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–+ servings
Horchata in a glass on a wood board with cinnamon sticks and rice.

Easy Overnight Horchata (Orxata)

Susan @ The James Street Home
Hortchata is a smooth rice and milk-based drink flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. It's easy to make and is great for a group.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Soaking time 8 hours 10 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 10
Calories 110 kcal

Equipment

  • High-powered electric blender
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • Large pitcher

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups uncooked white rice long-grain
  • 5 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 8 cups water divided
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • Fresh ground cinnamon or nutmeg for garnishing
  • Ice

Instructions
 

  • Blend rice, cinnamon, and half the water
    Add half the water and all of the rice to a blender.
    Blend on high for about 1-20 seconds or until the rice and cinnamon sticks are broken up into about half the original size.
  • Rest overnight
    Let rice, cinnamon, and water mixture stand at room overnight or for about 8 hours.
  • Strain
    Strain rice water into a pitcher and discard rice and cinnamon solids.
  • Add the remaining ingredients
    Add the remaining water, the sugar, milk, and vanilla.
    Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
  • Add or serve over ice. Garnish with cinnamon and nutmeg, if desired.

Notes

Cinnamon sticks are truly best. However, if you don't have those, substitute ½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon for every 5 cinnamon sticks. 
You can leave the rice and water in the blender overnight. This will reduce the number of dishes you need to do. It will also let you pulse the rice and water mix just before you strain it, which helps improve the texture and flavor.
If you are pressed for time, you can cut the resting time down to 3 hours.
 
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be considered as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and James Street Home makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of this information.
Adapted from AllRecipes

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 28mgPotassium: 76mgSugar: 22gVitamin A: 79IUCalcium: 66mgIron: 0.01mg
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