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BA’s Best Rice Pudding

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We know raisins are controversial in rice pudding, so rather than fan the flames, we kept them separate. (But guys, there’s rum.)Alex Lau

We know raisins are controversial in rice pudding, so rather than fan the flames, we kept them separate. (But guys, there’s rum.) This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    8 Servings

Ingredients

Boozy Fruit

½ cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons dark rum
2 tablespoons orange juice
½ cup raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dried apricots

Rice Pudding

4½ cups whole milk
1 cup arborio or sushi rice
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup granulated sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1 1” piece orange peel
Kosher salt
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 large egg yolk

Preparation

  1. Boozy Fruit

    Step 1

    Combine brown sugar, rum, orange juice, and a splash of water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Stir in dried fruit and cook until liquid is syrupy, about 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and let cool.

  2. Rice Pudding

    Step 2

    Combine milk, rice, cream, sugar, cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add pod. Bring to a rapid simmer, stirring occasionally to ensure mixture doesn’t stick to pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally and scraping all the way down to the bottom of the pot to make sure mixture doesn’t stick or scorch, until rice is tender and mixture is thickened, 20–25 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Discard vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, and orange peel. Quickly and thoroughly stir in egg yolk until completely incorporated. Keep pudding warm, covered, or let cool, then cover and transfer to the refrigerator to chill completely. Serve warm or chilled, topped with boozy fruit.

    Step 3

    DO AHEAD: Rice pudding and boozy fruit can be made up to 2 days ahead. Reheat pudding over medium heat, with a splash of milk or cream.

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