Horchata

Horchata is a sweet, creamy, delicious drink found in most Mexican restaurants.  This Horchata is perfect for Taco Tuesday, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, or “just because”!

Made with white rice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, coffee beans, and milk, its creamy coolness is perfect to offset the spicy elements found in many Mexican dishes.

Horchata is a popular and refreshing traditional Mexican drink made of white rice soaked in water, flavored with cinnamon and a touch of vanilla, and sweetened with granulated sugar.  Horchata should always be served cold, and preferably over ice.

Why you should make this Horchata drink at home!

While you can order Horchata at a Mexican restaurant, or buy horchata mix at most grocery stores, there really is nothing better than making this smooth and rich drink at home, and you can make it to your family’s preferences. We enjoy our horchata made with coffee beans, but if you prefer not to include the beans, it is okay.  

Here are some fun variations!

Shredded coconut and coconut milk will provide a different flavor.

Fruit chunks will give your horchata a fruity flavor.  When you are blending the soaked rice, try one of these fruits:

Mango – add 1 cup of sliced mango, fresh or frozen (thawed).

Strawberry – add 1 cup of sliced strawberries, fresh or frozen (thawed).

Dairy free horchata – substitute almond milk or coconut milk; you may need to add sugar or sweetener.

Lactose free horchata – Use La Lechera lactose free sweetened condensed milk instead of the regular condensed milk

Diabetic – substitute a no-calorie sweetener (such as Splenda) in place of the granulated sugar

The best way to store your horchata!

Horchata can be stored up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Can my horchata be frozen?

Yes!  Put the horchata in a freezer-safe container where it can be frozen for up to 3 months.  Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and stir well before serving.

Leftover horchata can be frozen in ice cube trays.  The ice cubes can be added to your next batch of horchata or can be added to other drinks.

Here are some great ice cube trays because they have larger cavities and are made of silicone.

Is this drink good for my kids?

Absolutely!  Besides being a drink your youngsters will enjoy, the horchata drink can be made into popsicles for a special treat for your kiddos!

Can I make my horchata with alcohol?

To enjoy your horchata at an adult function, you might try adding a little rum, vodka, tequila or Kahlua.

Your Horchata makes great leftovers in the freezer!

Leftover horchata can be frozen in ice cube trays.  The ice cubes can be added to your next batch of horchata or can be added to other drinks.

Here are some great ice cube trays because they have larger cavities and are made of silicone.

Ingredients:

Long grain white rice – Traditionally, Horchata is made with long grain rice.

Cinnamon stick – you may substitute 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon if you don’t have the cinnamon stick.

Coffee beans – optional, but highly recommend! And make sure to use a high quality coffee bean. I used a Starbucks blend.

Water – Make sure that you use filtered water, and not tap water for this recipe. Fresh filtered water will bring out the delicious flavors of this recipe.

Sweetened condensed milk – Whole fat is preferable as the fat creates a delicious and rich taste!

Evaporated milk – evaporated milk is fresh milk that has been heated until most of the water content evaporates.

Vanilla extract – pure vanilla extract is the best as it adds more flavor.

Granulated sugar, (optional)

Ground cinnamon – for garnish

In a blender, chop the rice, coffee, and cinnamon stick on high until broken into small pieces.

Add the water, vanilla, and sugar. Continue mixing until the sugar has dissolved. Add the milk and blend until smooth.

Pour into a pitcher and place in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.

Remove the pitcher and pour the mixture through a strainer. The size of the mesh will determine how much particulates strain through. For no particulates, strain again through a cheesecloth.

Serve over ice with a cinnamon stick and ground cinnamon. For an adult spice, add some tequila!

My grocery list!

Some of the links to products on my blog are affiliate links. It simply means, at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a commission if you click through and purchase any product.

Thank you for your support!

Supplies I used to make this Horchata:

For this recipe, I used my food processer. This is the one I used:

If you only have a blender, that will do the job as well! This is my favorite blender!

Cheese Cloth

You will need a cheesecloth for this recipe to drain any pulp and seeds that may have made its way into the blender.

Strainer

You will also need a mesh strainer.

I served my horchata in a glass pitcher like this one to my family and/or dinner guests!

Or you can store these individually in these bottles that are perfect for the fridge and on the go!

These are really cute glass dispensers if you choose to make your horchata for a large crowd! They even come with their own stands.

Please do me a favor and share this recipe and post to social media so we can continue to bring you our free recipes!

And if you like this Horchata recipe, it would be delicious to drink with some of these other yummy dishes:

Mexican Rice – It is so easy to prepare at home and is the perfect side dish for any Taco Tuesday or with your family’s favorite Mexican dish any day of the week.

Air Fryer Pork Carnitas – Pork carnitas are healthy and nutritious, easy to make, and taste heavenly, so if you are looking for a new tradition for Taco Tuesday, you will be amazed by this dish!

Air Fryer Tilapia Fish Tacos – Air fryer fish tacos are so quick and easy to make – dinner is ready in 20 minutes and you get to enjoy amazing flavors as the fish and the spices combine with the coleslaw!!

Al Pastor Tacos – Al pastor tacos are absolutely mouth-watering, and will be a big hit at any family gathering – or any Taco Tuesday!

• Air Fryer Focaccia
• Air Fryer Korean-Style Beef Ribs
• Air Fryer Starbucks Copycat Kale and Mushroom Egg Bites
• Jalapeño Cheddar No Knead Artisan Bread Loaf
• Air Fryer Popcorn