Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase.
Horchata is a rice-based drink from Mexico. While horchata is not traditionally dairy-free this horchata recipe is dairy-free! This recipe has has rice, toasted almonds, brown sugar and vanilla! And if you want to take this horchata to the next level, make my Horchata Coffee!
Why You’ll Love this Horchata
- Dairy-Free. This means everyone can drink it! A lot of recipes will use sweetened condensed milk and whole milk. This one is dairy-free and still delicious and creamy.
- Five simple ingredients. Rice, toasted almonds, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon are all you’ll need.
What ACK Readers are Saying About This Recipe:
This is the best horchata ever!! Love that you don’t have to sweeten with condensed milk or evaporated milk. I tried it with one cone of Piloncillo and it is so delicious!! Have made it so many times and my family loves it!! Thanks for an amazing recipe! – Rosalva
Ingredients You’ll Need for Horchata
- Rice – white rice works best for this recipe. I like to use medium-grain rice.
- Almonds – You can use crushed almonds, whole almonds (that you chop) or slivered almonds.
- Brown sugar – I love using brown sugar vs. white sugar because the caramelization adds a depth of flavor that is very delicious.
- Cinnamon sticks – These give a delicious flavor of cinnamon without the chalkiness of the dried spice.
For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe index below!
How to Make Horchata
- Toast the almonds. This step is my favorite. Remember, we’re only toasting a small amount of the almonds. As a result, it’ll add the absolute best amount of toasty flavor. Pour them to a large bowl.
- And then add in the rest of the almonds, rice, cinnamon sticks, vanilla and salt. Pour in the filtered water.
- Allow everything to soak for at least 4 hours. I soaked mine for about 6 hours. If you want to store it overnight, I would cover the mixture and stick it in the fridge.
- Pour the mixture into the blender. I had to do this in two batches since my blender wasn’t big enough. Pour through a strainer or a nutbag.
- Note: I wanted it silky smooth so I passed it through a nut bag. This step is optional. You could also nestle two sheets of cheese cloth on a sieve and pour it through there.
- Add ice cubes to glasses. And pour horchata into the glass. Garnish with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon.
Horchata Tips and Tricks
- Long grain rice will give you the best texture. The starches in the long grain rice will contribute to a creamy texture.
- Soak long enough. My recipe calls for four hours. Be sure to soak it at least for that time or overnight. This really allows for the horchata to be creamy.
- Shake before serving. Be sure to stir it up (or shake it) before pouring it up.
Recipe FAQs
Horchata originated in Spain but the one that most of us are familiar with is the Mexican-style horchata. The one pictured here is for a Mexican horchata.
The flavor is warm, rich and refreshing all at the same time.
The answer isn’t a total simple one. There are recipes that include dairy (mainly evaporated milk and/or sweetened condensed milk. This recipe for horchata drink is totally dairy-free.
Typically horchata isn’t alcoholic. But if you want to, feel free to add a shot of rum, kahlua or Bailey’s Irish Cream. I think all of those would be delicious additions.
Sure, some people love adding sweetened condensed milk to the horchata mixture, instead of sugar. I would say if you include it, be sure to skip the sugar in the recipe.
More Mexican Recipes
If you tried this Horchata recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Horchata Recipe
Equipment
- 1 fine mesh strainer
- 1 large pitcher or measuring cup
- 1 1 skillet
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (6.5 ounces) blanched almonds, divided
- 2 1/2 cups (17.5 ounces) uncooked white rice
- 3 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract , (or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 10 cups filtered water
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, set over medium-low heat, add 1/4 cup blanched almonds. Toast the almonds until medium golden brown, about 3-5 minutes, tossing them every so often.
- Transfer the toasted almonds and untoasted almonds to a large bowl. Pour in the white rice, cinnamon sticks, browns sugar, vanilla extract, salt and filtered water. Mix everything up until combined and cover the bowl. Let sit at room temperature for 5 hours. Or overnight in the fridge.
- Depending on the size of your blender, you may need to do this in batches. Transfer the horchata mix (including the cinnamon sticks) to your blender (adding what will fit, giving room at the top for blending). Blend for about 1 minute, until the horchata turns cloudy and white. Pour through a mesh strainer into a bowl to catch the majority of the nut pulp.
- Place a nut bag in the center of a bowl and pour the once-strained mixture into the nut bag. This will eliminate the majority of the grit from the horchata and make it silky smooth. Gently squeeze the nut bag so the horchata runs out.
- Continue this process until you work with the rest of horchata mixture. Serve over ice and top with a dusting of ground cinnamon
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Your glasses are so cute! Where are they from?
which ones? they’re from various brands 🙂
Love this recipe, thanks for sharing! I had a version in Spain that was perfect for the hot weather.
I miss drinking Horchata in Texas. Thanks for this!
Is there a way to use the pulp? Like in another recipe or something?
I’ve never used it for anything since it’s raw rice.
I’ve always wanted to try horchata but whenever I’ve seen it at café’s/restaurants its been the dairy-based kind, and I have a dairy sensitivity. Thanks so much for this recipe; now I can make it myself!!
You have made some decent points there. I looked on the net for additional
information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
Am i supposed to blend the cinnamon sticks.in the blender too? Can’t wait to taste the finished product!
Love horchata. This sounds perfect for a mexican fiesta themed graduation party my friend is having this weekend.
I’m looking for a more efficient way to strain the rice mix rather than having to continually buy cheese cloth.
I tried a gold basket coffee filter but the mixture passed very slowly.
Any suggestions?
I just discovered this summer at a Chicago street fair the glory of horchata iced cafe. Yep, 2 great things mixed together to make one amazing thing. We ended up going back for more the rest of the day(that and they were just $1 while other stalls were selling pop for $3 a bottle). I’ve since made it at home much to the amazement of friends and family. I monkeyed around with the ratios, but we like it with half a pitcher of each(adjust to taste). I highly suggest making a whole pitcher-you’ll need it. Perfect for brunch.
I’m sure there’s a way to make this a more ‘adult’ beverage, but I’m just not sure what will taste good in this-kahlua maybe?
I was wondering if this would work with another type of nut? My mother is allergic to almonds (recently discovered) but LOVES Horchata. Do you think this would work with cashews or other nuts? It’s really only almonds she can’t have. (odd, I know)
Thanks!
I would use walnuts…