Rice milk, made with rice, water, and your favorite sweetener. It's so smooth and tasty, very easy to make, and ready in 5 just minutes!

Rice milk is one of my favorite dairy-free alternatives to cow's milk. It's smooth, full of flavor, and perfect to have with anything that calls for regular milk. Besides, store-bought plant milk is more expensive and packed with lots of sugar, preservatives, and additives.
This beverage is more digestible than other milk substitutes like soy milk and lighter than other kinds of nut milk. It's also suitable for celiacs, lactose intolerants, people with nut allergies, and, of course, for vegans!
I like to make this milk with brown rice because it's healthier and more nutritious, but you can also use a different type of rice. It's a delicious, smooth, and tasty drink, as well as more inexpensive than other types of plant milk. Also, you don't need to soak the rice grains.
To prepare this rice milk you only need cooked rice, water, a blender, and a nut milk bag. Serve it hot or cold and customize it with some vanilla extract, cocoa or carob powder, and even a cinnamon stick!
How to make rice milk - Step by step
- Cook rice according to package directions. Drain and let it cool down. You can also use leftover rice.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth (photo 1).
- Strain the mixture using a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, napkin, or a strainer (photo 2). This step is optional.
- Use or serve your rice milk immediately.
Pro tips
- To make this recipe you can use any kind of rice, but my favorite ones are brown rice and short-grain white rice. Feel free to use long-grain rice.
- Sweetener is optional, although you can use sugar or syrup, whatever you prefer. Just add it slowly to taste.
- There're some rice milk recipes that contain a little bit of salt to enhance the flavor or even some oil, but I like it better without it.
- For creamier milk, feel free to use less water.
- Serve this non-dairy milk hot or cold with cocoa powder to make a vegan version of chocolate milk and eat it with some vegan zucchini bread, vegan peanut butter cookies, vegan donuts, or even vegan banana pancakes.
What is rice milk?
It is a vegan alternative to dairy milk. It is suitable for people who can't consume nuts or soy, and it has a very light and refreshing flavor.
Is rice milk good for you?
Of course! As long as you can eat rice, this milk will be good for you. One of my favorite parts about it is that you can use leftover rice!
How long will this rice milk keep?
This lactose-free milk recipe doesn't contain any preservatives or additives, so it's absolutely fresh and natural. That is why you should make sure to keep it in an airtight container in the fridge and it will last for 3-5 days.
Looking for more milk substitutes?
Did you make this rice milk?
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Rice Milk
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup cooked rice, I used brown rice, see notes
- 2 cups water
- 2 Medjool or 4 Deglet Nour dates, optional
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package directions. Drain and let it cool down. You can also use leftover rice.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender (cooked rice, water, and dates) and blend until smooth.
- Strain the mixture using a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, napkin, or a strainer. This step is optional.
- Use your rice milk immediately and serve it hot or cold with cocoa powder to make a vegan version of chocolate milk. Feel free to eat it with some vegan zucchini bread, vegan peanut butter cookies, vegan donuts, or even vegan banana pancakes.
- Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Notes
- If you want to cook your rice from scratch, use โ cup of 55 g of uncooked rice and cook it according to package directions.
- To make this rice milk you can use any kind of rice, but my favorite ones are brown rice and short-grain white rice. Feel free to use long-grain rice.
- Sweetener is optional, although you can use sugar or syrup, whatever you prefer. Just add it slowly to taste.
- There're some rice milk recipes that contain a little bit of salt to enhance the flavor or even some oil, but I like it better without it.
- For creamier milk, feel free to use less water.
- Cooking time is not included in prep time.
- Nutritional info has been calculated before straining the milk.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in September of 2014, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in January of 2022.
Rai says
I love rice and milk. You can add cinnamon powder on top to make it more tasty.
Iosune says
Hi Rai! Sounds great ๐
Remi says
Thank you for the recipe. I will add sole almonds and share the result
Iosune says
Hi Remi! You're so welcome ๐ Hope you liked it!
Cleo says
Will definitely try this and let you know. I will try it with sweet rice.
Iosune says
Hi Cleo! Hope you enjoy it ๐
Kat says
Can this milk be heated up and used in coffee,desserts etc? Thanks!
Iosune says
Hi Kat! Yes, you can use it to make all kinds of recipes ๐
Joseph E. Hicswa - NEW JERSEY says
Thank you.
Humans like you make Life on Earth nicer, affordable for ME & those who have less than me. ARE YOU MARRIED?
Iosune says
Hi Joseph! Thank you so much ๐
Janet B kovatch says
I avoid dairy products because I am on a low potassium diet for my kidneys. Can you tell me the potassium content of the rice milk made with this recipe? I would only use white rice to avoid the rice bran.
Iosune says
Hi Janet! I'm so sorry, but I don't know. You could use this web though: https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
Allie says
Where do you find your jars for the milk (the skinny screw top ones)? Thanks!!
Iosune says
Hi Allie! I live in Spain, so I can't help you unless you live here ๐ Sorry!
Bryant says
Hi friend
Thanks for your efforts.
Any knowledge on vitamin B drink derived from rice?
Iosune says
Hi Bryant! I'm so sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about...
Elizabeth says
Iโve been making hemp milk for my morning coffee for about a year. Iโm starting to think itโs too high in fat/oil. Iโve decided to try rice milk. I do have a strainer bag, but I also have a high speed blender, so Iโm hoping to avoid the straining. Yours was the only recipe Iโve seen that says straining is optional. So Iโll try it that way first. Iโm assuming that rice milk can be frozen? I made 4-5 bottles of hemp milk at a time, and froze them with no ill effects. Have you frozen any?
Iosune says
Hi Elizabeth! I've never frozen myself, so I don't know, but I think it could work...
Kiranmai says
Can I make cream for decorating cake from this rice milk
Iosune says
Hi Kiranmai! I've never tried it myself, so I don't know, but you could try my coconut whipped cream: https://simpleveganblog.com/how-to-make-coconut-whipped-cream/ It's out of this world!
Zhino says
I have sone have problems with lactose in cow milk,,, I want to do your recipe,, my quetion is can I use dates for 9 month baby?
Iosune says
Hi Zhino! You should always ask all your health questions to a doctor ๐ Have a nice day!
Bev says
How in the world could anyghi g so nice be so easy. I've been paying loads of money buying rice milk. You are my forever friend. Added your page to my home screen for quick access.
Iosune says
Hi Bev! I'm so happy to hear that ๐ Have a nice day!