This Creamy Protein Rice Pudding is a delicious twist on classic rice pudding, made with vanilla protein powder, milk, cinnamon, and a touch of sweetness. It's rich, creamy, and comforting, with three delicious topping combinations to choose from. Enjoy it warm or cold for breakfast, dessert, or a satisfying afternoon snack!
P.S. I think you will love my yogurt cluster bites recipe next time!
Your childhood rice pudding, all grown up!
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❤️ Why You'll Love This Protein Rice Pudding
- Creamy and comforting: Everything you love about traditional rice pudding, with a little extra protein.
- Simple ingredients: Made with everyday ingredients like rice, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and protein powder.
- Three delicious variations: Choose from strawberries and cream, mango and coconut, or peanut butter and jelly.
- Easy to customise: Adjust the sweetness, switch up the milk, or add your favourite toppings.
- Great for meal prep: Make a batch ahead of time and enjoy it warm or chilled throughout the week.
Three Delicious Protein Rice Pudding Toppings
Can't decide how to top your rice pudding? Here are three delicious ways to switch things up!
- 🍓 Strawberries and Cream: Fresh, juicy strawberries with a little cream. Simple, sweet, and oh-so-good!
- 🥜 Peanut Butter and Jelly: A swirl of creamy peanut butter and your favourite jam. It's like a PB&J sandwich, but better!
- 🥭 Mango, Yogurt, and Honey: Sweet mango, a dollop of creamy yogurt, and a drizzle of honey for a tropical twist.
Ingredients You'll Need
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this creamy protein rice pudding. Here's what you'll need, along with a few easy substitutions.
Salt: Just a pinch helps balance the sweetness and bring out the flavours.
White Rice: Regular white rice or sushi rice works well for a soft, creamy texture. Brown rice can also be used, but it will take longer to cook and have a chewier texture.
Milk: Gives the pudding its rich, creamy consistency. Whole milk works beautifully, but you can use almond, oat, or coconut milk for a dairy-free alternative.
Maple Syrup: Adds a touch of sweetness. Swap it for honey, agave syrup, or your preferred sweetener.
Cinnamon: Adds a lovely warmth to the pudding. You can also use a pinch of nutmeg or leave it out.
Vanilla Extract: Gives the rice pudding that classic sweet vanilla flavour. Almond extract can also work, but use less as it's much stronger.
Vanilla Protein Powder: Adds extra protein and a subtle vanilla flavour. Whey or plant-based protein powder can work, although the texture may vary depending on the brand.
👩🏼🍳 How to make protein rice pudding (3 ways)
1. Cook the Rice
In a medium saucepan, combine the uncooked rice, 2½ cups of milk, cinnamon, optional cardamom pod, salt, and maple syrup. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
2. Simmer Until Tender
Reduce the heat to low and partially cover the saucepan with a lid. Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Cooking time may vary depending on the type of rice used.
3. Make It Extra Creamy
Stir in the remaining 1 cup of milk and vanilla extract. Remove the cardamom pod, if using. Continue cooking over low heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and creamy.
4. Add the Protein Powder
Remove the saucepan from the heat. In a small bowl, mix the vanilla protein powder with a few tablespoons of warm milk or pudding liquid until smooth. Stir this mixture into the rice pudding until fully combined.
5. Let It Rest
Cover the saucepan and allow the pudding to rest for 5 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Add a splash of milk if you prefer a thinner consistency.
6. Add Your Favourite Toppings
Spoon the creamy rice pudding into serving bowls and choose one of the three delicious topping combinations below. Enjoy warm or chilled!
3 Delicious Rice Pudding Toppings
1. Strawberries and Cream 🍓
Top your rice pudding with fresh, halved strawberries and a swirl of cream or coconut cream. For an extra protein boost, mix a little vanilla protein powder into the cream.
2. Mango, Coconut & Yogurt 🥭
Add fresh or thawed mango chunks, a dollop of Greek yogurt, and a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes. A tropical twist that's creamy, fruity, and delicious!
3. Peanut Butter & Jelly 🥜
Swirl a spoonful of creamy peanut butter into your rice pudding. Top with your favourite jam or jelly and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts for extra crunch
📝 Tips and Tricks
- Choose the Right Rice: White rice or sushi rice works beautifully for a soft, creamy pudding. Short-grain rice is particularly good because it releases starch as it cooks.
- Keep It Low and Slow: Once the milk starts bubbling, reduce the heat and stir regularly. This helps prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan or the milk from scorching.
- Avoid Lumpy Protein Powder: Mix your protein powder with a little warm milk in a separate bowl before stirring it into the pudding off the heat. This helps create a smoother consistency.
- Adjust the Creaminess: Rice pudding naturally thickens as it cools. If yours becomes too thick, simply stir in a splash of milk until it's just how you like it.
- Make It Dairy-Free: Use almond, oat, or coconut milk and a dairy-free protein powder. Coconut milk adds a lovely richness, while almond milk gives a lighter result.
- Chocolate Lovers: Swap vanilla protein powder for chocolate protein powder and add 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder for a delicious chocolate variation.
- Don't Overdo the Sweetener: Some protein powders are already quite sweet, so taste your pudding before adding extra maple syrup.
❓ FAQS
Yes! Whey protein powder works well in rice pudding. For the smoothest texture, mix it with a little milk before stirring it into the pudding off the heat. Plant-based protein powders can also work, although the texture may be slightly different.
Whole milk gives rice pudding a rich, creamy texture. You can also use semi-skimmed milk, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk, depending on your preference.
Yes, rice is naturally gluten-free! Just make sure your protein powder and any additional toppings are certified gluten-free if you're preparing this for someone with coeliac disease.
Cooked rice can be used to make rice pudding, but I haven't personally tested it with this particular recipe. The milk quantities and cooking time would need adjusting.
Protein powder can sometimes become grainy when exposed to high heat. For a smoother texture, remove the saucepan from the heat before adding the protein powder, and mix it with a little milk first.
Absolutely! This rice pudding is delicious warm or chilled. It will thicken as it cools, so simply stir in a splash of milk if you prefer a creamier consistency.
Make-Ahead, Storage and Reheating
Make-Ahead
This creamy protein rice pudding is perfect for preparing ahead of time! Make a batch, divide it into individual portions, and enjoy it as an easy breakfast, snack, or dessert.
For food safety, cool the pudding quickly in shallow containers and refrigerate within one hour. Keep your toppings separate until you're ready to serve.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator at 5°C (41°F) or below. For the safest approach, eat refrigerated rice pudding within 24 hours.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions without toppings for up to 2 months for best quality. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. The texture may change slightly after freezing, so stir in a little milk if needed.
Reheating
- Microwave: Add a splash of milk and heat until steaming hot throughout, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Stovetop: Warm gently in a saucepan with a little extra milk, stirring frequently until steaming hot throughout.
Kitchen Tip: Only reheat rice pudding once. If you prefer it cold, enjoy it straight from the fridge!
Recipes to try next
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It genuinely helps me & I really appreciate your support! Nikki 💚
CREAMY PROTEIN RICE PUDDING (3 WAYS)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Creamy Protein Rice Pudding is a delicious twist on classic rice pudding, made with vanilla protein powder, milk, cinnamon, and a touch of sweetness. It's rich, creamy, and comforting, with three delicious topping combinations to choose from. Enjoy it warm or cold for breakfast, dessert, or a satisfying afternoon snack!
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked white rice (approximately 185g), rinsed under cold water
- 2 ½ cups milk of choice + 1 cup extra milk
- 3-4 tablespoons Maple Syrup (or sweetener of choice)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cardamon pod (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (use protein powder that you love with the best taste)
- TOPPING IDEAS
- 🍓 Strawberries and cream
- 🥭 Fresh or frozen mango chunks and roasted coconut flakes
- 🥜 Peanut butter and jelly (jam)
Instructions
Cook the Rice
- In a medium saucepan, combine the uncooked rice, 2½ cups of milk, cinnamon, optional cardamom pod, salt, and maple syrup. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Simmer Until Tender
- Reduce the heat to low and partially cover the saucepan with a lid. Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Cooking time may vary depending on the type of rice used.
Make It Extra Creamy
- Stir in the remaining 1 cup of milk and vanilla extract. Remove the cardamom pod, if using. Continue cooking over low heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and creamy.
Add the Protein Powder
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. In a small bowl, mix the vanilla protein powder with a few tablespoons of warm milk or pudding liquid until smooth. Stir this mixture into the rice pudding until fully combined.
Let It Rest
- Cover the saucepan and allow the pudding to rest for 5 minutes. It will continue to thicken as it cools. Add a splash of milk if you prefer a thinner consistency.
Add Your Favourite Toppings
- Spoon the creamy rice pudding into serving bowls and choose one of the three delicious topping combinations below. Enjoy warm or chilled!
Strawberries and Cream 🍓
- Top your rice pudding with fresh, halved strawberries and a swirl of cream or coconut cream. For an extra protein boost, mix a little vanilla protein powder into the cream.
Mango, Coconut & Yogurt 🥭
- Add fresh or thawed mango chunks, a dollop of Greek yogurt, and a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes. A tropical twist that's creamy, fruity, and delicious!
Peanut Butter & Jelly 🥜
- Swirl a spoonful of creamy peanut butter into your rice pudding. Top with your favourite jam or jelly and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts for extra crunch.
Notes
The best part about this Creamy Protein Rice Pudding is that it’s perfect for meal prep! You can make a big batch ahead of time and enjoy it throughout the week. Just follow the recipe, let the pudding cool to room temperature, then portion it into individual containers. Rice pudding lasts up to three to four days in the fridge.
Dairy-Free Option: Sub out the whole milk with almond milk or coconut milk. You’ll still get that rich, creamy texture but with a tropical twist.
Chocolate Protein Rice Pudding: Use chocolate protein powder and 2 teaspoons of good quality cocoa powder to make chocolate rice pudding.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 5 minutes: Rest time
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 248 kcal
- Sugar: 18.5 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 5.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40.5 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 9.7 g
The nutritional information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the information listed is not guaranteed.
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