---
title: "Horchata"
slug: "horchata"
date: "2026-02-10"
lastUpdated: "2026-02-10"
category: "mexican"
tags: ["mexican"]
dietary: []
cookTime: 0
prepTime: 0
totalTime: 0
difficulty: "medium"
servings: 4
author: "pws"
description: "A cool, creamy, and spicy Agua Fresca that’s perfect over ice."
featured: false
display: true
displayPhoto: ""
---

# Horchata

A cool, creamy, and spicy Agua Fresca that’s perfect over ice.

## Photos

A cool, creamy, and spicy Agua Fresca that’s perfect over ice.


## Ingredients

- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 12 oz can evaporated milk
- 12 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 8 cups warm water, divided
- Sugar to taste
- Ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

## Instructions

1. Rinse the **rice** under cold water. In a bowl, combine **rice**, **cinnamon sticks**, and 4 cups of **warm water**. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Remove most of the **cinnamon sticks**, leaving a few small pieces.
3. Blend the soaked mixture in two batches until very smooth, about 3–4 minutes per batch.
4. Pour through a fine‑mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a pitcher, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Repeat with the remaining batch.
5. Stir in the **evaporated milk**, **sweetened condensed milk**, **vanilla** (if using), and the remaining 4 cups **water**. Adjust sweetness with **sugar** to taste.
6. Chill thoroughly, then stir and serve over ice. Garnish with **ground cinnamon**, if desired.
Heed the instructions and blend in batches. Water easily escapes from the blender or food processor and this stuff gets everywhere.

## Notes

### Soaking
- It is worth the time to soak the cinnamon and rice, helping you pull out more flavor and end with a product that is less lightly flavored water and more of a thicker drink.

### Blending
- Heed the instructions and blend in batches. Water easily escapes from the blender or food processor and this stuff gets everywhere.

## References

- [Traditional Mexican Horchata](https://www.muydelish.com/traditional-mexican-horchata/)