Transforming a cherished classic into a modern delight, this creamy Instant Pot Rice Pudding recipe offers all the nostalgic comfort of an old-fashioned dessert in a fraction of the time. Say goodbye to endless stirring over the stovetop; with the magic of the Instant Pot, you can achieve perfectly cooked, velvety rice pudding with minimal effort. This rich, sweet treat is a testament to how traditional flavors can be effortlessly recreated for today’s busy households, making it a perfect dessert or a comforting breakfast.
For those who love exploring global flavors, don’t miss this delightful Middle Eastern Classic Rice Pudding, offering a different aromatic experience.
Creating a truly luxurious dessert in your Instant Pot is surprisingly simple, especially when using pantry staples you likely already have on hand. The irresistible texture, a harmonious blend of soft, tender rice and luscious creaminess, makes this Instant Pot rice pudding a universally adored treat for all ages. It’s the kind of dessert that brings smiles to faces, whether served warm on a chilly evening or chilled during warmer months. This recipe promises not just ease, but a deeply satisfying flavor that will have everyone asking for more.
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Rice Pudding
- Effortless Preparation: Achieve perfectly cooked, creamy rice pudding in less than 30 minutes, significantly cutting down on traditional cooking times without sacrificing flavor or texture.
- Classic Comfort, Modern Convenience: Enjoy the authentic taste of old-fashioned rice pudding, simplified for your pressure cooker, making it accessible even on the busiest days.
- Versatile Indulgence: Whether you’re looking for a quick homemade dessert to cap off a meal or a delightful breakfast treat to start your day, this recipe fits every occasion.
- Decadently Delicious: Despite its ease, this recipe yields a rich, velvety pudding that feels incredibly indulgent, suitable for everyday enjoyment or special gatherings.
- Serve it Your Way: Delicious when served warm and comforting, or refreshingly cool straight from the refrigerator, offering flexibility to suit your preference.
- Impress Your Guests: The elegant simplicity and exquisite taste make it a fantastic choice for entertaining, ensuring a fancy dessert without the stress.
- Pantry-Friendly Ingredients: Made with common ingredients like rice, milk, and sugar, this recipe is budget-friendly and requires no special grocery runs.
Making rice pudding in your Instant Pot truly elevates the experience, transforming it from a time-consuming project into a delightful possibility any time you crave it. The pressure cooker method ensures the rice absorbs liquids efficiently, resulting in a consistently smooth and tender texture that’s hard to beat.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Instant Pot Rice Pudding
Crafting this delightful Instant Pot rice pudding relies on a few key ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen. Here’s a closer look at what makes this recipe shine:
- Jasmine Rice: Opting for jasmine rice or long-grain white rice is crucial for the perfect texture. These varieties cook up soft and fluffy, absorbing the creamy liquid beautifully without becoming overly mushy or sticky. The slight aromatic quality of jasmine rice also adds a subtle depth to the pudding.
- Granulated Sugar: The sweetness in rice pudding is a personal preference. This recipe offers a flexible range (⅓ to ½ cup) to allow you to adjust it to your taste. For a richer, deeper flavor, you could consider a small portion of brown sugar, though white granulated sugar is traditional for a clean, sweet profile.
- Whole Milk: The star of creaminess! Whole milk provides the luxurious, rich base that is essential for a truly decadent rice pudding. While other milks can be substituted (see variations), whole milk delivers the classic, full-bodied texture.
- Hot Water: A small amount of hot water helps the rice cook faster and more evenly in the Instant Pot, ensuring perfect results.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is a must-have, lending its warm, inviting aroma and flavor that complements the creamy sweetness. Don’t skimp on quality here; it makes a difference.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Added at the end, heavy cream boosts the richness and contributes to that irresistible velvety consistency. It’s what transforms a good rice pudding into an extraordinary one.
- Cornstarch: This acts as a thickening agent, ensuring your pudding achieves that perfect, luscious body. It’s mixed with heavy cream to prevent lumps.
These simple ingredients, when combined and cooked under pressure, create a dessert that is both comforting and sophisticated.
Step-by-Step Instant Pot Rice Pudding Instructions
This is a simplified overview. For detailed measurements and a printable recipe card, please refer to the section below.
- Combine Ingredients: In the inner pot of your Instant Pot, add the uncooked rice, granulated sugar, 2½ cups of the whole milk, hot water, and vanilla extract. Stir everything thoroughly until the sugar is fully dissolved, ensuring a consistent sweetness throughout. This initial mix is crucial for flavor development.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and make sure the sealing valve is in the “Sealing” position. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on HIGH for 10 minutes. The pressure cooking process is where the magic happens, transforming the rice into a tender, creamy base.
- Release Pressure: Once the cooking cycle is complete, carefully perform a manual quick pressure release by turning the sealing valve to “Venting.” Be mindful of the steam. Once the float valve drops, you can safely open the lid.
- Prepare Thickening Slurry: While the Instant Pot is releasing pressure or immediately after, whisk together the remaining ½ cup of heavy cream and cornstarch in a small separate bowl until smooth. This slurry will be added later to achieve the desired pudding consistency.
- Thicken on Sauté Mode: Switch your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function (on Normal setting). Pour the heavy cream and cornstarch mixture into the rice pudding. Stir continuously for a few minutes until the pudding visibly thickens to your desired consistency. It will thicken further as it cools.
- Serve and Garnish: Carefully ladle the warm rice pudding into individual serving cups or bowls. Garnish generously with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, plump raisins, or crunchy chopped nuts as desired. Serve immediately for a warm, comforting treat, or chill for a refreshing cold dessert.
Expert Tips for the Best Instant Pot Rice Pudding
- Rinsing the Rice: While not strictly necessary for rice pudding, some prefer to quickly rinse the jasmine rice before cooking to remove excess starch. This can lead to a slightly less sticky, more distinct grain texture, though it’s often omitted for a creamier, starchier result, which is desirable in pudding.
- Sweetness Adjustment: The sugar amount is a guideline. Feel free to adjust it to your personal preference. Taste the pudding before adding the cornstarch mixture and adjust sweetness if needed. You can always add a touch more sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup after cooking if you prefer it sweeter.
- Don’t Skimp on Whole Milk: For that truly luxurious, rich texture, whole milk is highly recommended. Lower-fat milks can be used but will result in a thinner, less creamy pudding.
- Preventing Burn Notices: Ensure you scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot well after adding initial ingredients to prevent any rice grains or sugar from sticking and potentially causing a “Burn” notice during pressure cooking.
- Cornstarch Slurry: Always mix cornstarch with a cold liquid (like the heavy cream in this recipe) before adding it to a hot mixture. This prevents lumps and ensures a smooth, even thickening.
- Stirring on Sauté: Once on “Sauté” mode with the cornstarch mixture, stir frequently and gently to prevent the pudding from sticking to the bottom and ensure even thickening.
- Cinnamon Integration: While cinnamon is traditionally used as a garnish, some cooks like to add a pinch of ground cinnamon (or a cinnamon stick) to the Instant Pot during the initial cooking phase for a deeper, infused spice flavor. Experiment to find your preference!
- Adjusting Consistency: Rice pudding tends to thicken significantly as it cools. If you prefer a looser consistency, you can stir in an additional splash of warm milk (or the remaining cup if you reserved it) after it has thickened on the sauté setting.
Storing Your Delicious Rice Pudding
- Cooling Safely: Once your Instant Pot rice pudding is cooked, allow it to cool down to room temperature on your counter, but no longer than 1-2 hours. This prevents condensation from forming in the container, which can lead to a watery texture.
- Refrigeration: For optimal freshness and safety, transfer the cooled rice pudding to an airtight container. It should be stored in the refrigerator and will maintain its quality for 3 to 4 days. Always ensure it’s tightly covered to prevent it from absorbing other odors from your fridge.
- Freezing: While possible, freezing rice pudding can sometimes alter its texture, making it a bit grainier upon thawing due to the dairy content. If you choose to freeze it, portion it into individual airtight freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- Smell Test: Since rice pudding is dairy-based, it’s always wise to give it a quick smell test before consuming any leftovers, especially if it’s been in the refrigerator for a few days. Any sour or off-smell indicates it should be discarded.
Make-Ahead Convenience
One of the many advantages of this Instant Pot rice pudding recipe is its suitability for meal prepping or making ahead for entertaining. You can prepare a batch in advance, allowing it to cool completely at room temperature (again, for no more than 1-2 hours for food safety). Once cooled, refrigerate it in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve. This makes it an ideal dessert for gatherings or a convenient breakfast option for busy mornings, as the flavors often meld and deepen overnight, enhancing its deliciousness.
Serving Suggestions & Toppings
The beauty of rice pudding lies in its versatility, not just in preparation but also in how it’s served. Spoon your freshly made or chilled rice pudding into your favorite dessert cups, charming ramekins, or simply enjoy it directly from the Instant Pot into cozy bowls. The topping possibilities are endless and allow for personal customization:
- Classic Spices: A simple dusting of ground cinnamon or nutmeg is a timeless choice, enhancing the pudding’s warmth and aroma.
- Dried Fruits: Golden raisins, chopped dried apricots, cranberries, or dates add bursts of chewiness and concentrated sweetness.
- Nuts: Toasted slivered almonds, chopped pistachios, pecans, or walnuts offer a delightful crunch and nutty flavor contrast.
- Fresh Fruits: Sliced bananas, berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), or diced mango can add a fresh, vibrant element, especially when serving cold.
- Sweet Syrups: A drizzle of maple syrup, honey, or a touch of caramel sauce can elevate the dessert to new heights of indulgence.
- Chocolate Lovers: For a decadent twist, sprinkle in some mini chocolate chips or grate a bit of dark chocolate over the top.
- Coconut Flakes: Toasted coconut flakes can add a tropical aroma and a lovely texture.
Experiment with combinations to find your perfect rice pudding experience!
Delicious Variations to Explore
- Dairy-Free Delight: For a non-dairy version, simply substitute the whole milk and heavy whipping cream with full-fat coconut milk or your favorite unsweetened almond milk. The coconut milk will impart a lovely subtle tropical flavor.
- Sweetener Alternatives: If you’re looking to reduce refined sugar or prefer natural sweeteners, replace the granulated sugar with maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar substitute like erythritol or stevia (adjusting to taste). Honey can also be used for a distinct flavor profile.
- Flavor Infusions:
- Citrus Zest: Add a teaspoon of fresh orange or lemon zest during cooking for a bright, aromatic lift.
- Cardamom: For a Middle Eastern touch, add a pinch of ground cardamom along with the vanilla.
- Spiced Pudding: Incorporate a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a tiny dash of cloves for a warming, spiced rice pudding.
- Chocolate Rice Pudding: Stir in a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder with the dry ingredients, or melt in some dark chocolate chips after cooking.
- Topping Extravaganza: Go beyond the basics with your toppings! Consider candied nuts, a dollop of fruit compote, a swirl of whipped cream, or a sprinkle of shredded coconut.
- Egg-Enriched: For an even richer, custardy texture, you can temper an egg yolk with a small amount of the hot pudding mixture, then stir it back into the pot during the sauté phase, allowing it to cook for a minute or two until slightly thickened.
Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Rice Pudding
Long grain white rice is traditionally favored for rice pudding because it cooks up soft and fluffy, absorbing the liquids beautifully to create a creamy texture without becoming overly sticky. Jasmine or Basmati rice are excellent choices, offering a pleasant aroma and consistent results in the Instant Pot.
Absolutely! Rice pudding is wonderfully delicious when served cold, but if you prefer it warm, you can easily reheat it. Gently warm it in a saucepan on the stove over low heat, stirring frequently, or in the microwave in short intervals. If it has thickened considerably in the refrigerator, add a little extra milk (about a tablespoon or two at a time) while reheating to thin it out to your desired consistency.
The thickness of rice pudding can vary based on the type of rice, precise measurements, and even individual Instant Pot models. If it’s too thick, simply stir in additional warm milk until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too thin after the initial cooking and cornstarch step, you can return it to the Instant Pot on “Sauté” mode for a few more minutes, stirring constantly, to allow more liquid to evaporate and thicken the pudding further. Alternatively, you can dissolve a tiny bit more cornstarch in a tablespoon of cold milk and add it to the simmering pudding.
While white rice is traditional, brown rice can be used, but it will result in a chewier texture and may require a longer cooking time and more liquid in the Instant Pot. The flavor profile will also be nuttier. If you choose brown rice, you might need to increase the pressure cooking time by 5-10 minutes and adjust the liquid content to ensure it softens properly.
More Delightful Dessert & Savory Rice Recipes
If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and deliciousness of this Instant Pot rice pudding, you’re in for a treat with these other fantastic recipes from our kitchen:
- Creamy Milk Pudding (Mahalabia) is an elegant, quick-to-prepare dessert from the Middle East, offering a delicate flavor that can be easily customized with various essences.
- Homemade Pistachio Pudding from Scratch boasts a rich, nutty pistachio flavor in a delightful egg-free recipe, perfect for pistachio lovers.
- Explore a unique twist with Apple Milk Pudding, a comforting dessert that combines the sweetness of apples with a creamy base.
- Om Ali, a traditional Egyptian bread pudding, features layers of flaky puff pastry, nuts, raisins, and shredded coconut soaked in sweetened milk – a perfect winter indulgence.
- For a touch of French sophistication, try this Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, a creamy rich French custard topped with irresistible crunchy caramelized sugar.
Savory Rice Recipes to Try Next
Beyond sweet puddings, rice is a versatile staple in many savory dishes. Here are a couple of our favorites:
- Discover the ultimate one-pot meal with Creamy Baked Chicken and Rice. This dish combines rich, lightly seasoned rice with super tender chicken, a true crowd-pleaser that’s incredibly satisfying.
- Our Chicken and Yellow Rice with Peas recipe is not only easy to prepare but also bursting with flavor, making it an excellent choice for dinner parties or casual family meals.
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Instant Pot Rice Pudding
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Equipment
- 1 Instant pot
Ingredients
- ¾ cup jasmine rice 150g
- ⅓ – ½ cup granulated sugar 75g
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3½ cups whole milk divided
- 1½ cup hot water
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
Optional for garnishing
- ground cinnamon
- raisins
- chopped nuts
Instructions
- In the Instant Pot, combine rice, sugar, 2½ cups of milk, hot water, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly to dissolve the sugar.
- Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.
- Once cooking is complete, perform a manual pressure release, then carefully open the lid.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the cold heavy cream until smooth.
- Turn the Instant Pot to the “Sauté” option.
- Pour the heavy cream and cornstarch mixture into the rice pudding. Stir continuously for a few minutes until the pudding thickens to your desired consistency.
- Ladle into serving cups or plates. Garnish with ground cinnamon, chopped nuts, or raisins as you prefer.
- Serve your creamy Instant Pot rice pudding warm or chilled.
Notes
- While cinnamon is typically a garnish, some home cooks prefer to add a pinch directly to the rice during the cooking process for an infused flavor.
- Rice pudding tends to thicken significantly as it cools. If you prefer a thinner consistency, feel free to stir in the remaining cup of whole milk (or a portion of it) after the pudding has thickened on “Sauté” mode. I personally enjoy a slightly looser rice pudding, so I often thin it out this way.
- Please refer to our nutrition disclaimer policy for more information regarding nutritional values.