Old-fashioned stovetop rice pudding with raisins and vanilla.
Ingredients
Each cost is for the amount this recipe uses, not the whole package. Pantry staples like flour, sugar, vanilla and spices cost more on your first trip, then last for many batches.
| Ingredient | Price used | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup water | Not priced | — |
| ½ tsp salt | $0.01/tspEstimate | $0.01 |
| ½ cup uncooked white rice | $1.12/lbBLS, Sep 2026 | $0.23 |
| 1 quart (4 cups) whole milk | $4.11/galBLS, Sep 2026 | $1.03 |
| ¼ cup margarine or butter | $3.96/lbBLS, Sep 2026 · priced as butter | $0.49 |
| 3 large eggs, beaten | $2.27/dozenBLS, Sep 2026 | $0.57 |
| ¾ cup sugar | $1.02/lbBLS, Sep 2026 | $0.34 |
| ½ tsp vanilla extract | $0.50/tspEstimate | $0.25 |
| ⅓ cup raisins | $0.25/ozEstimate | $0.44 |
| Ground cinnamon or whipped cream, for topping | $0.05/dishEstimate · priced as a sprinkle of cinnamon | $0.05 |
| Total | $3.41 | |
| Per serving (serves 6) | $0.57 |
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup uncooked white rice
- 1 quart (4 cups) whole milk
- ¼ cup margarine or butter
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup raisins
- Ground cinnamon or whipped cream, for topping
Directions
- Cook the rice. In a heavy saucepan, combine the water, salt, and rice. Bring to a boil and cook until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Simmer in milk. Add the milk and margarine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 60 minutes, stirring often so the milk doesn't scorch.
- Mix the eggs and sugar. In a mixer, beat the eggs with the sugar until smooth. Whisk in a ladleful of the hot rice mixture to temper the eggs, then stir everything back into the pot.
- Add vanilla and raisins. Stir in the vanilla and raisins. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick, about 10 minutes.
- Serve. Top with cinnamon or whipped cream. Serve warm or chilled.
Notes
- Butter works in place of margarine.
- Tempering the eggs (step 3) keeps them from scrambling in the hot milk.
- The pudding thickens more as it cools.
How we priced this recipe
- BLS, Sep 2026: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, U.S. city average, September 2026.
- Estimate: Food Butler estimate of a typical U.S. store-brand shelf price, October 2026. Neither BLS nor USDA publishes an average price for these items.
Your store's prices will differ. See all recipes.