Horchata

This creamy horchata recipe is indulgent and refreshing.

What Is Horchata? 

Horchata (a.k.a. orxata) is a sweet Latin American drink made from white rice. There are many kinds of horchata, including the cinnamon-spiced Mexican variety. The creamy beverage is served chilled over ice.

Horchata Ingredients

These are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade horchata recipe (you likely already have most of them at home):

• Water: This horchata recipe, which makes six servings, starts with five cups of water. 
• Rice: Blend one cup of uncooked long grain white rice with the water.
• Sugar: Sweeten things up with white sugar. 
• Milk: You’ll need ½ cup of milk for this creamy treat. 
• Flavorings: Take the flavor up a notch with vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. 

How to Make Horchata

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make horchata at home: 

1. Blend the water and rice together. Let stand for three hours.
2. Strain the rice into a pitcher and discard the rice.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Chill thoroughly and serve over ice. 

Can You Make Horchata Ahead of Time? 

Yes, you can make the horchata up to two days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. It will last for up to four days, but it’ll taste best in the first 48 hours or so.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“This is the best horchata recipe I have ever found,” raves Rachel Hanks. “I found that ground cinnamon floats on the top so I let 2 cinnamon sticks soak with the rice and water for 3 hours. Nice flavor!”

“Delicious, refreshing, and tastes authentic,” says Joshua Bentley. “Let it soak for more than 3 hours for even creamier richness.”

“I doubled the recipe to make enough to last 2 days,” according to jmeza602. “When I doubled the recipe, I also let the rice water sit overnight before mixing everything together.”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams