Gluten-Free Classic Horchata

The creamy, spiced delight of this authentic gluten-free horchata, a refreshing beverage perfect for any time of day. Its smooth texture and subtle cinnamon notes make it an irresistible treat.

Prep: 8 min Cook: 20 min Total: 28 min Serves: 2

At a glance: This easy drinks and smoothies recipe yields 2 servings in about 28 minutes (8 min prep, 20 min cook). It uses 7 ingredients — including long-grain 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.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Shop links in the ingredient list are affiliate links and do not change the recipe.

Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Classic Horchata: When preparing this drinks and smoothies recipe, when sourcing ingredients, especially sugar and vanilla extract, always look for a gluten-free label to prevent accidental exposure to gluten. Ensure your blender and straining equipment are thoroughly cleaned before use. In a shared kitchen, avoid porous materials — wooden spoons, wooden cutting boards, and scratched non-stick pans can harbor gluten proteins even after washing. Prefer glass, metal, or silicone tools.

Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Classic Horchata: This horchata recipe is naturally gluten-free, relying on rice and spices. Always ensure your sugar and vanilla extract are gluten-free to avoid any cross-contamination.

Scale Recipe:

servings

Ingredient amounts update automatically

Ingredients

Shop links on this page are for long-grain white rice, cinnamon stick, granulated sugar. 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.

1 cup long-grain white rice Shop
4 cups water
1 cinnamon stick Shop
0.5 cup granulated sugar Shop
1 tsp pure vanilla extract Shop
0.5 tsp ground cinnamon Shop
1 cup ice cubes

Instructions

1 Rinse the long-grain white rice under cool water until the water runs clear, which should take about 1-2 minutes. Place the rinsed rice, 4 cups of water, and the cinnamon stick into a blender. Blend on high speed for about 1 minute until the rice is finely broken down.
2 Let the rice mixture steep at room temperature for at least 20 minutes, or up to 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld. The longer it steeps, the more pronounced the rice flavor will be.
3 Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag into a large bowl or pitcher. Press gently on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible, aiming for a smooth, milky liquid. Discard the solids.
4 Stir in the granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon into the strained liquid until the sugar is completely dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness or cinnamon if desired.
5 Add the ice cubes to the pitcher and stir until chilled, or pour the horchata into glasses filled with ice. Serve immediately for a refreshing and authentic experience.

Nutrition (per serving)

162

Calories

Protein

38g

Carbs

Fat

Fiber

44mg

Sodium

Tips & Notes

Rinse rice until the water runs clear to remove surface starch and prevent clumping.
Scrape a real vanilla bean pod into the batter and steep the pod in warm milk for 10 minutes for intense flavor.
Ceylon cinnamon is milder and sweeter; Cassia (the common kind) is more pungent — both work here.

Common questions

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

Check long-grain white rice, water, cinnamon stick before they go into Gluten-Free Classic Horchata. When sourcing ingredients, especially sugar and vanilla extract, always look for a gluten-free label to prevent accidental exposure to gluten. Ensure your blender and straining equipment are thoroughly cleaned before use. In a shared kitchen, avoid porous materials — wooden spoons, wooden cutting boards, and scratched non-stick pans can harbor gluten proteins even after washing. Prefer glass, metal, or silicone tools.

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