Healthier Rice Pudding

Healthier Rice Pudding – A Gently Sweet, Family-Friendly Dessert

Rice pudding has long been a favorite comfort food around the world, but traditional recipes often use heavy cream, sugar, or egg yolks. This lighter version keeps things simple and more nourishing, while still delivering the creamy texture and flavor we love. This healthy dessert for kids is a cozy, nourishing treat that satisfies your sweet tooth without refined sugar, healthier rice pudding is just the thing. Made with simple, whole ingredients—white rice, water, milk or non-dairy milk, butter, cinnamon, and maple syrup—it’s creamy, comforting, and just the right amount of sweet. This version is safe for babies, toddlers, and older kids, making it a perfect family-friendly dessert or snack that can be enjoyed warm or cold.

Why This Healthier Rice Pudding?

• Made with real ingredients and no refined sugar

• Enriched with butter for healthy fats and flavor

• Naturally sweetened with maple syrup

• Full of calcium and energy-rich carbs

• Safe and suitable for babies, toddlers, and the whole family

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve warm as a cozy dessert or breakfast

• Chill and serve cold for a refreshing summer treat

• Top with fruit puree for babies or fresh berries for older kids

• Add a sprinkle of toasted coconut, chia seeds or banana on top for extra nutrients

Storage Instructions:

One of the best things about this healthier rice pudding is that it stores well for easy make-ahead snacks or desserts.

• Refrigerator: Let the rice pudding cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The texture may thicken as it chills, so add a splash of milk when reheating to loosen it up, but a lot of people like to eat it chilled.

• Freezer: For longer storage, portion the pudding into freezer-safe containers or silicone trays and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and eat cold or reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a bit of milk stirred in.

Tip: If serving to babies, freeze in small portions to defrost just what you need!

Ingredients & Substitutions:

Here’s what you need to make this kid-friendly rice pudding, plus some flexible swaps:

• White rice 
  – Use short or medium grain white rice for the creamiest texture.

• Milk or non-dairy milk 
  – Whole milk creates a rich, creamy pudding.
  – Substitute: Use oat, almond, coconut, or cashew milk for a dairy-free version. Avoid thin rice milk as it may yield a watery result.

• Butter
  – Adds richness and healthy fats, great for toddlers and babies.
  – Substitute: Use coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free option. Omit if desired.

• Cinnamon
  – Adds natural warmth and flavor.
  – Substitute: Try a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom, or skip if serving to very young babies.

• Maple syrup 
  – Naturally sweetens the pudding.
  – Substitute: For babies under 1 use date syrup, or mashed ripe banana for a fruit-sweetened option. Omit entirely for babies under 1 year.

Optional Add-ins: Vanilla extract, soft raisins, mashed fruit, shredded coconut, or finely chopped nuts for older children.

What You Need:

Small Pot

If you enjoyed this recipe, here are some healthy desserts for kids you should check out:

Healthy Date Cake

Healthy Banana Pudding

Banana Split