Description
A creamy, sweet, and spiced iced coffee drink made with homemade rice horchata and cold brew. This easy recipe takes just 5 minutes of active time and offers a healthier, customizable alternative to coffee shop drinks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup white rice (long-grain)
- 2 cups water (for soaking)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 cup cold brew concentrate
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2–3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ice cubes
- Optional: pinch of nutmeg, whipped cream, or stevia
Instructions
- Combine rice, water, and cinnamon stick in a jar or pitcher. Cover and soak in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight (or soak in hot water for 30 minutes if short on time).
- Drain the rice, reserving the soaking water. Place rice and soaking water into a blender.
- Add sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of nutmeg to the blender. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth and white.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or nut milk bag into a bowl, pressing down on solids to extract all liquid. Discard solids.
- In a small bowl, whisk together heavy cream, ground cinnamon, and a teaspoon of sugar until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour the strained horchata base over the ice, filling about 3/4 full.
- Slowly pour the cold brew concentrate over the horchata.
- Drizzle the cinnamon cream over the top to create a marbled effect. Stir gently before drinking or sip straight to taste the layers.
Notes
Soaking the rice overnight extracts more starch and flavor, resulting in a richer taste. Do not skip the straining step to avoid a gritty texture. The horchata base can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. The cinnamon cream should be made fresh. If using honey instead of sugar, warm it slightly to help it dissolve in cold liquids.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 40
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: horchata, iced coffee, cold brew, cinnamon cream, homemade coffee, dairy-free option, sugar-free option, easy recipe, weeknight drink