Cooking with Kids: Arroz con Leche Mexicano
Popular in many Latin American countries and Spain, Arroz con Leche is a delicious dessert that kids can easily help make. It’s a simple rice pudding recipe that is made by cooking rice in milk with sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. As part of our study of Mexico, we prepared Arroz con Leche Mexicano as a sweet afternoon treat.
Arroz con Leche Mexicano
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Cooking Class Global Feast
As part of the Global Explorers Club, we’re using the cookbook Cooking Class Global Feast!: 44 Recipes That Celebrate the World’s Cultures to help us explore food from around the world.
Check it out >
Tools you’ll need to make arroz con leche:
Just a few ingredients
Tips & Tricks
- When working alongside children in the kitchen, it’s always a good idea to measure all the ingredients beforehand.
- If you have multiple children who will be cooking alongside you, it’s easier to take turns or split the steps evenly.
- Some people prefer to eat arroz con leche warm, while others prefer it cold. Be sure to pop some in the fridge so your children can try eating it both ways.
Learn more about
Arroz con Leche
The Global Explorers Club
An “Around the World” Curriculum
Explore the world with your children and begin learning about different peoples and their cultures, while sharing engaging stories and folk tales from around the world. You’ll meet artists and musicians, sample global cuisine, create art, and play games together.
How to Make Arroz con Leche Mexicano
STEP 1: Rinse the rice in cold water.
STEP 2: Add rice, water, and a cinnamon stick to a pot. Bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, place a lid on the pot and turn heat to down to low. Allow rice to simmer for 15 minutes, or until most of the water has been absorbed.
STEP 3: Crack the egg into a mixing bowl and whisk it well. If you’re working with younger children, you may wish to have them initially crack the egg into a smaller prep bowl and then transfer to the mixing bowl.



STEP 4: Add the milk and sugar to the mixing bowl. Stir well.

STEP 5: Once your rice is finished cooking, remove the cinnamon stick. Then pour the egg, milk, and sugar mixture over the cooked rice.

STEP 6: Bring the rice pudding to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and allow the pudding to cook until it thickens, stirring often. It took about 30 minutes for our pudding to thicken.
STEP 7: Once the pudding has thickened, add the vanilla and raisins.


STEP 7: It’s time to eat! You may enjoy arroz con leche warm or cold.

For more global recipes, check out the book Cooking Class Global Feast: 44 Recipes That Celebrate the World’s Cultures. In addition to all the cooking fun your family will enjoy using this cookbook, you’ll also receive the following extras:
- Country flag stickers that can be used to make toothpick flags’
- A global food passport
- Flash cards that teach you how to say “I’m hungry” in different languages around the world
If you’ve made this recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you prefer to eat arroz con leche warm or cold? Please share your experiences below!
Check out more resources for Mexico:
The Global Explorers Club
Mexico
- Frida Kahlo: Art for Kids
- How to Make Piñata Dolls
- Children’s Books About Mexico