Dairy-Free Horchata
This authentic Horchata is naturally dairy-free while still providing a creamy, cinnamon-spiced drink. Horchata agua fresca is made with common pantry staples such as rice, fresh cinnamon sticks, vanilla, and sugar. It’s the perfect beverage for a warm day and pairs well with spicy foods to help balance the heat.
Horchata is a popular agua fresca in Mexico and is commonly served at taquerias and Mexican restaurants. Its sweet cinnamon flavor makes it a classic Mexican drink that’s easy to recreate at home. I’ll share options for making it both with and without dairy.
Ingredient Notes
You only need a few pantry staples to make this refreshing Mexican drink.
- Rice: White long-grain or Jasmine rice is soaked before blending to create the base of the horchata.
- Cinnamon sticks: Whole cinnamon sticks soak with the rice and give the drink its signature cinnamon flavor.
- Vanilla: Adds a little extra warmth and complements the cinnamon.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the cinnamon and rice. You can adjust the amount depending on how sweet you like your horchata. I also prefer to use a simple syrup instead of just sugar. Boil equal parts sugar and water until dissolved, then let the syrup cool.
- Water or milk: You can customize the horchata with 2 cups of water, 2 cups of dairy-free milk like almond milk, or 2 cups of whole milk. Water keeps it naturally dairy-free, while milk gives it a richer, creamier consistency.
Soak the rice and cinnamon sticks in water to soften the rice and infuse it with cinnamon flavor before blending.
Renee’s Tips and Notes
- Blend thoroughly. You want to break down the soaked rice as much as possible before straining.
- Strain it well. Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth to remove the rice solids and create a smoother drink.
- Adjust the sweetness. Give the horchata a taste after mixing and add more sugar if needed.
Serving and Storage
Serve Horchata cold over ice with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top. It pairs especially well with spicy Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, or tostadas.
Store leftover horchata in a sealed pitcher or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Some settling is normal, so give it a good stir before serving.
Horchata FAQs
Jasmine or long-grain white rice works well because of its mild flavor and blends easily after soaking.
Yes. Horchata is a great make-ahead drink since it’s served chilled. Prepare it ahead and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve.
I recommend it. Straining removes the small pieces of blended rice and cinnamon and gives the horchata a much smoother texture.
More Drink Recipes
Dairy Free Horchata
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Jasmine Rice or long-grain white rice
- 1-2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 4 cups Water room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Mexican Vanilla Extract or regular vanilla extract
- 1 cup Simple Syrup Boil 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water until dissolved.
- 2 cups Almond Milk Use your favorite non-dairy milk. See notes below.
Instructions
- Place the rice in a large bowl and break the cinnamon stick into small pieces. Pour room-temperature water over the rice and stir. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and let sit for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Make the simple syrup by boiling 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water. Once the sugar dissolves, remove the pot from the heat and let the syrup cool.
- Add the soaked rice, cinnamon stick, and water to a blender and blend on high speed for about 2 minutes.
- Use either a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or nut milk bag, to strain the mixture. Be sure to squeeze as much liquid out as you can.
- Pour the strained mixture into a large pitcher. Add vanilla extract and the simple syrup. I only added ¾ of the simple syrup. Then add 2 cups of your favorite dairy-free milk, or regular milk if you don't need it to be dairy-free. Another option is to add 2 cups of water if you prefer it to be less creamy.
- Stir the horchata in the pitcher and serve in ice-filled glasses. Top with ground cinnamon if you like.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and depends on ingredients and amounts used. Thai Caliente makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
