This spiced cherry arroz con leche is a festive twist on the classic arroz con leche. It’s a perfect dessert for Christmas or Three Kings Day. This delicious rice pudding incorporates home made spiced cherries giving it a delicious taste as well as a beautiful presentation perfect for the holiday season. We’re excited to embrace the holiday season and, like every year, I love sharing traditions like Las Posadas and el Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day) with my kids. This year we are hosting a holiday dinner for Three Kings Day for my in-laws to thank them for having shared their home with us for over a year now while we save to build our own house. My mother in law loves arroz con leche but I wanted to make this dessert really special so I combined it with homemade spiced cherries. Arroz con leche is a fairly easy dessert but the secret to making amazing arroz con leche lies in using using evaporated milk. The evaporated milk makes it creamier and gives it a delicious taste. We loved this recipe so much when I made it this week and we enjoyed it while putting up the tree. That is why we’re making it again

Spiced Cherry Arroz Con Leche

Ingredients for the Arroz Con Leche

• 3 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup of evaporated milk
• 1 12 oz can of condensed milk
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 cinnamon stick

Ingredients for the Spiced Cherries

• 2 1/2 cups of cherries, pitted (I used frozen cherries, defrosted)
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• zest of one lime
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon clove
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan combine all the ingredients for the spiced cherries. Heat until boiling softly then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20minutes.
2. Transfer to a glass container and let the spiced cherries cool.
3. Add rice, Carnation Evaporated Milk, milk, condensed milk, cinnamon stick and cinnamon stick to a medium saucepan. Heat until boiling softly.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid has reduced and the rice is to your desired consistency.
5. Refrigerate arroz con leche for a least an hour.
6. To make the spiced cherry arroz con leche arrange the ingredients in individual dessert cups. Add two tablespoons of spiced cherries, top with a layer or arroz con leche (rice pudding), add another layer of spiced cherries and a final layer of arroz con leche. Top with a few spiced cherries and lime zest and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Did de Reyes Guatemalan Holiday Traditions

We will be having this spiced cherry arroz con leche on January 6th, as we always have a special dinner on the eve of el Dia de Reyes. After dinner, we always set up the water and hay for the camels and wine for the Reyes Magos. The kids leave their shoes outside their door or under the tree so that each of the kings: Gaspar, Melchor and Baltazar will leave a present for them. On the morning of the 7th we all get up early to see what the Three Kings have left. My daughter always checks the hay and water first to see if the camels came too. My kids usually get books in Spanish from the Tres Reyes which is great because this motivates them to read more in Spanish. On that day we will usually have a Rosca de Reyes after lunch. Be sure to check out my super easy recipe for Rosca de Reyes!  Do you celebrate Three Kings Day with your familia?

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Spiced Cherry Arroz Con Leche

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

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Ingredients

• Ingredients for the Arroz Con Leche
• 3 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup of evaporated milk
• 1 12 oz can of condensed milk
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Ingredients for the Spiced Cherries
• 2 1/2 cups of cherries, pitted (I used frozen cherries, defrosted)
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• zest of one lime
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon clove
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice

Instructions

• In a small saucepan combine all the ingredients for the spiced cherries. Heat until boiling softly then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20minutes.
• Transfer to a glass container and let the spiced cherries cool.
  Add rice, Carnation Evaporated Milk, milk, condensed milk, cinnamon stick and cinnamon stick to a medium saucepan. Heat until boiling softly.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid has reduced and the rice is to your desired consistency.
• Refrigerate arroz con leche for a least an hour.
• To make the spiced cherry arroz con leche arrange the ingredients in individual dessert cups. Add two tablespoons of spiced cherries, top with a layer or arroz con leche (rice pudding), add another layer of spiced cherries and a final layer of arroz con leche.
• Top with a few spiced cherries and lime zest and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 424Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 150mgCarbohydrates: 77gFiber: 2gSugar: 54gProtein: 11g

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Delicious Arroz Con Leche Recipes: Amazing Rice Pudding Recipe Variations

This basic rice pudding recipe is also a great starting point for creating fun variations of arroz con leche. You and add all sorts of flavors and ingredients to this easy dessert. Let’s check out some fun twists on the classic arroz con leche:

• Caramel apple arroz con leche: This caramel apple arroz con leche recipe is so easy to make that even your kids will be able to prepare it. It makes for a delicious and easy fall dessert that everyone will love. This variation from the classic arroz con leche recipe incorporates baked apples, whipped cream and delicious dulce de leche.  is now one of my favorite desserts.
  
• Healthy arroz con leche: This healthy arroz con leche is a delicious and easy recipe, that is better for you without sacrificing flavor!  Made in minutes and with simple ingredients, this no-fuss healthy dessert is an easy-to-make recipe, the perfect blend of creamy and sweet. This healthy rice pudding guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth! The best part is that this recipe is healthier than the traditional arroz con leche so you can enjoy it this holiday season, or anytime, without feeling guilty.   
• Sweet potato arroz con leche: This sweet potato and orange rice pudding is a comforting fall dessert. It’s filled with autumn flavors and is so comforting it’s perfect for enjoying with a hot cup of coffee in front of the fire.
• Mango and coconut arroz con leche (vegan): If you like arroz con leche you’re sure to love this vegan mango and coconut arroz con leche! This tropical version of arroz con leche made with coconut milk combined with sweet and fresh mango and topped with fresh raspberries is the perfect summer dessert. This could even work as a delicious breakfast.
  
• Pumpkin arroz con leche: Pumpkin Arroz con Leche is a delightful and easy dessert that adds a seasonal twist to the classic arroz con leche. Made with long grain rice, cinnamon stick, water, egg, milk, condensed milk, vanilla extract, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice, this dessert is a comforting pumpkin dessert perfect for fall. 
• Eggnog arroz con leche: This rice pudding recipe replaces the milk for eggnog giving the arroz con leche a holiday makeover. It is topped with tart cranberry sauce that balances the sweetness and makes this arroz con leche parfait the perfect option for entertaining this holiday season.  

• Hazelnut coffee arroz con leche: This delicious recipe for hazelnut coffee rice pudding combines the creaminess of the arroz con leche with the aromatic flavor of the hazelnut coffee for a dessert that tastes like a decadent hazelnut latte. 
• Arroz emperatriz with cranberries: Arroz Emperatriz With Cranberry Sauce is a festive dessert that puts a twist on the classic arroz con leche. This creamy and comforting dessert features cooked rice, cinnamon sticks, milk, and sweetened condensed milk. The addition of lime zest, orange zest, and cranberry sauce adds a refreshing and fruity element. With its beautiful presentation, this dessert is an excellent choice for holiday celebrations. Follow the simple instructions to create this delightful Guatemalan delicacy and enjoy a special treat during the festive season.

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Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz

Paula moved from her native Guatemala to SW Florida with her husband and two children and together they are discovering what it means to live life between two languages.

Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .

When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.

Latest posts by Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz (see all)

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