Leftover Rice Pudding with Oat Milk and Chia Seeds

One of my all-time favorite sweet treats is rice pudding, especially when it's super creamy with hints of warming flavor. This creamy rice pudding recipe is just that -and it's made entirely dairy-free with plant-based, vegan ingredients!

This healthier variation of classic rice pudding has oat milk instead of cream, maple syrup, and coconut sugar instead of refined sugar. It's easy, delicious, and a vegan dessert (or snack) the whole family will love.

-full of tasty goodness! 

Made with the perfect balance of carbs, healthy fats, and natural sweeteners, this dairy-free rice pudding even makes a great post-workout snack! Ready to make homemade creamy rice pudding with oat milk? Let's do it.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's the best dairy-free and vegan adaptation of classic rice pudding.
• It's super quick and easy. Make yourself restaurant-quality rice pudding in minutes.
• This is a great way to use leftover rice!
• The flexibility; customizing your pudding with different flavors and mix-ins is simple.

Ingredients You'll Need

Making dairy-free rice pudding from scratch only takes a handful of healthy ingredients. Here's what you'll need:

• Cooked Rice: Jasmine rice is my go-to for rice pudding. You can also use arborio rice, short-grain sushi rice, or brown rice (for a fiber-rich option).
• Oat Milk: I love using oat milk to make rich and creamy vegan rice pudding. Feel free to replace oat milk with other plant-based milk like almond, cashew, or coconut. Regular milk is great here, too.
• Golden Raisins: Raisins add a pleasant pop of sweet flavor. You can also use regular raisins or chopped dates here for a slightly different taste but delicious nonetheless.
• Shredded Coconut: Be sure to use unsweetened coconut here.
• Real Maple Syrup: Maple syrup sweetens and thickens the pudding. You can also use agave nectar and honey (although not vegan if you need a vegan option).
• Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar enhances the sugary, sweet flavors. You can use maple sugar or date sugar instead. Light brown sugar also works (although not refined sugar-free).
• Spices: Cinnamon + nutmeg match for adding warm, cozy flavor.
• Vanilla: For the best tasting rice pudding, use a high-quality pure vanilla extract.
• Chia Seeds: Chia seeds at some contrasting crunch to the soft and creamy rice pudding while adding a boost of fiber and protein.

How To Make Dairy-Free Rice Pudding

Step 1: Combine and heat ingredients: In a medium-size saucepan, add cooked rice, oat milk, raisins, maple syrup, coconut sugar, shredded coconut, vanilla, and spices. Warm over medium-low heat while continuously stirring until the mixture begins to thicken.

Step 2: Add chia, toppings, and serve: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the chia seeds. Transfer to a serving dish, add your favorite toppings and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• You can add more cooked rice to the mixture for a thicker pudding. If you prefer a thinner pudding, use about a ¼ cup less.
• I love enjoying rice pudding hot off the stove, but it's also yummy served chilled. It's perfect for breakfast the next day. It will thicken as it chills, so you may need to stir in more oat milk.
• Sprinkle with flaked sea salt! This is optional, but a few sea salt flakes will enhance every flavor.

Variations and Topping Ideas

Add mouthwatering flavor to your dairy-free rice pudding with one of these delicious variations:

• Chocolate Rice Pudding - The easiest way to make chocolate-flavored rice pudding is with chocolate milk. Whisk chocolate syrup or dutch-processed cocoa powder into the oat milk before adding it to the saucepan with the remaining ingredients.
• Strawberry Rice Pudding - Whisk strawberry syrup into the milk before adding it to the saucepan with the remaining ingredients. Top with fresh-sliced strawberries and coconut whipped cream.
• Pumpkin Spice Rice Pudding - Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of pureed pumpkin and plenty of pumpkin pie spice! Top with a dollop of dairy-free whipped cream.
• High Fiber Rice Pudding - To increase the fiber content of the rice putting, try using brown rice or sprinkling in some ground flaxseed. You can also use quinoa!

You can also upgrade your rice pudding with a variety of healthy toppings. Check out some of my favorites below!

• Granola
• Trail Mix
• Dried Fruit
• Chopped Nuts- I love walnuts here!
• Whipped Coconut Cream
• Fruit Compote (raspberry, blueberry, or blackberry).
• Fresh Banana Slices
• Almond Butter

Storing and Freezing

Storing: Store your homemade rice pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Just know that the rice will continue to absorb moisture, so you will likely need to add more oat milk to thin it out.

Freezing: You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for 2 to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Keep in mind the texture won't be exactly the same once frozen.
Reheating: In a small saucepan, heat over medium-low heat until warmed to your liking. If it's too thick, add more oat milk.

Healthier Desserts You'll Love

Easy Vegan No Bake Cookies

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Paleo Chocolate Cake

Gluten-free Peach Crisp

If you love this recipe I would be so grateful if you could leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below. I love reading your comments and feedback!

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