Creamy, homemade rice milk costs pennies to make, needs just 2 ingredients, and is ready in 2 minutes. Naturally dairy-free, lactose-free, allergen-free, and great for nearly all diets!
If you buy rice milk on a regular basis but you’ve never considered making it yourself, here’s your gentle nudge: You need two ingredients and two minutes. It costs mere pennies, and it tastes WAY better than any rice milk you can buy from the store!
Easy Rice Milk Recipe
My recipe is incredibly easy, with the hardest part having to start with cooked rice.
That’s easy to overcome though, especially when you can make Instant Pot White Rice in under 10 minutes. Or better yet, use leftover rice you have stashed away in your fridge or freezer!
Tip: If you don’t have leftover rice, go ahead and make extras when you make it for this easy recipe. Freeze it one cup portions, and then you’ll be ready to go for your next batch!
Rice Milk Benefits
The greatest benefits come from the fact that it’s naturally dairy-free, lactose-free, allergen-free, and great for nearly every diet. It’s a great plant milk for those who cannot have nut milk or soy milk either.
The only catch is when you BUY rice milk. Most brands (like Rice Dream and Better Than Milk) contain unhealthy fats, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives that can interfere with the digestive system.
You’ll get all the benefits when you make it yourself. Keep reading for my easy recipe!
Homemade Rice Milk Recipe Ingredients
You need just two ingredients:
- Rice. Any kind of cooked rice will work. White rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice, short grain rice, long grain rice… if you like the way the rice tastes when you make it plain, then it’s suitable for this recipe.
- Water. Filtered water is preferred.
You do need a blender in order to make this recipe. I’ve tried making this in a food processor and it just doesn’t come out as creamy.
How to Make Rice Milk
Step 1: Measure the rice and water into the blender. This recipe starts with 1 cup of cooked rice and 4 cups of water and makes one quart.
Step 2: Blend the ingredients. If you have a high-powered blender, you may only need to run the blender through one round of blending. If you have a regular blender, you may need to blend the milk two or more times. The more times you blend, the smoother and creamier it will be.
Step 3: Strain the milk. Pour the blended milk through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp. Another option is to strain the mixture with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag. Keep reading for ways to reuse rice pulp and prevent food waste. The liquid you’re left with is your non-dairy milk!
Tip: When you blend for longer, the rice nearly disappears entirely. This eliminates the need to filter the milk through the sieve.
Store your finished rice milk in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. I like to store in a mason jar and use a pour spout lid like these.
Homemade Rice Drink Flavor Variations
While the basic recipe calls for just cooked rice and water, you can easily change the flavors with just a few tweaks:
- For a thicker drink, you can use more rice or you can also use less water
- Add Ground Cinnamon
- Add Extracts: Almond Extract, Coconut Extract, or Vanilla Extract (or vanilla powder)
- Use Leftover Coconut Rice
- Use coconut milk in place of some of the water
- Horchata Flavor: Cinnamon + Vanilla + Almond Extract
- Add cocoa powder or cacao powder for “chocolate milk”
- Use maple syrup to sweeten and make maple milk
- Add fresh berries for “berry milk”
- Use hot water instead of cold water (this makes creamier milk)
My homemade rice drink recipe is unsweetened, but you can add one whole date (pitted) or 1 teaspoon of coconut sugar if you’d like.
How to Use Leftover Rice Pulp
Reducing food waste is vital to working within a grocery budget, so use rice pulp to make rice pudding, rice porridge, or even to my favorite Minestrone Soup. If you don’t have enough pulp left over, you can always freeze it until you have enough for another recipe.
Rice Milk FAQs
Is rice milk good for you?
Yes, homemade rice milk is good for you! Store-bought, on the other hand, often contains processed and unhealthy oils like safflower oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil. They’re also enriched with synthetic vitamins, contain unnecessary additives, and are loaded with sweeteners.
Which is better rice milk or oat milk?
Neither rice milk nor oat milk are better than the other, but some may tolerate one drink over the other. One is made with rice, while the other is made with oats. I think milk from oats has a distinct oat taste while rice milk taste neutral. It’s just a matter of preference!
Is rice milk the same as horchata?
Rice milk is similar to horchata, but it’s not exactly the same. Traditional horchata uses whole milk, uncooked rice, almonds, cinnamon sticks, and it’s sweetened with a good bit of sugar.
You can get a similar flavor to horchata by making the recipe below and adding cinnamon, almond extract, and vanilla extract.
Is rice milk a good milk alternative?
Yes, it is a good alternative to cow’s milk if you don’t tolerate dairy. This recipe is a great vegan dairy-free milk that’s gluten free and nut free if you have an allergy. It can be used in recipes like The Best Vegan Lemon Scones and Dairy-Free Alfredo Sauce, as well as common uses like coffee creamer and in a bowl of Oatmeal.
OTHER PLANT-BASED MILK OPTIONS:
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Dairy Alternative: Homemade Rice Milk
Creamy, homemade rice milk costs pennies to make, needs just 2 ingredients, and is ready in 2 minutes. Naturally dairy-free, lactose-free, allergen-free, and great for nearly all diets!
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
- Measure the rice into a blender and add 4 cups of filtered water. Blend until smooth, approximately 1 minute. You may want to blend again for ultra-smooth consistency. Store in the refrigerator and enjoy cold; shake before using.
Notes
- For two cups: ½ cup rice, 2 cups water
- For one cup: ¼ cup rice, 1 cup water
Nutrition
- Calories: 169
I made this and love it. I only had white rice but will be switching to brown for the extra nutrients as soon as I’ve depleted my white rice. I really enjoy the consistency, density and neutral flavor of this and it will now be my go-to coffee creamer as my DO has told me that due to my cholesterol levels, I have to quit milk and half-and-half, and he recommended I make the rice milk at home since it’s cheaper and better for me than soy, oat or almond milk or the store-bought rice milk. I never expected it to be so palatable, honestly, and comparing it to the rice drinks in the store, no artificial ingredients, thickeners, oils, none of it. Thanks for putting this out there, who knew it was going to be this easy?
This is by far the best homemade alternative milk I have ever made, and of course it’s the easiest as well. Re others’ questions about heating – the rice will cook and thicken dramatically at fairly low temps (or at least mine does: organic Three Ladies Thai Hom Mali Jasmine (white), vitamix blender, 4-5 minutes. I add one date and a pinch of salt. It would be good with nothing, or with more. I carry 2 ounces with me to coffee shops. I am experimenting with whether to rinse or not rinse the rice. I believe it is going to be better rinsed – and I regret that, as it’s one extra (small) step. But I’m drinking my first batch unrinsed right now, and I think it’s a bit chalkier than when rinsed (same batch of rice used in both). I am going to try adding a small number of organic coconut flakes next time; when I made oat milk I used that approach to help prevent sliminess and over-thickening when heated. I don’t know if it will work with rice. All guidance appreciated. And 1000 thank yous for this recipe.
Hi Rona,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this rice milk recipe! We’re glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Thank you so much for this recipe, I have been looking everywhere for rice milk but have drawn a blank every time, now I can make as and when I want/need, and it’s so easy, again thanks for your video. Brilliant
Hello Veronica,
We’re so glad that you enjoyed this recipe and video! Thank you for sharing.
Hey!
Can you tell me how long does it last? I’m the only one who drinks vegetable milk in a family of 4, so it sometimes it goes bad before I can drink it all. I’m looking for something cheap that I can store for a long time haha
Hi I was wondering if you can heat this milk will this affect the taste? as I had noticed that oat milk can turn slimy once heated. Thank you
I don’t have access to a blender, so I put the rice and water into a pot and am heating on medium-low with a lid on until it melts. This should have the same effect, maybe better because the rice will dissolve as opposed to being pureed – less chunks.
Hi Tiffany, Please don’t forget to mention the completely non-recyclable, non-returnable, non-reusable containers that commercial rice mild comes in! That’s our reason for coming to your site to see how to make it! Thanks for the info and recipe,
Hi.
I have a question
Can home made rice milk be warmed to make coffee?
Thanks
Hi Eddy! To use as a coffee creamer, yes. I would heat it gently though, just in case!
SoyaJoy G4 Soy Milk Maker & Soup Maker with All Stainless Steel Inside New Model https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00ALM5ZFM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.zaFDbK5KW6FM
It basically blends it and cooks it for you using preset amounts of water and uncooked rice.
Interesting – thank you!
I’ve only ever made rice milk using my soy milk maker – but although it comes out great, once I refrigerate it it completely thickens to where I can’t even pour it. Any idea why this happens? Using your method is it still liquid after refrigerating?
Hi Christine! I’ve never heard of a soy milk maker, so I’m not sure what that entails, but the milk is still liquid after refrigerating when you use my method. 🙂