It is no secret that I love to cook, but did you know that I love to make yummy desserts whether that be pastries, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, puddings and more? Well I do and I have always baked goodies and created delicious desserts for my friends and family members because they love it plus when I used to manage a store…I would make baked goods for my staff regularly and they always looked forward to it. There is just something special about desserts as they make you happy right? Just thinking of delicious desserts can make me smile which is why I love making them and sharing them with everyone I know but did you know that some of my newest and most loved dessert recipes are made using rice? Today I am sharing with you 5 comforting and super yummy desserts that you can make with rice and you will be blown away at how delicious they are.

Rice Pudding

Rice Pudding is the perfect dessert for anytime of the year but especially in the winter months. With the right rice pudding recipe, you will be enjoying the most luxurious and delicious dessert. The first time that my husband had me try rice pudding… I hate to admit it but I was not too keen on the idea as I was unsure of how a dessert made with rice could be good. I had only ever enjoyed rice as a side dish with a savory meal. Well let me tell you that I was  pleasantly surprised as rice pudding is a super delicious and creamy dessert that has now become one of my all time favorites plus it is gluten free which is extra fabulous.

Rice Pudding is a dessert or breakfast made with rice cooked in milk and water. It is then sweetened with sugar and can include other ingredients depending on the type of rice pudding you are making. There are some yummy variations including chocolate rice pudding and even pumpkin spice rice pudding but for me a simple recipe of rice pudding topped with a bit of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon is my favorite way to enjoy it.

Calas ~ Rice Fritters

Louisiana is well known for its delicious foods as it is a culinary mecca for the flavors of all things Creole and Cajun cuisine. Recently I had the chance to try a sweet treat that I totally fell in love from the area that is made from rice. These morsels are known as Calas, an old New Orleans tradition, which are fried rice fritters that you can find everywhere and anywhere in the French Quarters of New Orleans. They are made with cooked rice, flour, sugar and spices that are deep fried to perfection and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Italian Rice Cake

My husband is Italian so I love finding recipes to make for him from Italy which is where Italian Rice Cakes (Torta Di Riso) comes into the mix here as its a delicious dessert made with rice and that is perfection also for anyone on a gluten free diet. This Italian Rice Cake is a light and yummy cake that can be prepared with some different variations from the various regions of Italy. The recipe that I have made for my husband is typical of Emilia Romagna which is known as a cake in Italy that is made for Easter, but that is now made all year long. It has a delicious and fresh lemon taste that is so refreshing and yummy. The recipe is easy to make with milk, butter, grated lemon rind, almonds, raisins, sugar, eggs, rum and rice as well as any other ingredients you may want to add or remove to suite your personal tastes. Arborio rice is the perfect rice for this recipe as it provides a smooth texture to the dessert. This is perfect for after dinner or even as an afternoon snack with some coffee.

Thai Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

Thai Mango Sticky Rice Dessert is a classic Thai dessert known as khao niaow ma muang (mango sticky rice). This is a seriously yummy and scrumptious recipe that is served as a street food in Thailand and at Thai restaurants throughout the world. It provides you with the sweet treat you are looking for with a delicious tropical pop of flvors from the vibrant Mango. This recipe is super easy to make too at home and the recipe uses just a few simple ingredients. Ensure that you have the ripest most delicious mangos available, good quality coconut milk and Thai Sweet Rice which is a sticky rice that can be found in Asian food stores and well stock supermarkets. You simply make the sticky rice in a pot with coconut milk and brown sugar which adds delicious flavor to the rice and sauce. Whe its cooked… you simply scoop the rice into a bowl, add some fresh mango slices and smother it with sweet coconut sauce to create this delicious Thai dessert.

Sweet Arancini

This is a delicious dessert made with leftover rice or risotto and it is a true delicacy that is common in Italy. This is basically fried rice pudding and it is amazingly delicious. I recently found a recipe for Sweet Arancini that is the classic recipe with a modern twist of sweetness due to the addition if Nutella. This is also perfect served with dipping sauces and you can make a bunch of these… traditional Sweet Arancini and Nutella Arancini to create the perfect dessert board for your family and friends to enjoy. I will be making these for Christmas Eve and bringing to a family gathering and they are all Italians and will just love this!

So what do you think of these 5 fabulous desserts that can be made with rice and that are gluten free? The possibilities are endless when it comes to desserts made with rice and left over rice. There are actually different variations of rice pudding that you can try from various countries around the globe……..like Mexico, India and more and these variations are ones that I will be making soon. So the next time you have left over rice grab a recipe from the internet and get to cooking and creating. Your family will love you for it.