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.
This recipe for rice pudding with cooked rice embodies everything we stand for:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?