Pumpkin Spice Horchata Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Horchata is a twist on the classic Horchata recipe, with the addition of pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. Make this fall-flavors-loaded drink and sip it chilled or hot (vegetarian, gluten-free).
Here are a few more pumpkin recipes that you may like: Pumpkin Pecan Waffles, Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding, Pumpkin Pie Dessert Hummus, Pumpkin Pie Spice Martini, and Pumpkin Fluff Dessert Dip.
About Pumpkin Spice Horchata
Pumpkin Spice Horchata is a fall version of the classic Mexican Horchata, a sweetened rice beverage quite popular in Mexican households.
It is prepared with rice, almonds, cinnamon, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract.
Pumpkin Horchata is easy to make at home and can be served warm or chilled. Enjoy it as a beverage this fall, or add it to your indulgent Thanksgiving table.
This Pumpkin Spice Horchata Recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. You can make it vegan, too. The recipe can be doubled or tripled as per your requirements.
Do try my Strawberry Horchata and Iced Horchata Coffee Recipes for a variation.
Ingredients
Rice – I prefer to use basmati rice to make this drink, as it is very fragrant; however, you can use any white rice you have on hand.
Pumpkin Puree – I use my homemade pumpkin puree, but you can also go for canned pumpkin puree.
Pumpkin Pie Spice – This spice mix adds that perfect spicy and warm touch to the horchata. You can either use homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice or a store-bought one.
Sweetened Condensed Milk adds sweetness and creaminess to the drink.
Milk – I like to use whole milk (full-fat milk) as it makes the drink rich and creamy. Feel free to use skim or low-fat milk.
Others – You will also need whole almonds, cinnamon sticks, water, vanilla extract, and granulated sugar.
You can adjust the sugar or completely skip it to suit your taste.
How To Make Pumpkin Spiced Horchata
Rinse 1 cup of basmati rice 2-3 times with water until the water runs clear. Drain the water.
Add the rinsed rice to a high-speed blender along with the following ingredients.
- ¼ cup crushed almonds
- ½ cinnamon stick (crushed)
- 1 cup of cold water
Blend the ingredients to make a coarse mixture. The rice and almonds will just be crushed, which is what you want.
Transfer the mixture to a large glass bowl. Add the following ingredients and mix well to combine.
- 3 cups of water
- 10 oz (280 g) pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Cover the mouth of the bowl with a lid or a plate and leave it on the counter at room temperature for 8-10 hours.
Stir the mixture well and strain it through a fine-mesh strainer, a muslin cloth, or a nut bag.
Discard the leftovers.
Stir in the following ingredients.
- 2 cups of chilled milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup of sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
Chill the drink for a few hours before serving.
Pour horchata into serving glasses, add a few ice cubes, and sprinkle a pinch of the pumpkin spice mix. Serve chilled.
Frequently Asked Question
Add a splash of white rum, vanilla rum, tequila, or vodka to make an adult version of this beverage.
Storage Suggestions
You can store it covered for 3-4 days in a glass container in the refrigerator. Enjoy it chilled or warm in a pan over the stovetop or microwave.
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Pumpkin Spice Horchata Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice (or any other white rice)
- ¼ cup whole almonds (lightly crushed)
- ½ cinnamon stick (lightly crushed)
- 4 cups water (chilled, divided)
- 10 ounces pumpkin puree (280 g)
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups whole milk (or plant based milk for vegan)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Rinse rice 2-3 times with water until the water runs clear. Drain the water.
- Add the rinsed rice to a high-speed blender along with the almonds, cinnamon stick, and 1 cup of cold water.
- Blend the ingredients to make a coarse mixture. The rice and almonds will just be crushed and that is what you want.
- Transfer the mixture to a large glass bowl. Add the remaining 3 cups of water, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice, and mix well to combine.
- Cover the mouth of the bowl using a lid or a plate and leave the bowl on the counter at room temperature for 8-10 hours.
- Stir the mixture well and strain it through a fine-mesh strainer, a muslin cloth or a nut bag.
- Discard the leftovers.
- Stir in milk, vanilla extract, condensed milk, and sugar.
- Chill the drink for a few hours before serving.
- Pour horchata into serving glasses, add a few ice cubes and sprinkle a pinch of pumpkin spice mix. Serve chilled.