Feel like trying a delicious Latin American treat this holiday season? Nothing beats arroz con leche, a tasty pudding of white rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Try this recipe, an easy version for beginners. Once you have that down, there are endless ways to experiment and improve upon this classic!

Ingredients:

         3 Cups whole milk

         1 1/4 cup of water

         1 can of sweetened condensed milk

         1 cup of rice 

         2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

         2 cinnamon sticks

         Ground cinnamon (optional)

         1/3 cup of raisins (optional)

First, soak the rice and cinnamon sticks in a heavy saucepan with the water and soak for about an hour to make sure that the rice will be especially soft later on. After an hour, add the whole milk and bring the pan to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, lower the heat down and simmer for about 20 or 30 minutes, until the rice is well-cooked. Then add the vanilla and condensed milk. (If you can’t find condensed milk, your dessert will still be fine with just whole milk!) Stir continuously until the arroz con leche reaches a pudding-like texture. Serve warm or chilled with ground cinnamon dusted over top. Sprinkle raisins if desired.

There are many more variations of this delicious dessert. Try adding cocoa powder, orange zest, or spiced rum for more flavor! Enjoy it with hot coffee or an after-dinner drink like cognac.