This post may contain affiliate links.
Chocolate Rice Pudding is the cozy, creamy, chocolate spiked twist on classic rice pudding that works just as well for breakfast as it does for dessert, and I started making it on chilly mornings when Maddie wanted something warm, sweet, and a little bit chocolatey. If you love an easy chocolate comfort treat like our chocolate poke cake, this stovetop pudding comes together in about 20 minutes.
It uses instant rice and a handful of pantry staples, so you can go from craving to a warm bowl of chocolate pudding in no time.
Chocolate Rice Pudding Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 455kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Creamy rice pudding with rich melted chocolate and warm cinnamon
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our homemade hot fudge sauce
Quick Answer
Make Chocolate Rice Pudding by simmering instant rice with milk, sugar, and salt until creamy. Temper beaten eggs with a little of the hot mixture, whisk them back into the pot, and cook for a minute to thicken. Take it off the heat and stir in chocolate chips, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth, then let it cool slightly and serve.
Jump to:
- Chocolate Rice Pudding Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Chocolate Rice Pudding
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Chocolate Rice Pudding FAQs
- Other Recommended Chocolate Dessert Recipes
- Chocolate Rice Pudding
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Instant rice makes it fast. Using instant rice means this pudding turns creamy and ready in about 20 minutes instead of an hour.
- Eggs make it rich and custardy. Tempering in a couple of eggs gives the pudding a silky, custard like body.
- Chocolate melts right in. Stirring chocolate chips into the warm pudding off the heat makes every spoonful rich and chocolatey.
- A little cinnamon adds warmth. A pinch of cinnamon rounds out the chocolate with a cozy, comforting note.
- It works morning or night. Sweet enough for dessert but cozy enough for breakfast, it is a treat any time of day.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This Chocolate Rice Pudding is creamy, cozy, and rich with real melted chocolate.
- It comes together fast on the stovetop with simple pantry ingredients.
- It is comforting served warm or chilled, just like our easy Oreo dirt cake.
Key Ingredients
Here is what makes this Chocolate Rice Pudding work, and why each piece matters.
- Instant rice: the shortcut that makes this pudding creamy fast, do not swap in long grain rice.
- Milk: whole milk gives the richest, creamiest pudding, but any milk works.
- Eggs: tempered in, they thicken the pudding into a silky custard.
- Chocolate chips: semi sweet chips melt right in for deep chocolate flavor, use your favorite.
- Cinnamon and vanilla: they warm up the chocolate, the same cozy combo we love in our homemade hot fudge sauce.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This Chocolate Rice Pudding is easy to make your own.
- Use dark or milk chocolate chips, or a chopped chocolate bar, for a different chocolate flavor.
- Add a pinch of espresso powder to deepen the chocolate, or a dash of nutmeg for extra warmth.
- Stir in a spoonful of peanut butter or a handful of mini marshmallows for a fun twist.
- Top it with whipped cream and extra chips, like we do on our Oreo dirt cake.
How to Make Chocolate Rice Pudding
- Cook the rice. Place the milk, instant rice, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then simmer for about 6 minutes.
- Temper the eggs. Whisk a couple tablespoons of the hot rice mixture into the lightly beaten eggs to warm them gently.
- Combine. Whisk the tempered eggs back into the pot and cook for another minute to thicken.
- Thicken the pudding. Stir until the pudding is creamy and coats the back of a spoon.
- Add the chocolate. Take the pot off the heat and add the chocolate chips, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Stir until smooth. Whisk until the chocolate melts in completely, then let it sit 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Stir constantly at the boil. Keeping the rice moving prevents it from sticking and scorching.
- Temper the eggs slowly. Whisking in a little hot liquid first keeps the eggs from scrambling.
- Use instant rice. This recipe is built for instant rice, not long grain, so the timing works out creamy.
- Add chocolate off the heat. Stirring it in away from the burner keeps the chocolate smooth, not grainy.
- Thin it if needed. Stir in a splash of warm milk if the pudding gets too thick as it cools.
- Serve warm or chilled. It is delicious both ways, so enjoy it however you like.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This Chocolate Rice Pudding is wonderful served warm in a bowl with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of extra chocolate chips.
Chill it and serve it cold for a make ahead dessert, or pair it with a drizzle of our homemade hot fudge sauce for extra decadence.
It is cozy for breakfast topped with fresh berries, or for dessert alongside our cosmic brownie cookies. For another creamy chocolate treat, try our chocolate poke cake.
Chocolate Rice Pudding FAQs
Yes, make Chocolate Rice Pudding ahead and refrigerate it. It thickens as it chills, so stir in a splash of warm milk to loosen it before serving.
Store leftover Chocolate Rice Pudding in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Enjoy it cold or reheat gently with a little extra milk.
Yes, freeze Chocolate Rice Pudding in an airtight container for up to two months. Thaw it in the fridge and stir in warm milk to bring back the creamy texture.
This recipe is formulated for instant rice. If you use cooked long grain rice, the texture and timing will differ, so adjust the liquid and cook time as needed.
If your Chocolate Rice Pudding is too thin, simmer it a little longer or whisk in a slurry of cornstarch and water to thicken it up.
Chocolate Rice Pudding works as both. It is sweet enough for dessert but cozy and filling enough to enjoy as a warm breakfast.
Looking for more chocolate comfort? Try our homemade hot fudge sauce next.
Chocolate Rice Pudding
Ingredients
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup instant rice
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place milk, rice, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan or skillet.3 cups milk, 1 cup instant rice, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and let simmer uncovered for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 6 minutes, take a spoon and whisk a couple of tablespoons of the rice mixture into the beaten eggs.2 large eggs
- Whisk the eggs into the skillet and combine. Let cook for an additional minute to thicken.
- Take off the heat and add in the chocolate, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla.½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whisk to combine. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes to cool and serve.
Notes
- This recipe is formulated to use instant rice so make sure you use that instead of long-grain rice.
- Use any of your favorite chocolate flavors either in chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or baking bar.
- If this turns out too thin it can be thickened up with cornstarch and water, see my suggestions above on how to do that.
- You can add more or less cinnamon to fit your flavor profile.
- This can be frozen, see my tips above.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
This was always a welcome dessert whenever we had leftover rice. Her recipe was rice, sugar to sweeten, cream if you have it otherwise milk will do and a beaten egg, don’t forget the vanilla, lol. Never any measurements. This recipe came out exactly like hers. Thank you not only for a tasty desserts but fond memories.
oh yeah! mixing rich and creamy rice pudding and add in some luscious chocolate!! What a heavenly idea and so delish!!
Oh my goodness!!! This looks so good! Thank you for sharing in on Show Me Saturday!
I love rice pudding so this looks so good to me. I also love chocolate and cinnamon. Pinned!