Vegan Coconut Rice Pudding
jump to recipeI love me some Vegan Coconut Rice Pudding. I don’t know about any of you guys, but it’s always been one of my fave snacks to eat. I like it with blueberries, with raisins, with pecans or walnuts, it goes with just about anything really.
And although it’s rice and I know peeps can be afraid of the carb this is not bad for you! It’s made with organic white rice but can be easily made with brown rice if you prefer. This cooks right in the coconut milk so there’s no watery consistency and it comes out super creamy and dreamy, every rice pudding lovers true desire.
I’ve played around with rice pudding recipes in the past and they’ve come out tasting pretty meh. Like bleh and meh. Through some trial and error I learned that you don’t need refined sugar to sweeten this bad boy up. Here are your options: maple syrup (which is what I used), agave nectar, coconut nectar, brown rice syrup, or if not vegan honey. I’ve used both brown rice syrup and maple syrup and maple syrup won for me, however your tastebuds might be different. No probs.
I topped this one with some cinnamon and blueberries making this vegan coconut rice pudding the perfect sweet comfort snack. On top of it being vegan it’s also gluten free! And May is Celiac Awareness Month. Rice is naturally gluten-free and one of the least allergenic grains. Since I know all of you are on the lookout for healthier, nutritious desserts, I whipped this up!
Watch this video to see how easy this Vegan Coconut Rice Pudding is to make!
85% of the rice we eat is US-grown! Farmers in AR, CA, LA, TX, MS & MO grow 18 billion lbs of rice each year. Enriched white rice and whole grain brown rice are staples in many cooking styles and cuisines, proving that flavor and nutrition don’t have to be sacrificed when following a gluten-free diet. Complex carbs, such as rice, supply energy to fuel your body and brain. Whole grains, such as brown rice, help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Rice provides more than 15 essential vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, selenium, and fiber (brown rice), as well as iron and zinc.
Research shows that people who consume rice tend to have healthier diets – they eat more fruits and vegetables, less sugar and saturated fat. Who knew all this could be in a single serving of a sweet and healthified rice pudding!?
Now that I totally convinced you to make this ultra awesome snack, what are you waiting for! This Vegan Coconut Rice Pudding ain’t gonna make itself! LOL
Vegan Coconut Rice Pudding
Ingredients:
- 1-15oz can of full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup white or brown rice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cinnamon (to taste)
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- pinch of salt (optional)
- 1 cup raisins (optional)
Toppings
- Blueberries
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- Coconut Whipped Cream (YUM)
Directions:
- Pour one can of full fat coconut milk into a medium size sauce pan and bring to a boil.
- Rinse and drain the rice well then add it to the boiling coconut milk.
- Let it boil for 5 minutes, cover, then lower down to a simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove lid, stir, add in the maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, 1 cup of almond milk, and mix well. (You can add in the raisins here as well if using)
- Continue to cook for another 10 minutes. The rice will have absorbed a lot of the milk. If you'd like it a little more creamier add another 1/2 cup of almond milk.
- Stir frequently so the rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. At this point you can also add more cinnamon if desired.
- Remove from heat and let cool for at least 5 minutes. Serve in glass bowls or cups, top with blueberries, extra cinnamon, and coconut whip. You an eat this immediately or I like to store it in the fridge until it's cool.
- For extra creaminess once cooled, pour a little bit of almond milk over the top. Serve and Enjoy!
- Keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days in air tight containers.
- You can heat this up before serving if desired.
Such a cool idea! I tried making this the other day and the rice wouldn’t cook with only one can of coconut milk so I had to add the almond milk earlier to make sure the rice fully cooked. I just kept adding more almond milk because it kept absorbing and drying out too much. I really like the consistency that yours shows in your video. It still turned out great though. It basically tasted like regular rice pudding to me, it was still rich, sweet and flavourful. Thank you!
Deliciously creamy, sweet and easy-to-prepare dish. I love the addition of spice to the coconut; also used risotto rice and worked very well. Thank you!
You’re so welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
Wish I had read the comments about stirring this at the start of the cook. Was a disaster. At a boil the coconut cream split and i stupidly carried on with the recipe, its really not well written. What a waste of ingredients. Try another rice pudding recipe as I followed this exactly and it was a flop.
I Love this recipe and have made the modification of using arborio rice. I also add a little coconut cream which gives it a more full body taste.
Oooh I love that, I will try it like this next time, thank you!
I definitely burned this when it simmered. It would be best to include that continuous stirring is important for step 3! I would like to try making this again.
Shout out to EU people. The marple syrup is too much! Half of it should do.
Boiling point of coconut is approximately 76C. Be careful not to exceed that otherwise it will quickly burn.
Good and easy vegan recipe overall!
Your recipe is PERFECT!!!
Thank you so much for sharing with us all! It works wonderfully with our non dairy fasting.🙂
Sophia thank you so much for your kind feedback! Enjoy Xo
I have not made this recipe as yet (got all the ingredients) I ‘m not sure about the maple syrup because I don’t want it to taste like maple syrup. Can I add sugar instead?
Hi Marie, it won’t taste like maple syrup but you can totally use regular sugar. However I’m not sure on the measurement for that as I only ever made this with maple syrup. So keep us posted!
I made this today in the instapot using the porridge setting. It is absolutely delicious. I did have to add about another cup of almond milk at the end and a bit more syrup, but will be making it again for sure 🙂
Hi Kristen what a GREAT idea! I have to try that myself next time. Thank you for your feedback and for sharing! Xo
I’ve made this twice, it’s softer with the recommended white rice-I used basmati rice the second time. Both times it was easy and simply yummy!
Olivia thanks so much for your feedback. Happy to hear you enjoyed it and I love the idea of basmati rice! YUM!
CARDAMOM! Real rice pudding MUST have cardamom. Boil about six whole seeds in the milk or pick apart the pods and grind the tiny seeds for a stronger flavour and it goes so beautifully with the coconut milk. This rice pudding is so good – my family like it better than the milk version. I use more coconut milk (the dilute kind) instead of almond milk, and muscovado sugar because it tastes like Indian Jaggery.
Hi Cathy, I’m definitely going to add it next time I make it thank you!!
Hi there! this recipie sounds super yum! can i replace the white rice with brown rice? I’m sure it will effect the color, but i dont mind. Thanks! I would like to try and make this for my mother soon!
Hi Lesei, thanks so much! You can however brown rice tends to stay harder.
okay, thanks so much!
Pingback: 25 Creamy Vegan Dessert Recipes for Summer - Eluxe Magazine
Definitely have to keep your eye on this recipe because it’ll get away from you fast, ie very prone to burning. Liquid evaporated out way too fast to boil or simmer for the listed times. Frequent stirring is a must. Did about half of each time listed (except in last step after adding almond milk, this is where the real cooking happened) and it worked out. Delicious recipe!
We followed this recipe to a T and it was a complete disaster! The rice (white jasmine) did not get soft at all and we cooked it for well over an hour. The first step ended up almost black after the 5 minute boil. After the next step the rice was still hard and the “sauce” was black but we forged ahead and added the almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla and sweetener. After the allotted cooking time the rice was not soft and the liquid was still black (which I was not surprised about). I was disappointed because I was try to make it for my granddaughter. Total flop!
This is a delicious recipe! Mine didn’t stay white though, it was brown. I guess from the cinnamon and maple syrup?
Good to hear! And it could be that for sure.
Did anyone else burn their rice while letting it sit in boiling coconut milk for 5 minutes.? Mine burned within 10 seconds. Any tips would be appreciated.
Hi Mike, you have to keep stirring it and maybe lower your heat a little so it doesn’t burn. Hope this helps! Keep me posted.
I just made this recipe and it was absolutely DELICIOUS! I’ve never even tasted rice pudding before, but wanted to try it. I’m so happy I stumbled upon this particular recipe. By the way, I didn’t have maple syrup and used agave instead – still tastes amazing. Can’t wait to make this for my friends!
Hi Melissa, that is so wonderful to hear! I love me some of this rice pudding as well!
Hey! Wanting to make this with some leftover COOKED white rice I have in the fridge. How should I ammend the recipe? Just put in less coconut milk?
Hi Laura, I would make this with the cooked rice the same way you just won’t need as long a cook time because your rice is already soft.Keep me posted.
Hi, I’d like to make this, but I have leftover COOKED white rice I want to use.. how should I amend the recipe?
Hi, would honey work instead of maple syrup?
Hi Candice, yea I’m sure it would!! Xx
Pingback: Top Rice Pudding Recipe With Cooked Rice And Reviews - Trending Yum - Trending Recipes and Food 2018 2019
The apparent consternation of some of your readers regarding making your recipe with brown rice is very simply resolved by PRE-COOKING the brown rice in MORE water than is the case of white rice, in a ratio of AT LEAST
3:1, water to rice, maybe even 4:1. Then proceed as usual with recipe, which I recently made with very overcooked jasmine rice, using a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil as I had no coconut milk on hand. The result blew the mind of my often finicky housemate!
Hi, thank you for shing this. I’m allergic to nuts what can we replace the almond milk with, will soy work?
Hi, yes soy would absolutely work!!
I’m so excited to try this pudding!!! I know it says 6 servings but how many cups total do you think this makes.
I’m so excited for you! It’s one of my faves. I’m not sure how many cups exactly, sorry!
I love this rice pudding and I’m not a pudding fan. I made it with brown rice (cooked about 10 minutes longer) and vanilla soya milk, I added rhubarb compote on top. It’s ideal to take to work for my afternoon snack and gives me a real boost. Thanks
Hey Toni,
This is so awesome to hear and thanks for telling us how you cooked the brown rice as others found it was coming out too hard. Happy Weekend!
Due to my Psoriasis/Eczema I can no longer eat any white flour/white starch foods. I’ve been looking for a hot breakfast cereal to make.So far I’ve made it twice, once on the stove, and once using my rice cooker. My rice cooker is the way to go!
What a great recipe! Thank you!
Hey Jennifer I’m so happy to hear! I’m going to have to make this in my rice cooker now too! Thanks XX
Delicious, but I used brown rice and it didn’t really get soft. Should I cook it longer before adding the almond milk next time?
Hey Max, Thank you! Brown rice is typically a harder rice that’s why I’m not a fan of it. But you can try just cooking it longer in the milk but I’m not sure how much softer it will get. Keep me posted.
I just made your Rice Pudding and it was amazing deliciously. It looks more like indian dessert style with the cardamom. Everyone liked it!! Thanks for sharing 🙂 😀
Hi Ana, this is so awesome to hear, I’m glad everyone enjoyed it! Xx
Hi, I’d like to make this using leftover cooked white rice. How should I adapt the cooking time if using cooked rice? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, I would adjust it by half because all you want to do is heat up the milks. Keep me posted. Xx
Although this tastes good it certainly does not remotely taste like the traditional pudding – therefore it deserves its own name to avoid preconceived expectations.
Also, because of the ingredients, it definitely does not look that milky white colour; that’s misleading too.
Ok can I just LOL for a second with the rice pudding police over here? It is rice pudding, just because it’s not made with dairy milks and refined sugars doesn’t mean it’s not rice pudding. There are no preconceived expectations, and the color is not misleading, this is what rice pudding looks like. Sorry (not sorry) it doesn’t live up to your rice pudding standards. Sending positive vibes your way, enjoy the recipe!
I enjoyed this recipe but thought your response to this comment was super snotty and unnecessarily defensive. You didn’t reinvent the wheel, you put rice in coconut milk and cooked it. No need to be so offended.
Hey girl hey, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. I was not super snotty or defensive. I was responding to a comment on how I should not call my recipe rice pudding because according to one person, it’s misleading. Not once did I say or do I think I “reinvented the wheel” on vegan rice pudding. Unfortunately, your comment is the one that’s super snotty and defensive over a separate comment that has zero to do with you. Sending positive vibes to you!
Great recipe. Thanks for sharing. 🙏🏼
Thanks David!
The falovour was BOMB, so creamy and kind of Carmely. Definitely luscious, however I am extremely confused on one thing, I used dry brown rice and it was very crunchy. It was not at all soft like rice pudding is usually. We you supposed to cook the rice before, beacause that was not stated. Overall still was delicious, but would like some clarification, would Love to make again with less crunchy rice.
I cook the rice in the coconut milk mixture with some almond milk however brown rice tends to be on the harder/crunchier side naturally that’s why I opt for white rice when it comes to rice pudding. Maybe leave it in longer the next time so the rice softens up a bit.
Very timely and delicious not only my son, who is a vegan, but, for the whole family. I might have deviated somewhat based on some preferences, such as adding star anise, cutting back on the almond milk, adding brandy soaked raisins and pistachios.
I recommend not using 1. sushi rice (it is the only white rice that I had) or 2.) pea milk (the flavor was good but the consistency was not right).
INGREDIENTS:
1-15oz can of full fat coconut milk
What is 1-15 oz?
It means just one can.
I made this last night and it was SO GOOD! I used coconut cream and brown rice. This will become a staple in my house from now on! Thank you for the perfect recipe!
Hi Robbin so glad you enjoyed it! Xx
Hi Jennifer – thank you for this recipe – I’ve been missing my rice pudding. Unfortunately, I can’t use the almond milk – do you think using more coconut milk would work in this? Thank you again.
Hi Louise, you’re so welcome! And yes! Any other milk would work just the same. I think coconut milk would make it even more creamier! Xx
Pingback: 10 Delicious Pudding Recipes – TrendsGirl
I’m really excited to try this recipe! I’ve been looking for a good vegan rice pudding recipe using coconut milk. This recipe looks like it is the one. Down in West Palm Beach, Florida there is an amazing hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant. Julie (co-owner with her husband) serves the most AMAZING mango rice pudding with mangos from the tree in her backyard. You can not imagine the flavor and I would not do justice trying to describe it to you. But sometime, if you can find them fresh, try putting mangos in the pudding. So good!
Thanks again for the recipe! Will try this weekend!
P.S. I enjoy following you on Instagram.
Hi Lindsey, Thank you so so much! I have to say I absolutely love mango sticky rice so I will not mind adding mangoes the rice pudding! I can just imagine how creamy and amazing the Thai restaurants is. Enjoy the rice pudding and have an awesome weekend! Xx