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Risalamande Recipe

Risalamande: Danish Christmas Rice Pudding


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5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Kalle Bergman
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins plus chilling time
  • Yield: Serves 6

Description

A Danish Christmas classic: chilled rice pudding folded with cream and almonds, served with warm cherry sauce, and one hidden almond.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Risalamande

2 oz (60 g) pudding rice

2 cups (5 dl) whole milk

1 vanilla pod

2 tablespoons sugar

2 1/2 cups (6 dl) whipping cream

1/2 cup (120 g) peeled almonds, finely chopped

1 whole peeled almond

For the Cherry Sauce

1 1/2 cups (3.5 dl) canned cherries, drained

1/4 cup (60 ml) cherry liqueur

1 tablespoon potato flour


Instructions

1. Cook the Rice Pudding

Split the vanilla pod lengthwise with a sharp knife and scrape out the seeds. Add both seeds and pod to a large saucepan along with the milk and pudding rice. Bring to a very gentle simmer over low heat.

Cover with a lid and cook slowly for about 50 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the mixture thick and cohesive. Keep the heat low — the goal is a slow, steady cook without scorching.

Remove the vanilla pod and let the rice mixture cool completely.

2. Chill and Sweeten

Once the rice has cooled to room temperature, stir in the sugar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably longer. The pudding should be fully cold before continuing.

3. Fold in Cream and Almonds

Whip the cream to soft peaks. Gently fold it into the chilled rice mixture in batches, keeping as much air as possible. Fold in the chopped almonds, then set aside.

4. Make the Cherry Sauce

Place the drained cherries in a saucepan with the cherry liqueur and heat gently.

In a small bowl, mix the potato flour with a little cold water to form a smooth slurry. Slowly stir the slurry into the cherries and cook until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat.

5. Assemble

Stir the whole almond into the risalamande just before serving. Spoon into bowls and serve with warm cherry sauce poured over the top.

Notes

Pudding rice is essential; standard long-grain rice will not work.

The risalamande improves with time; chilling for several hours or overnight deepens the flavor.

Fold gently. Overmixing deflates the cream and changes the texture.

Traditionally served cold with warm sauce.

  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Cook Time: 55 min
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: Danish

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 410
  • Sugar: 22g
  • Sodium: 25mg
  • Fat: 28g
  • Saturated Fat: 17g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 7g
  • Cholesterol: 95mg