Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rice Horchata

This refreshing horchata offers a creamy, subtly sweet, and warmly spiced experience, perfect for a cool and invigorating beverage. The delicate aroma of cinnamon and the smooth texture of rice create a delightful, dairy-free treat.

Prep: 3 min Total: 310 min Serves: 2

At a glance: This easy drinks and smoothies recipe yields 2 servings in about 5h 10m (3 min prep). It uses 7 ingredients — including uncooked white rice, water, cinnamon stick — and walks through 5 steps. Updated October 25, 2026. Browse more drinks and smoothies recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.

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Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rice Horchata: When preparing this drinks and smoothies recipe, rice from bulk bins can pick up grain dust, so use packaged rice labeled gluten-free, plus almond milk with the same label. Wash the blender and fine sieve well if they recently handled oat or barley drinks.

Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rice Horchata: This horchata is naturally gluten-free, relying on rice as its base. Always ensure your rice and any added flavorings or milks are gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination from gluten-containing grains.

Scale Recipe:

servings

Ingredient amounts update automatically

Ingredients

Shop links on this page are for uncooked white rice, cinnamon stick, almond milk. Buy the package that says gluten-free. A shared production line is the usual risk with these pantry items. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Confirm the product is labeled gluten-free before you buy.

0.5 cup uncooked white rice Shop
4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick Shop
0.5 cup almond milk (or other dairy-free milk) Shop
0.25 cup sugar or sweetener of choice Shop
1 tsp pure vanilla extract Shop
0.5 tsp ground cinnamon, for dusting Shop

Instructions

1 Rinse the uncooked white rice under cool water until the water runs clear, then drain thoroughly. In a medium bowl, combine the rinsed rice with 4 cups of water and the cinnamon stick. Let this mixture soak at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, allowing the rice to soften and the cinnamon to infuse the water.
2 After soaking, remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Transfer the soaked rice and its soaking liquid to a high-speed blender. Blend on high speed for about 2-3 minutes, or until the rice is completely pulverized and the mixture is very smooth and creamy. This process breaks down the rice grains to create the characteristic smooth texture of horchata.
3 Strain the blended mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag into a clean bowl or pitcher. Press down firmly on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible, ensuring a smooth, pulp-free horchata. Discard the remaining rice pulp.
4 Stir in the almond milk, sugar or sweetener, and vanilla extract into the strained liquid. Whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved and all ingredients are well combined. Taste the horchata and adjust sweetness as needed, adding more sweetener if desired.
5 Chill the horchata in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the drink to become thoroughly cold. Serve the horchata over ice, dusting the top of each glass with a pinch of ground cinnamon for an extra aromatic touch.

Nutrition (per serving)

174

Calories

Protein

42g

Carbs

Fat

Fiber

108mg

Sodium

Tips & Notes

Soak the rice for the full time. Well-soaked rice blends smoother and gives a creamier horchata.
If the horchata still feels gritty, strain it a second time through clean cheesecloth.
Stir before pouring. The rice starch settles to the bottom of the pitcher as it sits.

Common questions

What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rice Horchata?

Check uncooked white rice, water, cinnamon stick before they go into Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rice Horchata. Rice from bulk bins can pick up grain dust, so use packaged rice labeled gluten-free, plus almond milk with the same label. Wash the blender and fine sieve well if they recently handled oat or barley drinks.

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