How to make a creamy French rice pudding with reduced sugar and raisins - without the cream. Either serve on its own chilled or at room temperature with fresh fruits or compote for breakfast. For a more decadent dessert, serve with salted caramel sauce and toasted nougatine.
I have been searching for THE rice pudding recipe for what feels like eternity, recipe after recipe and I always felt something was missing, not enough flavor, too runny, too heavy... etc. This is my absolute favorite, it's perfect. The texture the creaminess the egg yolk richness just a fantastic, delicious rice pudding. Thank you! - Amy R.
French Rice Pudding: Hot or Cold?
When my Frenchman asked me to make a typical riz au lait (pronounced: Ree-olay) years ago, I thought it was a no-brainer. Riz au lait in English is just a French rice pudding.
I remembered what my Scottish Granny and Mum had done: rained in some pudding rice into a pint of milk, added sugar, cinnamon, sultana raisins and nutmeg, dotted it with butter and baked it for 2 hours until a caramelised rice pudding emerged with a film of buttery, bubbled skin.
We ate it warm from the oven as the reassuring aromas of cinnamon wafted around the kitchen. This was comfort food at its best, my Madeleine de Proust; that feeling of drifting back for a fleeting moment. I remembering Grandpa supping his rice pudding using an oversized spoon as my Granny, Agnes poured him more of the coveted extra cream from the top of the milk around the enormous bowl's rim.
My bubble burst. "Your Scottish rice pudding is so different to my Mum's. She didn't have skin on it; I remember vanilla rather than cinnamon, and we didn't eat it warm like this," gently prodded my Frenchman. My baked rice pudding needed to be more French, apparently.
French Baked Rice Pudding: La Teurgoule
So I did my homework and discovered that the French also bake their rice pudding with cinnamon. In Normandy they make a traditional Baked Rice Pudding Recipe (Teurgoule), cooked in a deep terracotta pot and bake even longer for 6 hours. The result is a more caramelised version without the butter.
How to Make a Creamy French Rice Pudding
So it was time to make an extra creamy French rice pudding like hubby had described. Known as 'riz au lait' (pronounced 'reeh-oh-lay'), it's bathed in a vanilla milk and eaten chilled. Personally, I prefer it at room temperature and can't resist sneaking a bowl of it before placing the rest in the fridge once it's cool. Who knew that our differences could be simply down to a cold rice pudding dessert?
This is a cross between two French recipes. Initially by Raymond Blanc's recipe (his Mother's recipe in his book, Blanc Mange). He adds raisins like the family loves it and 3 egg yolks at the end of cooking.
The other is Bernard & Dominique Loiseau's recipe (from 'Cuisine en famille') which uses 2 yolks and only half of the milk, making the rice puddings much more compact.
However, if you prefer yours more compact, reduce the milk to about 700ml (1 ¼ pints).
After many years, here's my riz au lait. Tried, tested and approved over and over by French hubby and our - now adult - baby bears. Enjoy it with a few spoons of homemade apple compote.
Which Type of Rice is Best for Rice Pudding?
The best type of rice is often just sold in supermarkets, labelled as 'pudding rice'. In France, this is simply 'Riz rond' which is best as it's short-grain, round rice.
Otherwise arborio or carnaroli rice (also used for risotto) are good too but if possible, get the round pudding rice. It's not only simpler but cheaper. I have found by using the latter risotto rice, it absorbs slightly less than pudding rice. If this is the case, leave to thicken longer.
French Rice Pudding with 2 Yolks
As we have been mad about making macarons and need egg white recipes, I love using a couple of egg yolks in this recipe. Added to the hot rice at the end of cooking, the result is an extra creamy version (without using any cream) and nourishing too, adding vitamin D and protein.
Temper the yolks first so that the eggs won't coagulate. Before I used to whisk the yolks and sugar together then add a little of the hot rice cream, mix together and stir into the rice pudding. Now I just take it off the heat and add the yolks gradually, stirring well for each.
Once the hot rice pudding is poured into bowls, leave aside to cool then chill covered in the fridge until ready to serve.
Master Crème Caramel: Secrets to 5 Classic French Desserts from Paris
French Rice Pudding with Caramel Sauce
If you like a more decadent French rice pudding for dessert, top with salted caramel sauce. For even more nutty caramel, top with this easy nougatine.
This is inspired by chef Stéphane Jégo's restaurant, l'Ami Jean in Paris, famous for his Parisian riz au lait dessert with all the frills.
Feel free to adapt the recipe using the zest of an orange and nutmeg. Cinnamon lovers will for something more warming in the winter months. Fan of Spring rhubarb?
Rice Pudding Crème Brûlée
Alternatively, for ultimate caramel and rice pudding fans, combine them together to make rice pudding crème brûlées.
Just sprinkle a thin layer of cane sugar (French cassonade) before serving and either blow-torch or grill them to burn the sugar on top. Enjoy with this rhubarb compote or top with fresh strawberries.
Vegan Rice Puddings
This recipe below is vegetarian, but if you're looking for a vegan rice pudding recipe, try these Almond Milk Rice Puddings. Top with fresh fruits like blueberries, raspberries or strawberries.
What Can I Make with the 2 Leftover Egg Whites?
Enjoy these three quick recipes to use 2 egg whites. What's more, they're delicious to accompany your French rice puddings.
French Rice Pudding (riz au lait)
Ingredients
- 100 g (3.5oz, ½ cup) short-grain rice (riz rond, Carnaroli, Arborio)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla powder or extract (or a vanilla bean/pod) *
- 50 g (2oz, ¼ cup) light brown sugar
- 1 liter (1 ¾ pints, 4 cups) whole milk (full cream)
- 50 g (2oz, ¼ cup) golden raisins
- 2 egg yolks organic
Instructions
- First rinse the rice and drain. Pour the milk into the large saucepan. Add the vanilla powder to the milk (or extract/vanilla bean scraped of seeds) with the sugar. Rain in the rice and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to that no skin forms on the milk.
- Add the raisins. Continue to stir occasionally while heating gently for about another 10-15 minutes or until the rice swells and it starts to thicken.
- Take off the heat (so not to overheat and curdle the yolks) and gradually stir in both yolks until well combined.
- Pour into bowls and set aside to cool - then cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Notes
This recipe post was first published 17 January 2013 but is now completely updated.
Amy R
I have been searching for THE rice pudding recipe for what feels like eternity, recipe after recipe and I always felt something was missing, not enough flavor, too runny, too heavy... etc.
this is my absolute favorite, it's perfect. The texture the creaminess the egg yolk richness just a fantastic, delicious rice pudding. Thank you !
Jill Colonna
You've no idea how happy I am to hear this, Amy. Our family adores this recipe and so I'm so happy to share this. Thanks so much for taking the time to review and tell us.
nancy g visconti
Hi Jill,
Happy New Year! Haven't made this yet. I was wondering if beating the 2 whites & folding them in at the end would be a nice idea? I know that's used with Tapioca pudding. Best regards, Nancy Visconti
Jill Colonna
Hi Nancy,
Happy New Year to you too. That is certainly a lovely idea. I do encourage you to make this first, however. The addition of the egg yolks on their own gives it a real richness which is what I was wanting from this recipe. Let me know if you like it!
Pascal
This is the creamiest rice pudding ever
Thank you Jill - great recipe x
Jill Colonna
Thanks so much for popping in to say so, Pascal.
Charlie
Jill:
Both of these look delicious, but I am more used to the version you grew up with.
I do like it creamy though. And Hot!
I'm going to try your french one, but am tempted to use both the vanilla bean and the cinnamon stick together.
denise
After the yolks are added, should mixture go back on stove to cook? The recipe doesn't say to cook them and I'm concerned about bacterias.
Jill Colonna
Hi Denise,
No need to worry. I say in the recipe that you're adding the yolk mixture to the HOT rice pudding and to take off the heat so the eggs won't curdle. Just by adding it to the hot rice, they will gently cook. Always ensure, though, that you use the best quality fresh pasteurised eggs.
denise
Thank you for the information. Following the directions I made yesterday. Delicious! It was good hot and cold. I substituted 1% milk to save on fat calories.
stephanie
Hi Jill
I have your book, and love making macaroons! I myself have made 6500 macaroons for our local good food and wine show last year, it was a complete hit! I have started a small blog type thing and will soon be posting one f your recipes, and of course, will credit you as well as mention your blog
keep up the great work!!
Jill
Thanks so much, Stephanie. When someone makes and likes these recipes, it makes it all worthwhile! Appreciate the feedback.
Jen
I've been such an absentee follower lately! I so hope that you have been well though!
Jill
Thanks for popping by, Jen. Yep, fine and dandy, merci! xo
Amy @FragrantVanillaCake
This rice pudding looks sooo good Jill! I used to make rice pudding all the time and you are making me miss it ;)! BTW...both these versions sound amazing to me!
Jill
Every day? What a rice pudding queen, Amy!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
I've never yet tried rice pudding in my life! I'd love to try both versions as I am not biased. 🙂 They look delicious!!
Jill
Seriously? Well, it does make sense if you're eating so much rice for the main course, Nami!
Mum
Guess what Dad is having for dessert tomorrow. I haven't made this since you met ze Frenchman. You sure have inspired me to do this. Snow forecast for tomorrow so trip to Marks and Spencer for food cancelled.
Jill
Well, home made sure beats M&S, especially in the snow 😉 Go for it, Mum!