Slow Cooker Rice Pudding

🥣 Slow Cooker Rice Pudding

This recipe yields a rich, old-fashioned pudding that is perfectly sweetened with a hint of warmth from vanilla and nutmeg.

Ingredient	Quantity	Notes
Arborio or Short-Grain White Rice	1 cup	Uncooked; do not rinse.
Whole Milk	4 cups	For maximum creaminess.
Heavy Cream	1/2 cup	Adds a luxurious mouthfeel.
Granulated Sugar	1/2 cup	Adjust to your sweetness preference.
Unsalted Butter	2 tbsp	Melted or cubed.
Vanilla Extract	1 tbsp	Pure extract is best.
Ground Cinnamon	1/2 tsp	Plus more for dusting.
Salt	1/4 tsp	To balance the sweetness.
Ground Nutmeg	A pinch	Optional, for depth.

Grease the Pot: Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with butter or non-stick spray to prevent the rice from sticking to the edges.
Combine: Add the rice, milk, heavy cream, sugar, butter, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg to the slow cooker. Stir well to ensure the sugar is dissolved.
Cook: Cover and cook on High for 2.5 to 3 hours or Low for 4 to 5 hours.
Check for Doneness: Around the 2.5-hour mark (on high), check the rice. It should be tender, and the liquid should be thickened but still slightly “soupy.” It will thicken significantly as it cools.
Final Touch: Stir in the vanilla extract once the cooking is finished to preserve its bright flavor.
Serve: Serve warm, or spoon into bowls and refrigerate to serve chilled.

The Rice Matters: Use Arborio (risotto rice) or Short-Grain rice. These varieties have higher starch content, which creates that signature “gooey” pudding texture. Long-grain rice stays too individual and firm.
Don’t Overcook: If you leave it too long, it will turn into a solid block. If it gets too thick, simply stir in a splash of warm milk before serving.
The “Skin”: If you love the “skin” on top of baked rice pudding, sprinkle a little extra sugar and cinnamon on top during the last 30 minutes and don’t stir it.

Easily Digestible: Rice is gentle on the stomach, making this a great comfort food for recovery.
Calcium-Rich: Thanks to the high milk content, one serving provides a significant dose of calcium for bone health.
Gluten-Free: Naturally gluten-free, provided your spices and extracts are certified.