Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding

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 Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding is a delicious combination of two favorite desserts – pumpkin pie and rice pudding. This easy pumpkin recipe makes an impressive autumn breakfast or dessert. titled photo (and shown): Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding
Rice pudding. Have you ever made it? Have you ever even eaten it?

Before last week, rice pudding had never touched my lips. Rice to me was always the unimportant layer under the main dish. Wow, was I missing out. I used Matt’s grandma’s rice pudding recipe to create this unique Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding where the rice isn’t just a lost-on-the-plate ingredient. No, the rice here, along with your favorite fall flavors, takes center stage. baked rice pudding dessert with streusel topping

What is the best rice to use for rice pudding?

For this comforting pumpkin-pie recipe, I use Arborio rice. Any other medium-grain rice varities would also work well, such as:

  • bomba
  • Valencia
  • vialone
  • Asian sticky rice

Because I hardly ever used rice as an ingredient in a special recipe, I was totally missing out on the different types of rice out there. Who knew that there was a special type of rice, perfect for creamy rice pudding because it absorbs flavors so well? I certainly didn’t.

I really enjoyed learning how to cook Arborio rice and incorporating it into a dish that is now one of our new favorite breakfasts. And desserts. And snacks. You get the picture.

Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding Recipe Notes

I took special care to cook this rice exactly how Arborio rice should be cooked. Slow and easy.

How do you make rice pudding in a pan?

It’s important to take the time to gently toast the grains.

  1. Begin by placing 2 tablespoons of butter in a frying pan.
  2. Turn the heat to medium-low and allow the butter to melt.
  3. Add in one cup of rice. Allow the rice to sauté in the butter for about 3 minutes. The rice will start to get a nutty aroma and that is exactly what you want.
  4. Add in one cup of water and stir the rice until the entire cup of water is absorbed, which will take about 5 minutes.  Once that liquid is absorbed, add in another cup of water. Cook and stir the rice for another 5 minutes until the water is absorbed.  Lastly, stir in about ¾ of a cup of water.  Cook and stir, you guessed it, until that water is absorbed.
  5. Test the rice at this point. It should be just a bit firm on the inside, but not crunchy at all. Don’t cook it too long. You don’t want it to turn to mush.

This may sound like it takes too much time, but it really goes quickly.  You’ll love watching how quickly this rice absorbs that water. And taking your time making the Arborio rice is what is going to give it that perfectly creamy texture that is so good in rice pudding.

Once the rice is cooked, putting together the rest of the Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding recipe is quite quick and easy.

pumpkin dessert made with rice pudding, pumpkin custard and walnut streusel

How do you make baked rice pudding?

The Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding does take about an hour and 10 minutes to bake if baked in an 8×8 pan as we suggest.  If you use a larger pan, watch the time. It won’t take quite as long to cook. Honest, though…it’s worth the time it takes to bake. Sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin drifting out of your oven.

The results you’ll end up with will be an unbelievably comforting dish that could be eaten warm or cold, for breakfast or for dessert. Or even for an afternoon snack.

The rice mixture itself is not super sweet. There’s only ⅓ cup of brown sugar inside the actual rice pudding.

Because I can’t get enough of streusel, I top the pudding with brown sugar walnut streusel. If you’d like to save a few calories you can leave off the streusel. If you’re like me and love the crunch that a streusel gives, keep that sweet layer on top.

You’ve never eaten rice like this before, friends. a pumpkin dessert called Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding

pumpkin pie rice pudding in a bowl with whipped cream
pumpkin pie rice pudding in a bowl with whipped cream

Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding

4.91 from 10 votes
Combine pumpkin pie and rice pudding to get this comforting, fall-flavored dish that would make an impressive breakfast or dessert.
Servings 9
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

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Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup Arborio Rice
  • 2 3/4 cups water
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon tapioca starch or corn starch
  • 2 cups hot milk
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 3 large eggs slightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Streusel:

Instructions
 

  • Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add in one cup of rice. Allow the rice to saute in the butter for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add in one cup of water and stir the rice until the whole cup of water is absorbed, which will take about 5 minutes. Then add in another cup of water. Cook and stir the rice for another 5 minutes until the water is absorbed. Lastly, stir in the last ¾ of a cup of water. Cook and stir until that water is absorbed. The rice should be just a bit firm on the inside, but not crunchy at all. Do not overcook the rice or it will be mushy.
  • Take two cups of the cooked rice and place it in a bowl. (There will be a little bit of rice leftover.) Add the ⅓ cup of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of tapioca (or corn) starch. Mix well.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the hot milk, pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk together until well blended. Add this mixture to the rice mixture and stir until combined.
  • Spray an 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray. Pour the rice pudding inside the pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
  • While the pudding is baking, mix together the cold butter, ½ cup brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon for the streusel.
  • After the rice pudding has baked 30 minutes, sprinkle the streusel on top of the pudding and bake for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until the pudding is baked through. The center of the rice pudding should not be liquidy at, but should be firm as a pumpkin pie texture would be.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 170mg | Potassium: 223mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 4805IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 2mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 385
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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Jane K
8 years ago

4 stars
I love Rice pudding .

Nancy A Nash Coleman
8 years ago

5 stars
I love fried rice … homemade or otherwise … and, I actually pretty much love all rice dishes!! YUM!!

Melissa Moore
9 years ago

I like to cook rice in water with beef bouillon cubes. Then I add cooked hamburger, corn and green beans to it. My kids LOVE it!

Annette
9 years ago

My favorite rice recipe is jambalaya using leftovers from the fridge.

ewhatley
9 years ago

I love making my Grandma’s recipe for rice pudding and I add almond extract/

Jessica Beard
9 years ago

My favorite rice recipe is making beef burritos with white rice and black beans.

Neiddy
9 years ago

I would make tuna & rice cakes

Amanda Sakovitz
9 years ago

I love rice pilaf!

Katherine
9 years ago

I havee a No-Peek chicken and rice casserole my family loves

Thomas Murphy
9 years ago

My favorite is pork fried rice.

Betty C
9 years ago

I love making fried rice because it’s so easy and you can really change it up with different meats and stir fry veggies.

erica best
9 years ago

i like to used rice in my pot stew

Debbie B
9 years ago

i like beef tips over rice!

maria cantu
9 years ago

I like to make rice with chicken.

Rebecca Graham
9 years ago

the favorite at my house is beef tips and rice.