Glorified Rice
Tastes of Lizzy T participates in affiliate advertising programs. We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links on our site.
Old Fashioned Glorified Rice is a creamy dessert with marshmallows, strawberries, pineapple… and rice! A unique no bake recipe for summer picnics.
Have you ever heard of “glorified” rice? It’s a sweet, dessert-style rice dish that is a classic, old-fashioned style recipe. Normally when I think of rice, my mind immediately goes to savory recipes, creamy recipes with butter, garlic and cheese.
Today’s recipe is a game changer, though. A reinvention of rice. Because…why not rice for dessert? This pantry staple should get to enjoy the sweeter side of life, too!
This Glorified Rice recipe comes from my old Mennonite cookbook. The cookbook that I run to when I’m craving serious comfort food. It has simple pantry ingredients like pineapple tidbits and mini-marshmallows and then chopped strawberries to add a hint of fresh and a pop of color.
The base of this recipe, however, is the rice. Alessi Arborio Rice. Have you ever heard of this type of rice? Italians developed a special way of cooking rice with other ingredients, which results in the classic “risotto” dish I’m sure you know and love. Arborio rice is the key ingredient in risotto.
Arborio rice retains its firmness when cooked and absorbs flavors well, which makes it the perfect rice for risotto. And also the perfect rice for this recipe!
Here’s why. You’ll cook the arborio rice ahead of time in water with a touch of butter. The arborio will absorb the flavors of that butter while it cooks, giving it a rich, smooth taste.
Once the rice is cooled and you add the fruit, marshmallows, sugar and whipped cream, it will combine to create the most delicious rice dessert recipe you ever did taste. The smooth arborio combined with the sweet fruit and cream almost reminded me of cheesecake. Yes, it’s that good.
I invite you to get creative with this recipe! What fruit would you add in? This is our favorite combination, but we’ve also added mandarin oranges, mango, apple and even banana slices. Feel free to use plain white mini marshmallows, but aren’t those colored ones so fun?
Q: Have you ever heard of glorified rice? What fruit would you add?
Old Fashioned Glorified Rice
Old Fashioned Glorified Rice is a creamy dessert with marshmallows, strawberries, pineapple... and rice! A unique no bake recipe for summer picnics.
Servings 12
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups Alessi Arborio Rice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 16 ounces pineapple tidbits drained
- 2 cups chopped strawberries
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- maraschino cherries optional
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed saucepan, heat 3 cups of water to boiling.
- Add the rice and butter to the boiling water. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
- Reduce the stove heat to low, cover the saucepan with a tight fitting lid and let it cook undisturbed for 20-25 minutes.
- Once the rice is done cooking, remove it from the heat, transfer it to a large bowl. Fluff the rice with a fork and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- When the rice has cooled, add the pineapple, strawberries, marshmallows and sugar. Mix well. Allow this mixture to rest for 10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), beat the heavy whipping cream on high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Add the whipped cream to the rice mixture. Fold together gently.
- Top with maraschino cherries and additional marshmallows if desired.
- Refrigerate until serving and serve cold.
Video
Notes
This recipe is best served soon after you combine the ingredients together. It will thicken up as it sits. We like it best served right away, when it is not as thick.
Nutrition
Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 660IU | Vitamin C: 17.9mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1.3mg
My mom says you’re missing out if you don’t use the canned fruit juice you drain off as part of the water to cook the rice in. 🙂
My 93 year old mother-in-law was reminiscing about her mother making glorified rice. This was very much as she remembered it. This type of experience is so important to her and us right now. Thank you for posting it
I grew up w glorified rice. My family used fruit cocktail, w the mini marshmallows and whipping cream. I have been researching family and started to crave it. Just looking a different versions.
The rice is on stove now, simmering away.
I requested Glorified Rice every year for my birthday; that’s saying A LOT as I’m a freak for frosting!! Very happy to see it here!
Can you just use mixed fruit without pineapple?
My childhood friend had a great aunt that made this once a month for the Learn to be a Lady teas she hosted. It was fabulous! Making this version now and will add the pecan pieces hers had.
Glorified rice always seemed to be an essential dish at large family gatherings when I was growing up.
It was also always served at church potlucks. I have not had glorified rice for years and years. Thanks for bring back such great memories. I will have to make some glorified rice this summer.
I have never heard of this way to use rice.
Love Amish recipes too, and this above recipe sounds wonderful. Looking forward to trying it! Thank you for sharing!