On a hot summer day, is there anything better than enjoying a nice ice cream or a refreshing drink to really cool you off? With Mahatma® Rice, there is no shortage of great recipe ideas to help you cool down when temperatures start to rise.
From cold desserts to cool beverages, there are plenty of treats that can be enjoyed on a hot day.
Which Summer Treats Hold up in the Heat
As much as we love the sun, it can cause havoc for our sweet treats. Too much exposure to the sun can cause our ingredients to melt, go too soft or go bad.
Although ice cream tastes great on a hot sunny day, it will melt if exposed to the sun for too long so you’ll want to try and eat it quickly. Alternatively, for a more robust option that will withstand the summer heat better, you may want to try gelato instead.
Summer snacks like fruits and cakes tend to hold up very well in the sun as you can enjoy them without worrying about them melting everywhere.
To prolong the life of these foods, make sure that you are storing them properly.
How to Store Your Summer Treats
It’s important to make sure that we are storing our summer treats properly so that we can get the best taste out of them and enjoy them for longer.
What to Store in the Fridge
Be sure to keep anything made with dairy in the fridge. This will keep your treats from growing any unwanted bacteria and make them nice and cool when you are ready to enjoy them.
Storing fruits like pineapple and watermelon in the fridge will give them a nice refreshing texture when you’re ready to enjoy them.
What to Store in the Freezer
You’ll want to store any ice cream or popsicles in the freezer, this will prevent them from melting. Enjoying these treats straight from the freezer will also help cool you down when temperatures start to soar.
What to Store in the Pantry
Store your baked summer treats like cakes in an airtight container in the pantry, this will stop them from drying out and maintain a nice texture.
Now we know how to store our summer treats, let’s take a look at some recipes!
Sweet Treat Recipes
Sweet Breakfast Foods You Can Enjoy All Day
Breakfast foods like energy bars or cereals make great snacks any time of day in the summer as they don’t require any heat to be turned on.
For example, these easy-to-make Puffed Rice Chocolate Bars provide an energy packed breakfast and taste great when they are just out of the fridge. Be sure to individually wrap your bars so you can enjoy them whenever you want.
This homemade Churros Rice Puffed Cereal recipe made with Mahatma® Jasmine Rice tastes great on a summer day. If you’d rather eat this recipe later in the day, top the rice with cool whipped cream for a nice refreshing snack.
Mahatma® Brown Rice also tastes great with breakfast food. For example, this refreshing Nature’s Cereal Rice Bowl made with coconut milk is a great way to start your day. To really turn up the flavor, try adding in a dash of vanilla.
If you prefer a liquid breakfast, try this fruit and veg loaded Breakfast Smoothie With Rice and Peanut Butter. This smoothie takes just minutes to prepare and is perfect if you are looking for something you can enjoy when you are on the go.
Rice Pudding Recipes
On a hot sunny day, few things hit the spot quite like a delicious rice pudding.The great thing about rice pudding recipes is that they are so versatile, you can easily make them your own by swapping in your favorite fruits or nuts.
Fans of churros will love this refreshing Strawberry Churro Rice Pudding made with chocolate chips and Mahatma® Jasmine Rice.
If you’d prefer not to have to stand over your stove on a hot day you can make this Thermomix Arroz con Leche in just 20 minutes. This Latin American version of rice pudding has a hint of citrus and cinnamon which is absent from more traditional versions of this dessert.
Cakes and Tarts
Cakes and tarts make an excellent summer snack. Not only are they delicious, but they’ll hold up well in the sun. For example, this dairy-free Coconut and Almond Rice Tart served with ground cinnamon and Mahatma® White rice is perfect for entertaining guests at a summer barbeque or outdoor event. To really turn up the summer flavors in this Gluten Free recipe, try adding some strawberries on top.
Fruity Treats
Fruits like strawberries, pineapple and watermelon can really help you feel refreshed on a hot day no matter what time of day it is. This Italian Sweet Arancini Dessert Board made with Mahatma® Arborio Rice for example, can be enjoyed as either a dessert or a fruity appetizer. When making this recipe in summer, instead of deep frying your rice balls, try using an airfryer instead as this will help make this dish cooler. Feel free to use any of your favorite summer fruits to really make this arancini dessert board your own.
This sweet Fruit Sushi Rice recipe is a fun take on the Japanese classic dish. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s so versatile, you can use any fruits you want to make this dish. Using sticky Mahatma® Short Grain Rice will ensure that your sushi rolls will stay in one piece so you can enjoy them without them falling apart.
Refreshing Summer Drinks
Horchata
If you are looking for a tasty yet refreshing drink to enjoy during the summer months you can’t go far wrong with horchata. With so many different ways to make horchata, there’s a recipe for everyone out there.
You can make a Quick and Easy Horchata Recipe with just 5 ingredients by blending together Mahatma® White Rice, water, cinnamon, vanilla and sugar. Although this recipe calls for water, try substituting in milk instead for a richer, creamier drink.
Alternatively, if you want to mix things up a bit, try this Horchata Whipped Ice Coffee. A sweet drink which offers an additional caffeine boost, this drink is perfect for those who need a kick start in the morning. If you’re entertaining friends, you can also turn this drink into a delicious summer cocktail by adding in a dash of rum or amaretto. If you are looking for a dairy-free alternative, coconut or almond milk will also give this beverage its desired creamy texture. For best results, be sure to fluff your coffee with cold utensils, you can chill your bowl and mixing tools before beating your coffee.
This rich and creamy Banana Horchata Smoothie is yet another interesting take on horchata that you can enjoy on a hot sunny day. To really make this a cool recipe, try chilling your white rice in the fridge beforehand.
Other Cool Drinks
For another ice cool liquid treat, check out this quick and easy-to-make Coconut Rice Pudding Milkshake made with Mahatma® Jasmine Rice. If you’re not a fan of coconut, try adding in chocolate flakes instead.
For more tasty treats be sure to follow @Mahatmariceusa on social media. Once you have cooled off and are looking for some recipe ideas try these taquitos dorados.
