Jul 14 2026

Horchata Recipe

Time3h 30m
Serves6

Sweet rice drink flavored with cinnamon.

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Base Ingredients

Method

Preparation of Rice

  1. 1

    Rinse the Rice

    Place the long-grain white rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch.

  2. 2

    Soak the Rice

    In a bowl, combine the rinsed rice and 4 cups of water. Let it soak for at least 3 hours or overnight for best results.

Blending and Straining

  1. 3

    Blend the Mixture

    After soaking, drain the rice and discard the soaking water. In a blender, combine the soaked rice, 4 cups of fresh water, and 2 cinnamon sticks. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth, about 1-2 minutes.

  2. 4

    Strain the Mixture

    Using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, strain the blended mixture into a large bowl or pitcher, discarding the solids left behind.

Flavoring and Serving

  1. 5

    Add Sweeteners and Flavor

    To the strained liquid, add 1 cup of sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 2 cups of milk (or almond milk), 1 tsp of ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.

  2. 6

    Chill and Serve

    Refrigerate the horchata for at least 1 hour to chill. Serve over ice and enjoy!

More from El Zarape Mexican Grill