Kheer or Payasam is an Indian favorite dessert for special occasions. It is basically rice pudding made with rice and milk infused with saffron, cardamom and assorted dried fruits. This Kheer made in the instant pot is a game changer. The best thing about this, no stirring and it is ready in less than 40 mins!
Traditionally making kheer meant keeping milk and rice on the stove for 2 hours and stirring it frequently until the milk thickens and becomes creamy. With the Porridge setting in instant pot, the same thing happens, but you just dump all the ingredients and go your happy way to enjoy yourself!
As Diwali is approaching, I have been wanting to make some desserts that we can share with family and friends. Food, or rather desserts are integral part of Indian Diwali celebrations. You visit friends or have them over. But really, everywhere you go, you will find a table full of snacks and desserts laid out for you to enjoy. Oh, I love Diwali (how can a foodie not? 😉
This is going to be my dessert addition to Diwali potluck’s this year – Instant Pot Kheer.
How to make Kheer in Instant Pot?
This rice pudding is super easy with just adding all ingredients to the instant pot and setting it on porridge mode. The instant pot does it’s magic and perfect aromatic rice kheer is ready for you in 30 mins. If you have not tried kheer in instant pot yet, you just have to!
I hope you enjoy this easy and delicious Instant Pot Indian Dessert – Rice Pudding. Do share how it turned out!
Here are some other dessert made in the instant pot that you might enjoy:
- Sabudana Kheer – This gluten-free Sabudana pudding is made with tapioca pearls and milk in the instant pot.
- Seviyan Kheer – Also called Vermicelli Kheer or Semiyan Payasam, this delicious dessert can be made in the instant pot in less than 25 minutes.
- Carrot Pudding – Carrot Kheer is made with carrots, milk, cashews and dates, with the added aroma of cardamom & saffron. A delicious & satisfying desert, with no added sugar.
- Coconut Almond Laddoo – A quick sweet recipe that can be made in just 20 minutes for any occasion.
Recipe Video
Rice Pudding / Kheer - Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 5 cups Milk whole
- 1/2 cup White Rice preferably small or medium grain, rinsed
- 1/2 cup Sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup Roasted Mixed Nuts chopped or sliced (cashews, almonds, walnut, pistachios) (optional)
- 1 tbsp Raisins (optional)
- 1 tsp Cardamom powder (Elaichi) (optional)
- 1/8 tsp Saffron (Kesar) (optional)
Instructions
- Sanitize the instant pot steel insert, lid and sealing ring thoroughly. If you have an extra sealing ring for sweet foods, use it.
- Add all the ingredients in the instant pot steel insert. Close lid with vent in sealing position. (Based on your preference, you can add sugar, nuts and raisins after pressure cooking too)
- Set instant pot to PORRIDGE mode for 20 minutes on high pressure. When instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally.
- Open Instant Pot and mix well. Rice pudding is ready. Serve warm or chilled.
- If needed, to get the desired consistency, cook on SAUTE mode for 2-3 mins. Or add more milk, mix and let it boil for a minute.
Notes
- Add cinnamon powder and vanilla essence to get a different flavor.
- You can use brown sugar instead of white sugar, based on your preference.
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Check out the collection of 10 Instant Pot Indian Desserts from the best blogs here.
How much time it takes for 10 cups of milk with 1 cup sugar ? Is it the same cooking time in porridge mode ?
Hi Manisha – I have not tried with doubling the quantity. Usually the cooking time does not change in the instant pot even if you increase or decrease the quantity. One caution I will share, please be near the instant pot if you increase the quantity in this recipe, as milk can foam when cooked under pressure and come out of the ip. It definitely works well with the quantity in the recipe.
Wonderful recipe!! I added the sugar at the end (after 20 minutes of porridge mode). The kheer did not brown! Reminds me of my moms kheer!
Hey Shallu – So happy to hear you enjoyed the kheer!
Have you tried the wild rice or red rice variation? I am thinking of trying that next time.
This recipe is really good. The best thing about your blog is that all information is neatly arranged and written in simple words. Really good!
Hi Chandrika – Thank you so much for your kind words. I have tried kheer with brown rice (30 mins porridge) and vermicelli (10 mins porridge). But not with wild or red rice. I added about 10 mins to the normal cooking time of rice to get the creamier texture. eg. brown rice cooks in 22 mins, so I did 30 mins porridge mode. You can try the same for wild rice. Please do share if you try it.
Just one word – Perfect!! Followed the recipe to the T and the result was finger-licking good!! Thanks.
Hey Aruna – So glad to hear the kheer turned out perfect!
how long to soak rice for?
Hey Aisha – I do not soak rice when making kheer. They will cook well in the instant pot. Hope you enjoy it!
Tried this recipe in insta pot today and oh my goodness it came out so well ? the kheer was super thick and creamy and the best part is it is such an easy recipe and time saving as well. Thank you so much for this recipe ?
Hey Vandhana – So glad you enjoyed the kheer. This is the best part of using the instant pot 🙂
Hello, I am planning to make this on Saturday for a diwli party. to make it creamier and richer, can I add khoa? if yes, how much and when should I add it?
Thank you, 🙂
Hey Sushmita – I have never tried adding khoa, so I am not sure how that will work. Another option is to add condensed milk after cooking on porridge mode. I would start with half a can of condensed milk and then add more as needed. If you add sweetened condensed milk, add sugar after cooking and tasting. Hope that helps!
Thanks. I will try that and let you know the verdict 🙂
Hi. Can we eat this cold? If so do I put it in the fridge right away or let it set a bit?
Hey Mariam – yes, absolutely. You can enjoy it cold or warm. Thank you!
I just made this and it’s DELICIOUS! I’ll admit I chose this recipe (out of several on the internet) because it was the easiest one that I found. But it does not does not dissappoint. To make the recipe vegan, I used a 400 ml can of coconut milk, and water for the remainder of the liquid. The pudding came out extremely creamy, so I think that was enough coconut milk. As happened to some other people, my Kheer came out a bit brown. I may try adding the nuts after cooking next time to see if they were the cause of the discoloration. But I won’t change anything else! Thanks Meeta, I can’t wait to check out your other recipes!
Hey Madeline – So glad to hear you enjoyed the kheer. My understanding is that there is some caramelization happening due to which it is turning a bit brown. I would love to hear if you try any other recipes. Thank you for sharing back your review 🙂
Tried it today exactly as mentioned, it was delicious.
Hey Sheetal – So glad to hear you enjoyed the Kheer. Thank you so much for sharing back your review!