Risalamande, Danish Rice Pudding, is often eaten on Christmas Eve in Denmark. But we've decided it's delicious enough to serve anytime!
One of my favorite desserts of all time is rich and creamy rice pudding. I hadn't made this pudding before, so when I was asked to make Risalamande for Anna and Vince’s Danish Christmas dinner, I was excited to try this new dessert recipe.
Risalamande (riz à l’amande) is probably the most famous Danish Christmas dessert and is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve.
The name comes from the French, meaning “rice with almonds.” The base of this dessert is basic rice pudding with added vanilla, whipped cream and crushed almonds.
It isn’t overly sweet, and the richness of the silky cherry sauce makes it irresistibly delicious.
When making the dessert in Denmark, it is customary to hide a whole almond somewhere in the pudding and the person who finds it in his or her serving wins a prize.
The person who finds the almond keeps it in the corner of the mouth until everyone is finished so that everyone thinks that they might win.
The prize is traditionally a small marzipan pig or chocolate heart.
Our winner…….Phil!
This dish is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve, but don’t wait until Christmas. Once you've tasted this Danish treat, you'll definitely want to enjoy it year round!
Can Rice Pudding be Made in Advance?
Yes! Make the rice pudding portion of this recipe a day before serving. Cool it down, cover and refrigerate.
You can either serve it chilled with the cherry sauce or let it sit until it's room temperature, if desired.
More Gr8 Danish Recipes
- Smørrebrød
- Caramelized Potatoes - YUMMY!
- Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Danish
Keyword: Risalamande (Danish Rice Pudding)
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Jurga
Ingredients
Rice Pudding Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 cups skim milk
- ⅔ cup sugar, divided
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Arborio rice, risotto rice
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon good quality almond extract, divided
- 1 cup blanched almonds, finely chopped and slightly toasted (see Gr8 Tip below)
- 1 whole blanched almond
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla bean paste , or 1 vanilla bean split lengthwise and scraped (do not use vanilla extract)
Cherry Sauce Ingredients
- 1 24-ounce jar Morello cherries in light syrup, available at Traders Joe's or specialty stores
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
- 3 Tablespoons butter
Instructions
Rice Pudding Recipe
Bring the two kinds of milk, 5 Tablespoons of the sugar, salt and rice to a boil in a large pot.
Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer, until rice is tender, stirring every 3-4 minutes for approximately 35 minutes, to prevent the rice and milk from burning. It can burn very quickly.
Once rice is thickened and cooked, pour rice mixture into a large bowl to cool.
While rice is cooling, in a medium well-chilled bowl (stainless works best) add whipping cream, ¼ teaspoon almond extract and 2 Tablespoons of the sugar.
Using an electric mixer, beat the cream, extract and sugar until the cream is stiff and has formed peaks. Set the bowl aside.
Add the chopped almonds, the one whole almond and vanilla paste to the rice mixture and mix well.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the rice mixture.
Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours (may be made the day before).
Divide the rice pudding either chilled or room temperature into 8 individual bowls.
Top with warm cherry sauce and serve.
Cherry Sauce Recipe
Using a colander, drain the cherries in a bowl and reserve the liquid.
Combine the cornstarch with the water and stir until completely combined.
In a medium saucepan, add the reserved cherry liquid, the remaining 2 Tablespoons of sugar, the cornstarch mixture, and butter and bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes.
Reduce heat to low.
Add the drained cherries and ¼ teaspoon almond extract and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or more until sauce is slightly thickened.
Notes
Gr8 Tip:
- If blanched almonds are not available, blanch regular whole almonds by filling a saucepan with ⅔ water. Bring to a boil. Place the almonds in the water. Blanch for 1 minute. Drain, cool and squeeze the skin off.
- Before chopping the almonds, bake them in a 350°F oven for a few minutes to soften the almonds and increase the nutty flavor. Keep your eye on them so they do not brown.
Gr8 Do Ahead Tip:
The pudding can be made one day ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to serve.
« Smørrebrød - A Danish Traditional Sandwich
Christmas Morning Sticky Buns »
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FAQs
The rice pudding will have one whole almond hidden in it and whoever gets the almond in their dish of pudding wins a prize. We always have all the small children in the family get an almond in their pudding so they win a little prize of some sort – this year it's warm and fuzzy socks!
What Danish version of rice pudding containing one almond is actually a game where the finder of the almond gets a prize? ›
Mandelgave (aka Almond Present)
To add to the Danish Christmas tradition, there is a fun, traditional game called “mandelgave” (or “Almond Present). This is where a single, whole almond is mixed into the risalamande and hidden before serving.
What nationality eats rice pudding? ›
The true root of rice pudding is hard to discern – the dish can be traced to multiple culture across millennia, including ancient China, the Byzantine Empire, and ancient India, where rice was a major food source.
Why is rice pudding so good? ›
You've got to love that it's made from simple ingredients like rice, milk, sugar and eggs. While this is a dessert, it does offer some nutritional benefits, including almost 10 grams of protein and 15 percent of the daily recommendation for bone-building calcium per cup.
Why do Norwegians put an almond in rice pudding? ›
It is traditional for families to place a single, blanched almond inside the rice porridge or pudding. Whoever finds the almond will have good luck, and often gets a prize (usually a small marzipan pig or chocolate), and the distinction of getting to open their presents first!
What is Risalamande made of? ›
Risalamande is a rice pudding with vanilla, almonds and whipped cream, and it's typically served together with warm cherry sauce. The word Risalamande comes from the French word Riz à l'amande, which directly translated means rice with almonds.
What is hidden inside the rice pudding eaten in Sweden and Norway at New Year what will happen to the person who finds it? ›
In Sweden and Norway, meanwhile, rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is served on New Year's Eve; it is said that whoever finds the nut can expect 12 months of good fortune.
What is a traditional Danish Christmas dinner? ›
Christmas dinner is a serious affair. Traditionally, you will be sat at a table for a good few hours, eating a meal of roast pork and duck plus boiled potatoes, red cabbage and gravy. Risalamande is the big Christmas dessert, a rice pudding topped with cherry sauce where a whole almond will be hiding.
What is rice pudding called in America? ›
Although rice pudding is part of many cultures ranging from Latinamerica to Asia and everywhere in between, our recipe is inspired by the traditional South American version of Arroz con Leche — rice pudding, in English.
Which country has the best rice pudding? ›
Morocco. Although rice pudding is prepared in one form or another throughout the Mediterranean, the Moroccan version is particularly delicious from the way the rice is prepared: firstly, the rice is boiled in water, then it's simmered in milk.
Stick to brown rather than white varieties for iftar, served with meat or fish. For sahur, make a tasty rice pudding with rose water (a great mood enhancer) topped with pistachio nuts – another food great for digestion.
Can you eat rice pudding every day? ›
Rice pudding can be healthy when it has little sugar and is eaten moderately. You can have it once a month because it has sugar. But the rice powder used in the pudding is really healthy. Hope this helps!
Should you rinse rice for rice pudding? ›
While we've mentioned before that this dessert gets its perfectly creamy texture from the starch that is released when the grains are cooking, we do suggest a rinse for this recipe in order to wash off excess debris and added starch.
Is rice pudding good for your stomach? ›
Rice pudding is a lovely dessert that can also help settle your stomach. We used brown rice for the benefits of its whole-grain nutrition. Whole-grain brown rice is a natural source of magnesium, selenium, and B vitamins.
What is the Danish Christmas tradition with almonds? ›
Risalamande is the big Christmas dessert, a rice pudding topped with cherry sauce where a whole almond will be hiding. The family member who finds the almond in their bowl gets a prize or extra present.
What is the Danish Christmas delicacy? ›
Just like other Danish Christmas traditions, the Danish Christmas food has not changed much over the years. Among the Danish favourites are æbleskiver, risalamande with cherry sauce, crispy Christmas duck, and caramelised potatoes. Below you will find carefully curated Christmas favourites from the Danish kitchen.
What do kids eat in Denmark? ›
Pasta is common; so is rice. Most families with kids eat pasta and pizza at least once a week. Most Danish supermarkets have “ethnic” sections that include traditional Mexican items like tortillas and salsa verde, Indian-influenced sauces like Chicken Korma, and Thai ingredients like fish sauce.
