What Spanish rice pudding is flavored with cinnamon and lemon peel?

The Spanish rice pudding flavored with cinnamon and lemon peel is arroz con leche.

Arroz con leche literally means “rice with milk” and is the Spanish form of rice pudding. A traditional preparation slowly cooks rice with milk and sugar, infusing the mixture with cinnamon and lemon peel. The rice releases starch as it cooks, gradually thickening the milk into a soft, creamy dessert.

Cooks commonly add a cinnamon stick and strips of lemon peel during simmering, then remove them before serving. Ground cinnamon may be scattered over the top as a finishing touch. Depending on the household or region, the pudding may be served warm or chilled and can include variations such as egg, raisins, or other flavorings.

The dish is not unique to Spain: rice puddings appear across Europe, West Asia, and Latin America. Spanish-style arroz con leche spread widely through the Spanish-speaking world, where local versions may use condensed milk, vanilla, orange peel, raisins, or dulce de leche. That variation explains why recipes differ, while the name remains strongly associated with the Spanish milk-and-rice dessert.