Creamy Brazilian Condensed Milk Sweet Rice Pudding

Sweet rice pudding is one of those desserts that shows up on Easter tables across both Brazil and Portugal, a beloved tradition that crosses the Atlantic with a warm bowl of comfort. While both versions share the same soul, they have their own personalities…. I would say Portuguese sweet rice tends to be less sweet, letting the rice shine through in a simpler, more restrained way, while the Brazilian version leans into indulgence, richer and creamier, built on a base of sweetened condensed milk. So, how about we go the Brazilian route today!

I’ve seen this recipe, or something very close to it, under all sorts of names, sweet rice with cream, quick sweet rice, simple sweet rice, or “the real deal,” whatever that’s supposed to mean! But I know it as Brazilian sweet rice. I’m not entirely sure if it’s the most common version across Brazil, but it seems to be the most popular style online, essentially a sweet rice built on a base of condensed milk. Some versions even add extra sugar on top of that, but trust me, you absolutely do not need it.

In that sense, it’s actually a simpler sweet rice recipe with fewer ingredients and fewer steps. That said, if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t quite call this a classic sweet rice because the final flavor leans more toward condensed milk than rice. But im Portuguese so maybe im biased on this one! ;D

It tastes more like a caramel milk pudding with rice in it than the other way around. But if you want a quick sweet rice and you love the rich, sweet flavor of condensed milk, then this dessert is absolutely for you! I liked it, though I’ll admit the condensed milk flavor is a touch overwhelming for my personal taste since I tend to prefer lighter, less sweet desserts. But that’s just me, unlike my niece who absolutely loved it, so let’s get to the recipe!

Creamy Brazilian Condensed Milk Sweet Rice Pudding

Servings: 6
Time: 30mins
Difficulty: Normal
Rating: ★★★★★
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Quick and creamy Brazilian-style sweet rice that's basically a Easter dessert in a bowl. Your sweet tooth called, and this is the answer! ;D

Ingredients

Condensed Milk – 1 Can (approx. 400 g)
Carolino Rice – 200 g
Milk – 1 liter (Semi-skimmed)
Cinnamon – 1 Stick
Lemon – 1 Zest (I used lime)
Salt – A Pinch (Enough for the amount of rice)
Cinnamon – For sprinkling (Ground)

Directions

Start by pouring the milk into a saucepan with the cinnamon stick and lemon zest, then add the rice and a pinch of salt.

Let it simmer covered over low heat until the rice is tender and ready to eat, in my case, it took about 18 minutes, I suspect that cooking it in milk simply takes longer.

Once the rice is fully cooked, taste it and adjust the salt if necessary. Then add the condensed milk and let it cook for another 5 minutes until it thickens.

At this point, it’s ready to be poured into small bowls and refrigerated. Note that as the rice pudding cools, it will firm up, so don’t let it thicken too much on the stove.
Once the rice pudding is thoroughly chilled, it’s ready to serve, usually with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Enjoy, and Happy Easter!

Notes & Tips: I normally make sweet rice and milk custard (leite creme) with whole fat fresh milk because the flavor is richer and more intense, which really makes a difference in these kinds of desserts. But for this Brazilian sweet rice I went with semi-skimmed 2% milk, because I don’t think boosting the milk aroma will make much of a difference when condensed milk is already doing most of the heavy lifting in the milk flavor department.

To cut through the sweetness a little, nothing beats a generous sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top, or even some fresh fruit or toasted nuts on the side. That’s exactly what I did, and it helped balance things out nicely.

If you can’t find Carolino rice, any short-grain or medium-grain white rice will work well here. The goal is a starchy, creamy texture, so avoid long-grain varieties like basmati, which won’t give you that thick, pudding like consistency.

The rice continues to absorb liquid as it cools in the fridge, so if your sweet rice turns out thicker than you’d like after chilling, just stir in a splash of cold milk before serving to loosen it up a bit.

This is a naturally gluten free dessert, so it’s a great option to bring to an Easter table where guests may have that dietary restriction.

This recipe for Creamy Brazilian Condensed Milk Sweet Rice Pudding was originally created on BakeAfter.com. Esta receita de Arroz Doce Brasileiro foi publicada em português no Iguaria.com.