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Turn Leftover Rice Into the Creamiest Chocolate Dessert
Craving something sweet but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen or compromise on quality? This rice pudding recipe with leftover rice is your answer. At Balanced Treats, we believe dessert should be healthy, quick, affordable, and delicious—and this 3-ingredient chocolate mousse checks every box.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make rice pudding with leftover rice that doesn’t taste like yesterday’s dinner, you’re in for a treat. This isn’t your grandmother’s rice pudding. It’s a velvety, rich chocolate mousse that happens to be made from cooked rice. Yes, really.
Why This Is a Perfect Balanced Treat
This recipe for rice pudding with cooked rice embodies everything we stand for:
- Healthy: Uses whole grain rice and dark chocolate rich in antioxidants, with no refined sugars unless you choose to add them. The natural creaminess comes from blending, not heavy cream.
- Quick: Ready in just 5 minutes from start to finish. No cooking, no waiting—just blend and enjoy.
- Affordable: Uses leftover rice you already have, plus chocolate and water. The entire recipe costs under $2 to make.
- Delicious: Silky smooth, deeply chocolatey, and satisfying. Nobody will guess this decadent mousse started as plain rice.
The Secret to Leftover Rice Pudding That Actually Works
The magic ingredient here is dark chocolate. According to research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, dark chocolate contains flavonoids that support heart health when consumed in moderation. By choosing 70% cocoa or higher, you’re getting antioxidants along with rich flavor—without excessive sugar.
The hot water is equally crucial. It melts the chocolate while creating steam in the blender, which transforms the rice into an impossibly smooth, mousse-like texture. This is how you make rice pudding with leftover rice without any graininess.
How to Make This Leftover Rice Pudding in 5 Minutes
This recipe is almost too easy to believe. Grab your leftover rice from the fridge—white, brown, even jasmine works beautifully. Break your dark chocolate into pieces so it melts faster.
Add everything to your blender: the cooked rice, hot water (fresh from the kettle), and chocolate. Blend on high speed for 60-90 seconds until the mixture transforms into a glossy, silky mousse. You’ll know it’s ready when you can’t see any rice grains and the texture looks like professional chocolate mousse.
Taste and adjust. Want it sweeter? Add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey and blend again for 10 seconds. Prefer it thicker? Use less water. Want it more fluid? Add water by the tablespoon until it reaches your ideal consistency.
Pour into serving glasses and decide: warm pudding-like comfort or chilled mousse elegance? Both are absolutely delicious. The warm version feels like a hug in a cup, while the refrigerated version (after 1-2 hours) becomes firm and luxurious.
Storage Tips & Delicious Variations
Store any leftover rice pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The mousse will firm up even more when chilled, making it perfect for meal prep.
Want to elevate it? Top with fresh berries, a dollop of Greek yogurt, crushed nuts, or a sprinkle of sea salt. You can also add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, a pinch of cinnamon, or even a tablespoon of peanut butter to the blender for flavor variations.
For a protein boost, blend in a scoop of chocolate protein powder. For extra creaminess, replace some of the water with almond or oat milk.
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Easy Chocolate Rice Pudding (5-Minute Mousse)
Description
Transform leftover rice into a silky chocolate mousse in just 5 minutes with only 3 ingredients. Healthy, quick, and incredibly delicious!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the cooked rice, chopped dark chocolate, and hot water to a high-powered blender.
- Blend on high speed for 60-90 seconds until the mixture is completely smooth and glossy with no visible rice grains.
- Taste and add optional sweetener if desired, then blend for another 10 seconds.
- Adjust consistency by adding hot water (1 tablespoon at a time) if you prefer a thinner mousse.
- Pour the mousse into 2-3 serving glasses.
- Serve immediately for a warm, pudding-like dessert, or refrigerate for 1-2 hours for a firmer, chilled mousse texture.
Notes
- Best Rice to Use: White rice creates the smoothest texture, but brown rice, jasmine, or basmati all work well.
- Chocolate Choice: Use quality dark chocolate (70% or higher) for the best flavor and health benefits. Semi-sweet chocolate works if you prefer it sweeter.
- Storage: Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The mousse will thicken further when chilled.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 3
Serving Size 1/2 cup (approximately 1/3 of recipe)
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 280kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 11g17%
- Saturated Fat 6g30%
- Sodium 5mg1%
- Total Carbohydrate 42g15%
- Dietary Fiber 3g12%
- Sugars 12g
- Protein 5g10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
More Chocolate Desserts You’ll Love
If you’re a chocolate lover like us, you need to try our Healthy Mounds Chocolate Bar Recipe. It’s another simple, no-bake treat that combines rich dark chocolate with creamy coconut filling—ready in just 15 minutes with only 5 ingredients. Like this rice pudding, it’s proof that healthy chocolate desserts can be just as indulgent as the store-bought versions, but without the guilt.
Your New Favorite Way to Use Leftover Rice
This rice pudding recipe with leftover rice proves that “leftovers” can be the star of the show. In just 5 minutes, you’ve created a restaurant-worthy dessert that’s actually good for you, costs next to nothing, and tastes like pure indulgence.
No more letting cooked rice go to waste. No more complicated dessert recipes that require a dozen ingredients and an hour of your time. Just simple, smart, balanced dessert-making that fits your real life.
Ready to transform your leftovers?
