This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Horchata drink recipe is creamy, sweet, and perfectly spiced with cinnamon sticks! When you need a cup of pure comfort, cozy up with a cool glass of this homemade horchata. It’s sure to hit the spot!

Horchata is being poured into a glass.
Email Yourself This Recipe!
Get the recipe link sent to your inbox! PLUS, we’ll send you fresh recipes weekly!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Does anyone else remember that song Horchata by Vampire Weekend? It’s an oldie at this point, but it always makes me smile… Mainly because of how much I actually love a good glass of authentic horchata!

I’ve had this famous rice milk beverage from coffee shops before that are great, and others, not so much.

Now, instead of getting my hopes up just to potentially face disappointment with a lackluster cup of horchata, I’ve mastered the BEST at home recipe.

If you’re like me and are comforted by the sweet sips of authentic horchata, this recipe is right up your alley. This is a drink that I turn to when I need a cozy treat during the spring, summer, fall, etc.

There’s never a bad time to enjoy a cup of this creamy drink that has just the right amount of sweetness and warm spice! It’s one of the few drinks that’s both chilled and comforting. Pour it in a glass or your favorite mug – either way, you can’t go wrong.

The only patience that’s required with this recipe is that you’ll need to let the rice sit overnight.

But that’s okay, because while you’re dreaming of your cup of horchata in the morning, the rice will be absorbing all the water and turning into a truly delicious base for this beverage! Then when you wake up, all you need to do is pop everything into a blender and strain it right into a pitcher.

So grab your rice and cinnamon sticks, and let’s make some seriously good horchata!

A metal straw is placed in a glass cup filled with horchata.

Ingredients to make horchata as follows:

These 8 inexpensive ingredients come together to create the most delicious, authentic glass of horchata ever! Say goodbye to the overpriced coffee shop stuff and hello to these easy ingredients!

  • White rice – Don’t use any other type of rice! Plain white rice is all you need.
  • Water
  • Cinnamon stick – Powdered cinnamon just won’t do the trick.
  • Vanilla – This adds another level of depth and sweetness.
  • Condensed milk – Hello, creaminess! This is the ingredient that makes horchata so irresistibly smooth and decadent.
  • Evaporated milk – This assists the condensed milk in making the horchata creamy.
  • Ice
  • Sugar – This is optional. If you want the horchata super sweet, toss a little sugar in there.

Can horchata be made with brown rice?

Traditionally, it is made with white rice. You can use brown rice but it might taste slightly different.

Can horchata be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze it! I would suggest using little cube trays or 1 cup trays (like Souper Cubes)

How long does it keep in the fridge?

Since there are no preservatives added to this, I would say this would keep for maximum five days.

Two glasses of horchata are placed on a wooden board.

Cozy up with more comforting drinks!

Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso (Starbuck’s Copycat)

Cinnamon Pear Fall Cider

Horchata Latte (use the horchata recipe below in this latte recipe!)

5 from 1 vote

Horchata Drink Recipe

Perfectly sweet, creamy, and flavorfully spiced with cinnamon!
Prep Time: 1 day
Total Time: 1 day
Servings: 8

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • cup (62 g) white rice
  • 4 cups (946 ml) water, plus the additional water needed to soak the rice overnight
  • ¼ of a cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 14 ounce (397 ml) can condensed milk
  • 12 ounce (340 ml) can evaporated milk
  • Ice
  • Optional: 2-3 tablespoons of sugar, if you would like it to be sweeter
Email Yourself This Recipe!
Get the recipe link sent to your inbox! PLUS, we’ll send you fresh recipes weekly!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Instructions 

  • Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse until the water runs clear.
  • Place the rice in a bowl with water and cover. Make sure the amount of water is just enough to cover the rice. Let it soak overnight. (You will notice the rice is lighter and has absorbed most of the water.)
  • Combine the rice, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk in a blender until it is completely smooth and you don’t have any more rice grains.
  • Strain the liquid into a pitcher and add the additional sugar if you would like it to be sweeter.
  • Add the rest of the water into the pitcher and mix well.
  • Serve with ice and enjoy!
  • You can garnish with extra cinnamon, anise or coconut.

Nutrition

Serving: 1glass, Calories: 247kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 114mg, Potassium: 323mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 31g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

You May Also Like...

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. Yolanda says:

    Hello there. I’m sorry to say that this recipe does not fit in what the actual “horchata” looks like and is about, which a typical drink in the region of Valencia, in Spain. This drink is genuinely made up of “chufas” (tiger nuts) and water.
    However, yours looks delicious.
    Cheerio!

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      thanks for your explanation, i appreciate learning all types of variations of horchata. the one i made here is a mexican horchata but the valencia, spain one sounds delicious too!