• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Elise Tries To Cook
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Meal Prep Friendly Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Clean Eating Snacks
    • Clean Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Juices and Smoothies
  • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact Me
  • Work With Me
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe index
  • Cocktails and Drinks
  • Meal Prep Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Vegan Horchata (Agua de Horchata)

    Published: Apr 3, 2022 by Elise Shivamber · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This vegan horchata recipe makes a creamy and slightly sweet milky drink with a hint of cinnamon spice. It’s the perfect drink when you want something light and refreshing. You can even make this creamy horchata into a mocktail or cocktail!  

    Two glassed of horchata with a cinnamon stick topped with ground cinnamon.
    Jump to:
    • What is horchata?
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients
    • How to make vegan horchata
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    What is horchata?

    Horchata is a type of agua fresca, translating to “fresh water”, which is a refreshing drink made from grains, fruits, or seeds, combined with water and cane sugar. Some of my favorite agua frescas are Agua de pina (pineapple agua fresca), Agua de naranja (orange agua fresca) and Agua de pepino (cucumber agua fresca).

    Horchata is a broader term for a variety of beverages made from plant based milks popular in Latin America. Different regions have their own versions. Some common variations are made with tiger nuts, sesame seeds, or rice. To make the drink sweeter and more creamy, it is common to find versions made with whole milk or condensed milk. 

    This version of horchata is similar to a Mexican horchata recipe, using rice milk and flavored with cinnamon. 

    Why this recipe works

    Typical Mexican horchata uses a combination of evaporated milk and condensed milk. To make this lightened up vegan horchata version, we use oat milk, which makes it dairy free but still gives it a creamy texture. Click here for more vegan recipes. 

    This recipe is:

    • Made with limited ingredients
    • Easy
    • Vegan
    • Gluten free
    • Dairy free

    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make vegan horchata, including water, rice, cinnamon, and oat milk.
    • Uncooked long-grain white rice - You could also make this rice horchata with jasmine rice. 
    • Oat milk or coconut milk - To make this vegan horchata, I substitute dairy milk for oat milk or coconut milk. You could also try this with unsweetened almond milk. 
    • Cinnamon sticks - It’s best to use whole cinnamon sticks for this recipe rather than ground cinnamon. 

    Fun Fact! Mexican cinnamon is different from the regular cinnamon we typically use in the United States (cassia cinnamon). Mexican cinnamon is typically sweeter, more complex in flavor and is so soft that it almost crumbles in your hands. While the best, most authentic Mexican horchata recipes would use Mexican cinnamon, it’s extremely hard to get your hands on, even in Mexican grocery stores. For this reason, you can substitute for regular cinnamon. 

    See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements. 

    How to make vegan horchata

    Add uncooked long grain white rice, filtered water, and cinnamon sticks to a large bowl. Soak 4-6 hours minimum, best if overnight (up to 24 hours). Leave soaking rice in the refrigerator. The cinnamon sticks will soften and open up as they soak with the rice, adding even greater flavor!

    Water being poured into a glass bowl with rice and cinnamon sticks.
    Combine rice, water, and cinnamon.
    A hand holding a cinnamon stick over a glass container with soaking rice.
    The cinnamon sticks will open as they soak.

    Once soaked, blend the soaked white rice, water and cinnamon sticks in a high-speed blender until smooth. You should not see any large pieces of rice or cinnamon.

    A blender with rice, water, and a cinnamon stick before blending.
    Add the soaked rice, water, and cinnamon to a blender.
    A blender with blended cinnamon, water, and rice.
    Blend until smooth.

    Strain the rice mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth into a pitcher or large measuring cup. Add oat milk (or coconut milk) to the pitcher and stir to combine. 

    Pouring blended rice mixture into a glass container through a mesh strainer.
    Strain through a mesh strainer.
    Pouring milk into blended horchata in a glass measuring cup.
    Top with oat milk and stir.

    Serve over ice immediately and garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick, or allow the flavors of the agua de horchata to combine in the fridge for at least 4 hours and then serve. 

    If serving at a later time, make sure to stir before serving. It is completely normal for the milk and rice milk to separate.

    I like the natural sweetness from the oat milk, but If you wish to sweeten your homemade horchata, you can try honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup.

    To make this horchata into a cocktail, add a shot of dark rum or tequila. 

    Expert Tips

    When to blend the rice: The longer you can soak the rice (up to 24 hours), the better! This is because the liquid gets the taste of the cinnamon and rice, to create a creamier and more flavorful horchata. The cinnamon sticks should be completely opened up - almost flat!

    Speed up the soak: To speed up the time the white rice soaks in the water, soak the white rice in boiling water. If you use boiling water, you can soak the rice for 2 hours before it’s ready to blend. However, the taste will be best if waiting overnight.

    Prep ahead for best taste: If you can, make horchata the day before wanting to serve it. The longer it sits, the better it tastes! (Of course within the window of storage!)

    Storage directions: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is horchata vegan? 

    Traditional horchata is made with plant based ingredients, but now it is common to see horchata recipes made with cow’s milk, evaporated milk, or condensed milk to add extra sweetness and creaminess. This horchata recipe is vegan, made with plant based non-dairy milk!

    What Does Horchata Taste Like?

    Horchata de arroz is a creamy and milky sweet rice beverage that can be flavored with cinnamon or vanilla extract. 

    Can horchata be served hot?

    Horchata is delicious served hot or cold. Serve it cold over ice, or warm it up in a mug for cold days. 

    A glass of horchata with a cinnamon stick topped with ground cinnamon.

    Related Recipes

    More refreshing drink recipes!

    • Agua de piña (pineapple agua fresca)
    • Agua de naranja (orange agua fresca)
    • Agua de pepino (cucumber agua fresca)
    • Vegan Eggnog

    More delicious Mexican food recipes

    • Dutch Oven Carnitas (Authentic Mexican Carnitas)
    • Healthy Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)
    • Authentic Mexican Chilaquiles Rojos
    • Vegan Mexican Rice

    If you try this recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below so I know what you think! Follow Elise Tries to Cook on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and Subscribe via email to receive the latest recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    A glass of horchata with a cinnamon stick topped with ground cinnamon.

    Vegan Horchata

    Elise Shivamber
    This vegan horchata recipe makes a creamy and slightly sweet milky drink with a hint of cinnamon spice. It’s the perfect drink when you want something light and refreshing. You can even make this creamy horchata into a mocktail or cocktail!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Soak time 1 d
    Total Time 1 d 10 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 5 servings
    Calories 190 kcal

    Equipment

    • Blender
    • Mesh strainer
    • Measuring cup

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
    • 4 cups water
    • 2 cinnamon sticks
    • 2 cups oat milk or coconut milk

    Instructions
     

    • Add uncooked long-grain white rice, water, and cinnamon sticks to a large bowl.
    • Soak 4-6 hours minimum, best if overnight (up to 24 hours). Leave soaking rice in the refrigerator.
    • Once soaked, blend the soaked white rice, water and cinnamon sticks in a high-speed blender until smooth. You should not see any large pieces of rice or cinnamon.
    • Strain into a pitcher or large measuring cup.
    • Add oat milk (or coconut milk) to the pitcher and stir to combine.
    • Serve over ice immediately and garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick, or allow the flavors of the agua de horchata to combine in the fridge for at least 4 hours and then serve.
    • If serving at a later time, make sure to stir before serving. It is completely normal for the milk and rice milk to separate.

    Notes

    When to blend the rice: The longer you can soak the rice (up to 24 hours), the better! This is because the liquid gets the taste of the cinnamon and rice, to create a creamier and more flavorful horchata. The cinnamon sticks should be completely opened up - almost flat!
    Speed up the soak: To speed up the time the white rice soaks in the water, soak the white rice in boiling water. If you use boiling water, you can soak the rice for 2 hours before it’s ready to blend. However, the taste will be best if waiting overnight.
    Prep ahead for best taste: If you can, make horchata the day before wanting to serve it. The longer it sits, the better it tastes! (Of course within the window of storage!)
    Storage directions: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 57mgPotassium: 96mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 201IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 168mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword 4-ingredient, agua fresca, cocktail, drinks, mocktail
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Some background information in this post was obtained from the articles Agua Fresca and Horchata. 

    Elise Shivamber

    Ever since she taught herself how to cook, Elise has been making simple recipes with fresh ingredients. She believes the best recipes highlight the ingredients by using the best of cooking techniques. She’s an avid juicer and has juiced each and every fruit and vegetable there is. She also creates savory recipes inspired by what’s available in California. Many of her authentic Mexican recipes are passed down from her from mother in law and is a huge influence on her cooking.

    « Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Herb Salsa Verde
    Cilantro Garlic Sauce »

    Sign up!

    For clean eats and drinks recipes sent directly to your inbox!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Elise Shivamber Photo

    Hey there, I’m Elise! I use fresh, simple ingredients to make a healthy lifestyle more accessible. With clean ingredients, these recipes will make your heart and belly happy. Thanks for making me a part of your cooking journey!

    About →

    New Recipes

    • Gluten Free Mashed Potatoes
    • Gluten Free Chicken Meatballs
    • Honey Lavender Latte
    • Gluten Free Breakfast Sandwich
    Sign Up! For weekly emails.

    Healthy Summer Meals

    • Carne Asada Quesadillas
    • Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Herb Salsa Verde
    • Healthy Green Chile Beef Enchiladas
    • fried fish taco,fried fish tacos
      Gluten Free Fried Fish Tacos

    Fave Summer Drinks

    • Spicy Skinny Margarita
    • Strawberry Agua Fresca (Agua de Fresa)
    • pineapple agua fresca,agua fresca,pineapple water
      Agua de Piña (Pineapple Water)
    • mexican mule,tequila mule,moscow mule with tequila
      the Best Mexican Mule (aka Tequila Mule)

    As Featured In

    the food gawker logo of a bowl above food gawker text
    the feed feed logo of circle surrounding two spoons

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

    Let's Connect!

    • Find us on Facebook
    • Find us on Instagram
    • Find us on Pinterest
    • Newsletter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2022 Elise Tries to Cook

    AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE AFFILIATE, I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.