Akin to the comfort of drifting to sleep within the glow of a crackling hearth, Creamy Rice Pudding soothes the palate with Arborio rice cooked in half-and-half and sugar. Enjoyed hot or cold, the old-fashioned dessert reaches its peak with drizzles of cinnamon-bourbon caramel sauce.
Creamy Rice Pudding with Cinnamon-Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups half-and-half
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Cinnamon-Bourbon Caramel Sauce (recipe follows)
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Stir in rice and salt; reduce heat and cover. Cook until rice is tender and water is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Uncover and increase heat to medium; stir in half-and-half, sugar, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring frequently, until thick and creamy, 30 to 35 minutes. Stir in butter. Serve warm or chilled with Cinnamon-Bourbon Caramel Sauce.
Cinnamon-Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Makes approximately ⅔ cup
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cubed
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat sugar and 1½ tablespoons water over high heat, being careful not to splash sides of pan. (Mixture should be the consistency of wet sand.) Use remaining ½ tablespoon water to brush down sides of pan, and stir to help sugar dissolve. (Do not stir once mixture starts to boil.)
- Cook until desired light amber color is reached. Remove from heat; slowly add cream, whisking to combine. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking until combined.
- Stir in bourbon, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool for 15 minutes before using.
Notes
If you allow caramel to chill, microwave for a few seconds before using for a nice drizzling consistency.
