Description
Spooky spirits dance through this haunted horchata, blending Mexican tradition with ghostly intrigue. Creamy rice milk mingles with cinnamon and spectral sweetness, promising a chilling sip that will enchant Halloween gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Base Ingredients:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups milk (or almond milk for dairy-free)
Sweeteners and Spices:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for garnish)
Optional and Serving Ingredients:
- Black food coloring (optional for spooky effect)
- Ice cubes (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious vessel and infuse rice with a cinnamon stick, immersing the ingredients in water for a profound flavor extraction lasting four to eight hours, preferably overnight.
- Carefully extract the cinnamon stick from the soaked mixture and transfer the entire liquid-rice combination into a high-performance blender.
- Pulverize the contents with vigorous blending, ensuring the rice transforms into an ultrafine consistency, approximately 90-120 seconds.
- Position a delicate mesh strainer or layered cheesecloth over a generous pitcher, meticulously filtering the blended concoction and separating the liquid from grainy remnants.
- Introduce vanilla extract, granulated sweetener, and creamy milk into the strained liquid, stirring with precision to achieve harmonious integration.
- Enhance the beverage’s mystical aesthetic by incorporating strategic droplets of dark food coloring, creating an eerie visual transformation.
- Submerge the pitcher into refrigeration, allowing the elixir to chill and meld flavors for a minimum of 60 minutes.
- Prior to serving, vigorously reconstitute the mixture and pour over crystalline ice cubes.
- Conclude the preparation by dusting each glass with a delicate sprinkle of ground cinnamon, completing this spectral libation.
Notes
- Toast rice before soaking to enhance the nutty flavor and create a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Use whole milk or a plant-based alternative like almond milk for different dietary preferences and richer texture.
- Soak rice overnight in the refrigerator to prevent potential bacterial growth and ensure food safety.
- Add a splash of dark rum or coffee liqueur for an adult Halloween version that brings a spooky twist to the classic drink.
- Prep Time: 4 hours (including soaking time)
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Mocktails
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg