Horchata Recipe

Rinse rice

Place 1 cup rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water until the water runs mostly clear to remove dust and excess starch. Drain well.

Soak rice

Transfer rinsed rice to a medium bowl or jar. Add 2 cups of the 4 cups water and the optional cinnamon stick. Cover and let soak at room temperature for at least 4 hours or up to overnight (8–12 hours) for best flavor and creaminess.

Initial blend

After soaking, remove and discard the cinnamon stick if used. Transfer the rice and soaking water to a blender. Add 1 cup whole milk. Blend on high until the mixture is very smooth and milky, about 1 to 2 minutes (longer if your blender is less powerful).

Strain

Place a fine-mesh sieve lined with a double layer of cheesecloth or a nut-milk bag over a large pitcher or bowl. Pour the blended rice mixture through the cloth/sieve, gently pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. You should yield a smooth, milky liquid and a dry-ish rice pulp.

Second dilution

Return the strained liquid to the blender. Add the remaining 2 cups water to dilute to desired consistency.

Sweeten and flavor

Add 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the blender. Blend briefly (10–15 seconds) just to dissolve the sugar and incorporate the flavors. Taste and adjust sweetness or cinnamon if desired. If you prefer a creamier horchata, substitute up to 1/2 cup additional milk for part of the water.

Chill

Transfer horchata to the pitcher (if not already). Refrigerate at least 1 hour until fully chilled; flavors meld and any remaining sediment settles.

Serve

Stir or gently shake the pitcher before serving. Fill glasses with ice cubes (about 1/2 cup per glass) and pour horchata over ice. Garnish each glass with a light dusting (about 1/8 tsp) of ground cinnamon if desired.

Storage

Keep leftovers refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 4–5 days. Shake or stir before serving, as natural separation may occur. Discard if off-odor or mold appears.