Old-fashioned baked rice pudding recipe is a thick, creamy dessert made with leftover rice and simple pantry ingredients. Passed down from my mom, this comforting recipe bakes up richer and heartier than stovetop rice pudding.

This baked rice pudding is one of those simple, comforting desserts. It’s based on a recipe passed down from my mom, and it’s the kind of dessert that’s been quietly showing up in kitchens for generations.
Unlike rice pudding that is cooked on the stove, baked rice pudding is thicker and more custard-like, with a creamy texture that sets as it bakes. It’s also a great way to use up leftover rice, and this recipe transforms those leftovers into a warm, cozy dessert that’s perfect for evenings at home or simple family desserts.

Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Milk: Using whole milk will give you the creamiest pudding.
- Rice: I adapted this recipe to use long-grain rice because it’s available in pretty much every grocery store. The original recipe called for short-grain rice. If you can find that, it does make the pudding slightly creamier.
- Raisins: Dark or golden raisins will work, as will other dried fruit like craisins.
How to make baked rice pudding
Here you’ll find instructions and step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Preheat oven to 300F. Butter a 2.5 quart baking dish. Set aside.

Step 2: Combine milk, eggs, salt, sugar, vanilla extract, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg in a medium bowl.
Step 3: Stir in the cooked rice and raisins, if using.

Step 4: Carefully pour the milk mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 5: Set casserole in a pan of hot water filled to within 1″ of top of casserole.
Step 6: Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes. Give the rice pudding a good stir.
Step 7: Continue baking for about 50-60 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 8: For topping: stir together cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle over cooked pudding. Brown quickly under the broiler. Serve hot or cold.

Recipe Tips!
- Water bath: Please don’t skip this step. It helps the pudding to stay creamier as it bakes.
- Baking pan: A 2.5 quart baking pan is about the same size as an 8×11-inch casserole dish.

Storage
Store any leftover baked rice pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for about 3-4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More custard and pudding recipes!
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Old-Fashioned Baked Rice Pudding
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole milk
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ cups cooked long grain white rice
- ½ cup raisins optional
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300F. Butter a 2.5 quart baking dish. Set aside.
- Combine milk, eggs, salt, sugar, vanilla extract, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg in a medium bowl.3 cups whole milk, 3 large eggs, ⅔ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, Pinch ground nutmeg
- Stir in the cooked rice and raisins, if using.1 ½ cups cooked long grain white rice, ½ cup raisins
- Carefully pour the milk mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Set casserole in a pan of hot water filled to within 1″ of top of casserole.
- Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Give the rice pudding a good stir.
- Continue baking for about 50-60 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- For topping: stir together cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle over cooked pudding.1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Brown quickly under the broiler. Serve hot or cold.
Notes
- Milk: Using whole milk will give you the creamiest pudding.
- Rice: I adapted this recipe to use long-grain rice because it’s available in pretty much every grocery store. The original recipe called for short-grain rice. If you can find that, it does make the pudding slightly creamier.
- Raisins: Dark or golden raisins will work, as will other dried fruit like craisins.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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