(44%)
Vitamin A
252IU
(5%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
256mg
(26%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 287
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cup | |
| Calories | 287kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 41g | 14% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.001g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 23mg | 8% |
| Sodium | 91mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 340mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 22g | 44% |
| Vitamin A | 252IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 256mg | 26% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.