Healthy Homemade Horchata

glass of horchata with a star anise floating on the surface.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This popular drink hails from Mexico. Make up a batch of this creamy, cinnamon flavored drink and enjoy!

Prep Time15

Additional Time8

Total Time8 15

Course: Salads and Sides

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: horchata, mexican horchata, rice milk

Servings: cups

Calories: 229kcal

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain white rice rinsed and thoroughly drained
1 small organic cinnamon stick
6 cups water divided
1 cup almond milk
1/3 cup Medjool dates pitted
2 - 3 tablespoons honey preferably local
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup raw almonds

Optional Garnish

4 long cinnamon sticks
Ground cinnamon

Instructions

Add rice, organic cinnamon stick, and 4 cups of very warm water to a medium-sized bowl. Let soak overnight at room temperature, or until the rice softens and the cinnamon stick is soft enough to break into several smaller pieces.
Transfer the rice mixture to a high-powered blender and blend to combine. Add 2 cups cold water, almond milk, dates, 2 tablespoons honey, vanilla extract, and almonds. Blend untilthoroughly combined and no large solids remain. Taste and add additional honey, if desired.
Strain contents of blender with a fine-weave mesh strainer and 1-2 layers of cheesecloth. When finished, discard remaining solids in the strainer and transfer the reserved liquid to a pitcher or other container.
Refrigerate until chilled, or serve immediately over ice with whole cinnamon sticks or a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, for garnish. Enjoy!

Notes

Store your healthy horchata recipe in the fridge. It should last up to a week if you are using a fresh carton of almond milk. This makes it perfect for making ahead of a gathering.

Nutrition