Tastes of Hawaii Recipe – Yummy Island Rice Pudding From Kauai’s Old Plantation Days

This recipe was originally posted over 10 years ago as one of my weekly cooking challenges, but it continues to be a reader favorite

This Hawaiian-style rice pudding is one of my favorite easy island dessert recipes. It’s creamy, sweet, and made with simple pantry ingredients like rice, sweetened condensed milk, butter, and vanilla. If you love crock pot rice pudding, this island version is a must-try.

Yummy Island Rice Pudding Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice
• 2 cans sweetened condensed milk
• 8 cups water
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

1. Rinse the rice and add it to a large crock pot.
2. Add the 8 cups of water and set the crock pot to High.
3. Cook for about 2 hours, stirring once halfway through.
4. Crock pots vary, so begin checking at the 90-minute mark.
5. It’s done when the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
6. Immediately stir in the sweetened condensed milk, butter, and vanilla.
7. Serve warm, or chill for a thicker, creamier texture.

Serves ~12 people — perfect for potlucks, ʻohana gatherings, or holidays.

Flavor Variations

These optional add-ins give the pudding a stronger Hawaiian-style twist:

• Add ½ cup shredded coconut
• Top with crushed macadamia nuts
• Add chocolate chips
• Stir in a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg
• Add raisins or diced pineapple
• Top with roasted banana
• Use coconut milk for part of the water for extra creaminess

If you enjoy island-style desserts, you may also like my Dole pineapple whips recipe, my pineapple banana upside down cake recipe, and my Hawaiian sweet bread recipe.