Slow Cooker Rice Pudding is the easy, hassle-free version of a Brazilian classic, making the perfect gluten-free, eggless dessert for any time of year. Serve it either chilled or warm with a sprinkle of cinnamon. So good!
Here is a long-time favorite made in the slow cooker: rice pudding — Brazilian-Style!
Every country in the world seems to have its own version.
This Brazilian rice pudding (known as arroz doce in Brazil) is made from rice, milk, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, heavy cream, and a lot of cinnamon.
Brazilians love it plenty sweet, so raisins are sometimes added too.
The differences are basically two:
- We used the slow cooker this time, sparing our hands of all the stirring and, as a result, saving us time.
- A short grain rice, arborio (which is the same type used in making risotto), replaces the usual long grain parboiled rice.
In this instance arborio, being a starchier rice, absorbs much of the added liquids and flavors, making the rice pudding creamier and tastier.
It also shaves off 60-90 minutes from the cooking process. In other words, it takes 2 hours to cook arborio rice and 3 to 3 1/2 hours to fully cook a long grain parboiled rice.
The result is a super creamy (even without eggs), sweet treat that is able to warm and please even the most demanding of palates. Just ask my children!
For a version made with eggs and medium-grain rice on the stove top, try our Super Creamy Spiced Rice Pudding. Another real hit!
This Slow Cooker Rice Pudding is a comforting, gluten-free dessert suitable for any time of the year.
How to Make Slow Cooker Rice Pudding (Brazilian-Style)
First, mix arborio rice, salt, milk, and either water or coconut milk. Add one cinnamon stick if desired.
Cook in the slow cooker for about 2 hours or until rice is fully cooked.
Then, stir in sugars, cinnamon, sweetened condensed milk, warm heavy cream, and vanilla until homogeneous.
Cook for an additional 15-30 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick, add raisins if desired, and serve warm with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Alternatively, let it cool, cover, and refrigerate until chilled. Serve and enjoy topped with a dash of cinnamon.
Making Rice Pudding with Precooked Rice
If the arborio rice is already cooked, the process will be considerably shorter.
Basically, place cooked riced into the slow cooker and stir in heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, sugars, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Cook for about 30-40 minutes or until sauce thickens, yet is still a little bit loose (i.e. still has a little fluidity). If necessary, add a little bit more heavy cream to loosen.
Serve either warm or chilled.
Just make sure heavy cream is the same temperature as the rice. If cooked rice is cold, heavy cream has to be cold, and vice-versa.
This will help prevent the rice pudding sauce from breaking apart or ending up with a curdled look.
Well, I hope you that enjoy our crock pot Rice Pudding as much as my family and I did.
PIN & ENJOY!
Easy Slow Cooker Rice Pudding (Brazilian-Style)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup dry arborio rice
- a pinch of salt
- 2 cups water or canned coconut milk
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cinnamon stick optional
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon (more for sprinkling)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup warmed hot heavy cream
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- raisins (2-4 tbsp) optional
Instructions
- First, mix arborio rice, salt, milk, and either water or coconut milk. Add one cinnamon stick if desired. Cook in the slow cooker on high for about 2 hours or until rice is fully cooked.
- Then, stir in sugars, cinnamon, sweetened condensed milk, warmed heavy cream, and vanilla until obtaining a homogeneous mixture.
- Cook for an additional 15-30 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick, add raisins if desired, and serve warm with a sprinkle of cinnamon. I prefer mine without raisins; otherwise it adds extra sweetness.
- Alternatively, let it cool, cover, and refrigerate until chilled. Serve and enjoy topped with a dash of cinnamon.
Recipe Notes
- Love rice pudding? Try our Super Creamy Spiced Rice Pudding.
- If the arborio rice is already cooked, the process will be considerably shorter. Basically, place cooked rice in the slow cooker and stir in heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, sugars, vanilla, and cinnamon. Skip milk and coconut milk. Then, cook for about 30-40 minutes or until sauce thickens, yet is still a little bit loose (i.e. has a little bit of fluidity). If necessary, add a little bit more heavy cream to loosen. Serve either warm or chilled.
- Just make sure heavy cream is the same temperature as the rice. If cooked rice is cold, heavy cream has to be cold, and vice-versa. This will prevent the rice pudding sauce from breaking apart or ending up curdled.
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
What a heavenly recipe. Using coconut milk adds so much rich flavor to this slow cooker recipe.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Rich, creamy, delish — what’s not to like? Terrific looking dish — thanks.
WB says
The rice pudding turned out great and was so easy to make. Super creamy and delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Iza says
Hi Denise. I was craving rice pudding recently but didn’t want to spend a lot of time stirring the pudding on the stovetop. I found your slow cooker recipe and was creamy and delicious.
Heidi says
Just made this and it is so good!
Denise Browning says
I am so glad to hear.
Elysia says
Hey Denise! Made this and it was very delicious. I did not see if you wrote to put the slow cooker on high or low. I did it on high. I want to make this again for new years eve. Which would you recommend? High or low?
Denise Browning says
Thank you for letting me know, Elysia! I have just updated the recipe to add to cook the rice pudding on high in the slow cooker. I didn’t make this on low because it would take 6-8 hours to make this rice pudding plus the additional time when adding the second part of the ingreidients. I am so glad you tried this recipe and gave me your feedback.
Becca Rehme says
Hello! Oi!
How much cooked rice do you add? I’m not sure what 3/4 cup uncooked would translate to in cooked!
Muito obrigada!
Denise Browning says
Oi Becca! You may use cooked rice to make this rice pudding, but please be aware that if you are making this recipe in the slow cooker your pudding will be mushy. If I was you, I would better adapt this recipe for the stovetop, cooking over medium to medium-low heat stirring constantly until pudding is thickened and creamy. Since you will be making with cooked rice, the rice will absorb less liquids so you may need to reduce the amount of coconut milk and other liquids. Know that 3/4 cup of dry arborio rice yields 2 1/4 cups of cooked rice (this means, any amount that you use of dry rice will yield 3 times more cooked rice). Um abraco!
ABBY Torres Soto says
Would the Brazilian rice pudding work if made in a crock pot?
Denise Browning says
Hi Abby! Slow cooker and crockpot are synonyms for the same kitchen gadget. It is the same thing!