Description
A silky, cinnamon-kissed, brown sugar-sweetened iced coffee drink made with homemade rice milk horchata and cold brew. It tastes like a dessert but serves as a refreshing morning staple.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups water (for soaking)
- 2 large cinnamon sticks (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups milk (whole, oat, or almond)
- 3–4 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1.5 cups cold brew coffee
- Ice cubes
- Ground cinnamon for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse the long-grain white rice thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Place the rinsed rice in a large bowl or pitcher, add cinnamon sticks, and cover with 2 cups of water. Soak at room temperature for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Drain the rice (reserving soaking water if desired). Add the soaked rice, cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and 2 cups of milk to a blender.
- Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is completely smooth and white.
- Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag or fine-mesh strainer into a clean pitcher, squeezing gently to extract liquid. Discard solids.
- Taste the horchata and adjust sweetness if needed. Refrigerate until cold (1-2 hours).
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
- Pour 1.5 cups of cold brew coffee over the ice.
- Slowly pour the chilled horchata over the coffee to layer, then stir gently to combine.
- Dust with ground cinnamon or garnish with a cinnamon stick and serve immediately.
Notes
Rinsing the rice is crucial to remove excess starch and prevent a slimy texture. Do not skip the soaking step as it ensures the rice blends smoothly. For a richer version, use half milk and half heavy cream. The horchata base can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. If using ground cinnamon, strain twice to avoid grit.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 40
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: horchata, cold brew, iced coffee, cinnamon, brown sugar, rice milk, gluten-free, dairy-free option, morning drink, summer drink