A traditional Puerto Rican dessert — Arroz con Dulce is the island’s festive coconut rice pudding, scented with ginger, cinnamon and cloves and laced with raisins. It simmers slowly in coconut milk until thick and creamy, and is served at Christmas alongside tembleque and coquito. Warm or chilled, every spoonful tastes of the holidays.
Arroz con Dulce
A traditional Puerto Rican dessert — Arroz con Dulce is the island’s festive coconut rice pudding, scented with ginger, cinnamon and cloves and laced with raisins.

Step by stepInstructions
- Soak the rinsed rice in water to cover for 30 minutes, then drain.
- In a large pot, combine the rice with the coconut milk, coconut cream, cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger and salt. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens, 30 to 35 minutes.
- Stir in the sugar, raisins and vanilla, and cook 10 minutes more, stirring, until glossy and very thick.
- Remove the cinnamon stick, cloves and ginger. Taste and add more sugar if you like.
- Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled, dusted with ground cinnamon.
💡 Chef tips & storage
Stir frequently, as coconut milk scorches easily. The pudding thickens further as it cools, so stop cooking while it still looks a little loose.

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