Thai Black Rice with Coconut Cream is a Hipcooks favorite dessert — but it is so yummy and healthy, we also love it as a warm breakfast. Healthy “husk-on” black rice is topped with luscious coconut cream and sweetened with our favorite vanilla bean paste. Just that touch of sweetness is the perfect amount!
Thai black rice
Thai black rice is also called black sticky rice or forbidden rice. It is whole-grain rice that, when fully cooked, still has a bit of “crunch” to it because of the husk. It has a beautiful purplish-black color, a nutty flavor, and a sticky pudding-like texture.
It’s an easy steam for the win!
Cooking black rice is easy, but it is not like cooking conventional rice. You first need to soak it in water for at least a few hours, or overnight for those of you preparing this for breakfast. This softens the rice. Rather than cooking it in water, cook it above water: steam it! It steams quite quickly: in 20 -30 minutes, it is done. A silicone steamer like ours is the best tool: it fits into just about any pot, and the silicone handles stay heat-free and easy to grab.
Vanilla Bean Paste takes it over the top
Vanilla Bean Paste will take your Thai Black Rice with Coconut Cream to new heights. This is the real deal: the inside of a vanilla bean pod, suspended in simple syrup. Use this for cookies, cocktails, French toast, ice cream, & anything else you can dream up.

2 comments
I’ve tried to make Thai black rice pudding so many times over the years with no success. Your recipe is perfection!
Thank you so much! I appreciate the comment.