This homemade Horchata recipe is so easy to prepare, made with rice, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and water. It’s my take on the popular favorite.

Do you love Mexican recipes as much as I do? Check out my versions of Tacos Al Pastor, Elotes, or Tres Leches Cake.

Two glasses of Horchata in a glass with ice and topped with two cinnamon sticks and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

We love to make homemade Horchata at our house because I usually always have the ingredients I need, and it’s easiest enough for my kids to do. Plus, horchata is an extra fun addition to taco night. I can’t say this recipe is authentic, but it’s my take on it and I think it tastes incredible. (Here’s an authentic Horchata recipe from Isabel Eats.) Let me know how you make horchata, in the comments below!

What is Horchata?

Horchata (pronounced or-CHAH-tah) is a popular Mexican drink that is often described as a sweet rice milk beverage. Horchata is made out of rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon and is served in many Mexican restaurants.  There’s an important balance to the creamy rice and cinnamon flavors found in horchata and this homemade horchata recipe is my favorite.

How to Make Horchata:

Blend: Combine the rice, hot water, and cinnamon sticks in a blender and blend until the rice and cinnamon sticks are roughly ground. Add the remaining water and blend again. Pour contents into a pitcher or container with a fitted lid and refrigerate overnight (or at least 8 hours).

A blender filled with rice, hot water, and cinnamon sticks to make homemade Horchata.

Strain: Pour the rice mixture into a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a pitcher and discard the rice.

Horchata being poured into a glass through a fine mesh strainer.

Finish Horchata: Stir in the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar (to your preference). Chill until ready to serve. Stir well before serving and serve over ice.

Two glasses of Horchata topped with two cinnamon sticks and a dusting of cinnamon and a bottle behind it.

What is Hochata de Chufa?

Horchata de chufa is popular in Spain and it differs from Mexican horchata (or horchata de arroz) in that Mexican horchata is made with rice and horchata de chufa is made with chufa (also known as tiger nuts).

Recipe Variations:

Vegan: To make this recipe vegan, simply substitute equal parts almond milk for the milk in the recipe.

You may also like these Mexican recipes:

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Recipe

Horchata in a glass of ice topped with a cinnamon stick.
Prep 8 hours
Total 8 hours
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Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 2 Mexican cinnamon sticks
  • 4 cups hot water
  • 2 cups milk , or almond milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ⅓ – 1/2 cups granulated sugar , to taste

Instructions
 

  • To a blender, add rice, 2 cups of hot water, and 2 Mexican cinnamon sticks. 
  • Blend until the rice and cinnamon sticks are roughly ground. Add the remaining water and blend again. 
  • Pour contents into a pitcher or container with a fitted lid and refrigerate overnight or for at least 8 hours. 
  • Pour the rice mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, into a pitcher. Discard the rice. 
  • Stir in the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar (to your preference). Chill until ready to serve. Stir well before serving and serve over ice.

Notes

Serve this with one of my favorite Mexican meals.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 6gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 42mgPotassium: 185mgFiber: 2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 137IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 1mg

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I originally shared this recipe April 2016. Updated July 2019 and April 2023.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. This is a great recipe!! I enjoyed it very much!
    Dont throw the rice out! It can still be used. Make rice pudding, or other recipes calling for sweetened rice.
    I’m a firm believer in zero food waste!

  2. Can you specify the temperature of the hot water?
    I put boiling water in the blender and the rice absorbed all of the water and cooked as it was blending and it just became a doughball.

    1. 1 star
      This happened to me as well. I used long grain white rice. After looking at some other recipes, I think this one has the steps out of order. Blend after it has cooled in the fridge.

  3. 5 stars
    I’m obsessed with this recipe– the horchata is fantastic, so refreshing and delicious. It satisfies my sweet tooth while still tasting healthy and filling.

  4. 5 stars
    This came out really nice!! I was a bit worried about the vanilla extract and if it would make the drink taste alcohol-y, but the 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon at the end perfected it :))

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