Homemade Horchata

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked white long-grain rice
• 5 cups water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 white sugar
• 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Pulse rice, cinnamon stick and water in a blender for a minute. The rice should not be finely ground but coarsely ground.
2. Let this mixture sit for a few hours at room temperature. You are letting the water soak up the rice and cinnamon flavors. 
3. Pour the mixture through a cheesecloth into a pitcher to strain out the liquid. The cheesecloth helps keep out any pieces of rice or cinnamon. Give the cheesecloth a squeeze until you have collected all of the liquid in your pitcher. 
4. Add the milk, sugar and vanilla extract into your pitcher and stir until blended. 
5. Chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. 

Horchata is one of my favorite Mexican drinks. I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of each glass when I serve it to my guest. With cinco de mayo right around the corner I suggest that you give this recipe a try.