Rice pudding is something of a British institution, served up in insipid and stodgy piles in school canteens up and down the land. Yet the inhabitants of these great isles by and large look upon the non-descript white mass that inhabited the pudding bowls of their formative years through some kind of ironic rose-tinted haze, as though nostalgia alone were enough to carry short grain rice into the upper echelons of the pudding hierarchy. Happily, this isn’t always the case and an increasing number of recipes are proving that rice pudding can be incredible – with this rendition I’d happily claim the proof is in the pudding!
One of the problems with an average rice pudding is that it is usually a little watery and flavourless. Semi-skimmed milk is not an option here – if you’re going to make rice pudding you need to go all out. Using a very rich milk will yield an extremely delicious and creamy pudding – it’s a worthy sacrifice. Golden syrup has a similar effect, helping to thicken the sauce and improve the flavour on a fundamental level with a slightly burnished sweetness, in some way making up for the lack of skin – more on that below!
There are two popular ways of preparing rice pudding; you can either boil it or bake it. Boiling your pudding rice will yield a sort of smooth rice porridge which will go down without any trouble whatsoever. The baked version requires a little more thought as it’ll be a bit thicker and have a delicious, brown skin that children have been fighting over for centuries (probably because for most of that time it’s been the only tasty part of a rice pudding). Baked rice pudding also takes a great deal of time (2 hours) – the recipe below is certainly suited to those of you in a hurry. How do you eat yours?
Golden Syrup Rice Pudding
Serves 2-4
Ingredients:
• 70g pudding rice
• 568ml (1 pint) full cream milk
• 40g butter
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• Whole nutmeg, grated
Method:
1. Place you rice, milk, butter and syrup in a saucepan, bring to the boil and allow to simmer for30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve once thick, creamy and soft through with a little freshly grated nutmeg.
Cost:This entire dessert which would easily provide a reasonable portion for four should set you back a mere£1– good ol’ frugal British traditions!
79 replies on “Golden Syrup Rice Pudding”
Oh, this looks lovely – Thank you! I love real, home-cooked rice pudding and I love golden syrup, but I’ve never put the two together before.
Rice pudding is a favourite here and, having an aga, it’s always baked. Never tried it with syrup though so I shall give this a go. Mum used to make it with a tin of watered down evaporated milk… gave it a rich caramelly taste…. Used to love that when I was a kid.
Sounds fantastic – you must.
I just made rice pudding today, on the stove top so boiling I would guess. Milk mixed with half n half, rice and a pinch of salt cooked for about an hour on low after the boil. Then stir in three eggs beaten with 1/2 c sugar, cook another 5 min. then stir in raisins and vanilla. cool and eat for breakfast lunch and dessert. Yum!
Oh no not raisins, sacrilege!
(I have to agree)
Sounds so delicious. I shall be using some of these ideas in my baked recipe.
and gluten free! but may I ask what is golden syrup?
A type of liquid sugar – google it
If you can’t find it in the stores in the British/international section, you can substitute with unsulfured molasses, which is actually the same thing, just slightly darker. It will be very similar, but richer. Make sure the molasses is unsulfured!
Oh yum! Rice pudding is a big favourite in this household. And adding golden syrup is a tasty addition given that family members have grown up with golden syrup dumplings (another favourite).
Ooooh – I can feel a dumpling recipe coming on…
Golden syrup isn’t something I’ve come across before. I had to look up what it is. It sounds like it is related to molasses, but darker. If that is correct, I imagine that it is quite good in rice pudding.
I think it’s lighter, a little like a dark corn syrup (but nicer)
My Mum always baked a rice pudding on the bottom shelf of the oven under the roast dinner. I loved at as a kid and still do. I use the recipe from a 1907 edition of Mrs Beetons Housekeeping, full cream milk, butter, rice, sugar, nutmeg.
Sounds absolutely wonderful!
I’ve never had this but would like to give it a try. The recipe calls for pudding rice. I’ve also never seen this. Is that what it’s called or is there an equivalent?
I think any short grain rice would work!
Looks great and we can finally buy golden syrup here rather easily.
Fantastic – that’s great to hear.
Always loved rice pudding. Try it with 1/2 coconut milk and 1/2 full milk and sprinkle some coconut on top. It’s great chilled too.
Great idea, thanks!
Yummmm! Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
This American isn’t sure what golden syrup is either, but this is very similar to how I make rice pudding. I’m a rice pudding fanatic! My mom always made baked pudding, but I make it boiled with butter, milk, cardamom, nutmeg, a little vanilla. For sweetener I use either brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup. A splash of rum or bourbon is wonderful too! I have some friends that are lactose intolerant and I’ve cooked them rice pudding with soy milk that turned out great.
I believe it’s like corn syrup, only much nicer! I’ll be doing a baked rendition very soon. Yours sounds lovely. Maple syrup and bourbon sounds amazing!
It’s my kid’s favourite dessert and a wonderful reminder of their grandmother who made a great rice pudding. Our family always made it with sugar, but drizzled a little golden syrup over the top when serving. I really like the idea of putting the syrup in the pudding – will be trying this soon, as winter is upon us her in Australia.
Good to see a child enjoying it so much! Syrup works so well.
No rice pudding for me thanks but I love that blue bowl and where on earth did you find that flat spoon? Great!
Oh, Rosemary – I KNOW you’d like this rendition. I nicked the flat spoon from a posh cafe :D. Couldn’t leave it behind!
Sounds lovely, the only bit that would disappoint my hubby is the lack of skin, which he feels is essential, me, not so much. I will try this out, your bolognese recipe has also been a huge hit in my home
I’ll be doing abaked version soon so sit tight!
After a mini heatwave, Rome is currently drowning in rain with much colder temperatures – perfect weather for rice pudding! Intrigued by the butter, golden syrup and nutmeg – growing up we typically cooked the pudding rice in milk, added sugar to sweeten and then served it sprinkled with more sugar or some homemade fruit compote but I could definitely replace that with some golden syrup and butter! My grandma sometimes stirred in an egg yolk right at the end, makes this somewhat less decadent but deliciously creamy.
Exactly! I think it can be done many ways – milk is a must, unless you want cream. Golden syrup is just such a delicious way to sweeten a dish. I’ll be adding egg yolk to my baked version.
Nutmeg and rice pudding = guaranteed happiness!
I think you’re right.
My mom used to make rice pudding for us all the time! I don’t know of anyone else whose family made it here in the states. This sounds like a great way induce a little nostalgia, I’m going to have to make it. Thanks for sharing your recipe and lovely photos.
I think it’s very much a British thing… Thanks!
Oh yes a wonderful British tradition and also a family favourite in our (very Australian) household when I was a kid!!! xx
Sounds wonderful! My husband LOVES rice pudding and introduced me to it. I have never heard of golden syrup, but I think I’m going to track some down and try this recipe out.
Do get some – you’ll not regret it.
I never liked rice pudding, too many school dinners stuck in my memory. That said your version looks very tasty, I like the addition of golden syrup and nutmeg. Might give this one a try
I’ve never liked it much, but this changed all that.
This is something that sounds so warm and comforting right now….mmm
That’s exactly what it was – a hug in a bowl!
This looks completely yummy – perfect for a not-very-warm May evening. Lovely photos
Thanks – yes, very warming!
This looks like a real treat!
Oh it was!
Another great recipe! My Mum used leftover rice to make rice pudding; she added raisins, eggs beaten with canned milk and brown sugar, then sprinkled cinnamon on top. We loved it and I still make it from time to time. ~ Linne
Thanks – sounds wonderfully rich. I’ve already got a baked version formulating in my head with a couple of egg yolks thrown in.
This is exactly what I’m craving right now…
I’m craving it every day now…
You had me at ‘golden syrup’.
I adore rice pudding. It was a staple in our house, at least once a week my mother prepared it!
Wonderful – I’m a convert!
My mum would love this Nick. (I think her daughter might too!)
I didn’t know you had a sister!
Not a huge fan but this sounds yummy , might have to try it …let you know what I think
I wasn’t until I tried this
I make mine in the slow cooker, with a little butter, syrup and nutmeg added into the packet recipe for good measure! I like to make the whole house smell like my pudding before I eat it…
Great idea! Sounds delicious.
I love rice pudding Nick – this looks yummy indeed I only make it with leftover rice..no waste!
Fantastic – thanks Shira! That’s a good, frugal idea!
我爱大米布丁!我没有听说过金syrup before… I’m guessing it’s similar to vanilla extract with thickening properties?!?!
Golden syrup, which used to be known to every child in Britain, is just liquid sugar. It’s great on rice pudding, pancakes, sponge pudding, etc. The usual (only?) maker available in the UK, Tate & Lyle, fairly recently introduced a chocolate flavoured version, good also on ice-cream; it’s pretty decadent!
A few supermarkets do their own brand now, but it’s not quite as nice!
Umm – not really. It’s thicker and tastes of browned sugar.
It sounds wonderful! Especially the chocolate flavor!
Nothing like Vanilla extract! It is a thick and liquid gold in colour (note British spelling as it is a British product) and is of exceptional sweetness. It is made by Abraham Lyle & Sons of Tate and Lyle fame – who have the esteemed credit of “Purveyor to the Queen of England”. It’s logo is a reclining (probably dead) lion with bees all around it with the slogan – “Out of the strong came forth sweetness”. This is part of a quote from the bible – Judges 14:14 “and he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat and nout of the strong came forth sweetness”
The closest US product I can think of would be the light colored Karo syrup.
全脂牛奶和黄油。一个人在我自己的头脑rt! But I’d say bake it (stir in the brown top from time to time before serving with the final brown skin), and skimmed or semi-skimmed milk is NEVER an option, in anything. Golden syrup is good, but honey’s better (but maybe not so frugal) and I always add a few drops of vanilla essence. Rice pudding is gourmet food on a budget! Thanks for the ‘like’ on my mackerel – very frugal – and there are few other frugals in the past on my blog (like Oxo-flavoured suet pattie – my staple when a student long, long ago).
I’ll be doing a baked version relatively soon – I wanted to cover both bases.
Ah, comfort food. My Flemish mother made her rice pudding with raisins. My kids turned their noses up it; no accounting for taste!
A simple yet very satisfying tasty rice pudding! It looks very appetizing too!
Very simple indeed, but it was absolutely delicious.
Couldn’t agree with you more about the skim milk, only whole milk will do! And if a little splash of cream should make it’s way in there, well….
Hiya! Just wanted to let you know that I have recommended your Blog on my pagehttp://sugarandspicebaking.com/recommended-blogs/
Hope it’s ok!
[…] most basic, rice pudding is as close to a blank canvas for flavour as you’re likely to get. Even adding just a little golden syrup and nutmeg to the recipe confers a great deal of taste to the pudding […]
I am firmly in the ‘baked’ camp, and I have to say, the drier the better. I love it all stodgy and sticky!!
I’ll definitely have to do a baked version too. I really fancy rice pudding now.