German Rice Pudding (Milchreis)

Milchreis (which literally means milk rice) is a creamy, delicious, and not too sweet German rice pudding made without eggs.

This German milk rice aka. rice pudding is a family favorite. It’s absolutely delicious, creamy, filling and so simple to make (perfect for beginner cooks). Made with uncooked white rice, milk, whipping cream, butter, sugar, and vanilla in under 40 minutes.

The authentic German rice pudding calls for medium grain white rice (aka. Milchreis), but I have made this rice pudding with long grain white rice, and it still turned out delicious!

Milchreis tastes great cold or warm, as a meal on its own or as dessert with chocolate sauce, cinnamon sugar, raspberry sauce, or any fruit compote of your choice.

What you’ll need to make Milchreis recipe

• 250 g (8.8 oz/ about 1 1/3 cups) rice pudding, medium grain or long grain white rice
• 1.2 liter (40.6 fl.oz./ 5 cups) milk
• 200 ml (about 6.8 fl.oz/ ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon) heavy cream (whipping cream)
• 1 vanilla bean
• 50 g (about 1.8 oz/ 1/4 cup) sugar
• a pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons butter

For the topping

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Vanilla bean: This recipe calls for vanilla seeds from vanilla bean, but feel free to use about ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or about 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar. If you’re using vanilla sugar, simply reduce the regular sugar.

• Feel free to reduce or increase the sugar to your liking

How to make German milk rice

Using the tip of the knife split the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the vanilla seeds and mix the scraped-out seeds with sugar very well. 

Next add a little bit of water in the medium pot, to prevent milk from sticking at the bottom of the pan.

Next, add milk, whipping cream, empty vanilla bean, vanilla sugar that you have just made, butter, a pinch of salt and rice to the pot with a little bit of water. Give everything a good stir and bring to a boil over medium heat, uncovered.

Once the milk begins to boil, cover, then reduce the heat and let cook for about 30 minutes. 

Keep stirring in between, just to make sure that nothing sticks at the bottom.

After 30 minutes remove vanilla bean from the pot, stir the pudding once more and serve. The pudding tastes both warm and cold great!

What to serve with German rice pudding?

To serve mix cinnamon and sugar. Then divide the pudding among 4 to 6 serving bowls and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. 

Rice pudding also tastes great with topped with chocolate sauce, raspberry sauce, cherry sauce or any fruit compote of your choice.

Love this Milk Rice Recipe? Try my German Semolina Pudding Recipe (Grießbrei), too.

Did you make this Milchreis recipe? I’d love to hear from you! Simply write a review and add rating to it.