Rice Pie: An Italian Easter Custom

31 de March de 2026

1

By Lynne on March 30, 2026 » Go away a overview

This candy Italian Rice Pie is a wealthy and creamy dessert that’s good on your Easter vacation desk. With a luscious, creamy filling made with rice, ricotta cheese, and the fruity taste of pineapple, this rice pie is a twist on the normal Italian dessert that can grow to be a brand new household recipe you’ll serve yearly!

If you need a dessert you’ll be able to put together forward of time to get pleasure from on Easter Sunday, this one suits the invoice! Bake it the day earlier than so you’ll be able to get pleasure from it after Easter Mass or no matter your loved ones traditions are for this vacation!

What’s Rice Pie?

Once I initially noticed the title of the recipe, I believed it might be a savory pie, like layers of rice, cream of one thing soup, and meat. However no, this Italian Rice Pie is a candy dessert historically served for Christmas and Easter time. Some variations of this Italian recipe, also referred to as pastiera di riso, use a flaky shortcrust pastry in a springform pan or add citrus flavors like lemon zest or orange peel and even cinnamon. Total, the flavors are recent and comforting, and this pie is at all times successful on the holidays!

Elements for Italian Rice Pie

The record of elements isn’t lengthy, however you may not hold all of them readily available. Make a cease at your grocery retailer to select up any of those elements you’ll want:

Giant eggs (you’ll want 9!)
Granulated white sugar
Half-skim ricotta cheese
Pure vanilla extract
Heavy cream
Cooked rice
Crushed pineapple (drained)

I’ve included an in depth ingredient record and directions within the recipe card on the finish of the put up, so be certain that to test it out!

Find out how to make Italian Easter Rice Pie

The one factor you’ll want to plan forward for with this dessert is that it has an extended baking time. Right here’s tips on how to make this scrumptious dessert:

First, I preheat oven to 350°F. Then I put together a deep 9 X 13-inch baking dish by buttering it. *See observe in recipe card.
I beat the eggs in a really giant bowl. Then I add the sugar and with a handheld mixer, combine properly. I add the ricotta cheese and vanilla with the mixer on medium low till any clumps of ricotta have damaged aside and the contents grow to be fully easy and creamy. Then I combine within the heavy cream.
With a big spoon or rubber spatula, I fold within the cooked rice and drained pineapple, ensuring it’s fully included.
I discover that it’s best to make use of a big ladle to switch the combination to the ready baking dish.
I bake the pie for roughly 1 1/2 hours (90 minutes). As oven temperatures can fluctuate, I examine the standing after one hour. Pie will likely be executed after I see the middle is not wobbly, the highest is golden and barely browned, and I can insert a knife into the middle that comes out clear.
This pie is finest served chilly, so I enable it to chill a bit earlier than setting the pan into the fridge to chill fully. Additionally, after I put it into the fridge, the custard-like middle turns into totally set and the slices are clear after I reduce it.
I prefer to prime every slide with some recent whipped cream or a dusting of powdered sugar with this earlier than serving.

Recipe Notes

You’ll need to use a deep 9 X 13-inch pan. In case you don’t have one, my suggestion could be to make use of each a 9 X 13 and an 8 X 8. When pouring the batter into the 9 X 13, an excellent rule of thumb as to climate or not the pan is giant sufficient is to be sure that there’s a minimum of an inch between the batter and the highest of the dish.
Don’t let the darkish browned edges freak you out as a result of these are the tastiest elements of the pie! They’re type of like caramelized edges or the perimeters of brownies that persons are at all times combating over. In case you don’t like their look, you’ll be able to cowl the dish with a bit of aluminum foil after it’s been within the oven for about an hour to forestall it from darkening. However belief me on this, they’re fairly flavorful.

FAQS

Are you able to make Italian Rice Pie forward of time?

Sure, you may make this pie as much as 3 days forward of time. Retailer it within the fridge, tightly coated, till you might be able to serve it.

What forms of rice ought to I exploit?

I sometimes use lengthy grain white rice for this recipe.
The feel will likely be barely totally different relying on what sort of rice you employ. Arborio rice is a good substitute.

How do I retailer leftover Candy Rice Pie?

Cowl with plastic wrap or place in an hermetic container and refrigerate any leftovers within the fridge for as much as every week.

Can I serve this pie heat?

Rice Ricotta Easter Pie wants to chill a bit to room temperature then fully cool within the fridge in order that it might probably set earlier than chopping, like cheesecake. Let it cool fully and I promise it is going to be definitely worth the wait!

How ought to I serve this Rice Pie?

Serve ricotta pie with recent whipped cream and a cherry, or mud it with powdered sugar earlier than serving. Preserve every little thing gentle and easy!

Extra Italian Recipes to Strive

In case you cherished this recipe from our Italian mates, then attempt certainly one of these basic Italian desserts and different recipes:

Pizzelles: Sweetened with anise or vanilla extracts, our Pizzelles are a basic Italian cookie! All you want for this straightforward pizzelle recipe is a handful of elements and a pizzelle iron! For a distinct taste, attempt these Chai Pizzelles!
Biscotti: These conventional Italian cookies will depart your style buds dancing with pleasure. With its good steadiness of sweetness and crunch, this basic biscotti is the proper deal with on your vacation baking tray or any event.
Italian Bread: My Grandma’s Italian Bread has the proper crunchy, chewy crust and is so extremely mushy and pleasant on the within. This selfmade bread is nice out of the oven slathered with butter, used for a panini, or toasted for breakfast!
Italian Pasta Salad: Summertime requires refreshing and easy meals that seize the colourful flavors of the season, and nothing embodies this higher than a basic Italian Pasta Salad.
Pasta: I’ve tons of pasta recipes on the weblog so that you can get pleasure from. They’re extra American-Italian than true Italian, however hey, they’re scrumptious both method!

Have you ever had Rice Pie earlier than? What’s your conventional Easter dessert? Let me know within the feedback beneath!

FOLLOW ME

FACEBOOK ~ PINTEREST
INSTAGRAM ~ TWITTER
YOUTUBE

Preserve an eye fixed out for extra of my straightforward recipes every week!

Need to Save This Recipe?

Enter your e-mail & I’ll ship it to your inbox. Plus, get nice new recipes from me each week!

By submitting this way, you consent to obtain emails from 365 Days of Baking and Extra.

A plated slice of an Italian Easter dessert in front of a blue pan and napkin.

Created by: Lynne Feifer

Italian Rice Pie

Prep Time 15

Prepare dinner Time 1 30

Complete Time 1 45

This straightforward Italian Rice Pie is a creamy dessert good on your Easter vacation desk with a scrumptious filling of rice, ricotta cheese, and pineapple. Everybody will love this candy Italian dessert.

Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F, and put together a deep 9 X 13-inch baking dish by buttering it. *See observe.
In a really giant bowl, beat the eggs. Add the sugar and with a handheld mixer, combine properly. Add the ricotta cheese and vanilla and blend on medium low till any clumps of ricotta have damaged aside and contents turns into fully easy and creamy. Combine within the heavy cream.
With a big spoon or rubber spatula, fold within the cooked rice and drained pineapple.
Use a big ladle to switch the combination to the ready baking dish.
Bake for roughly 1 1/2 hours (90 minutes). As oven temperatures can fluctuate, ensure you examine the standing after one hour. Pie will likely be executed when the middle is not wobbly and a knife inserted into the middle comes out clear.
Pie is finest served chilly. Enable it to chill a bit earlier than setting the pan into the fridge to chill fully. Doing so will enable the custard-like middle to completely set and offer you clear slices when reduce.
High with recent whipped cream or mud every slice with some powdered sugar earlier than serving.

Notes

You’ll need to use a deep 9 X 13-inch pan. In case you don’t have one, my suggestion could be to make use of each a 9 X 13 and an 8 X 8.
When pouring the batter into the 9 X 13, an excellent rule of thumb as to climate or not the pan is giant sufficient is to be sure that there’s a minimum of an inch between the batter and the highest of the dish.
Don’t let the darkish browned edges freak you out! These are the tastiest elements of the pie, type of like caramelized edges or the perimeters of brownies that persons are at all times combating over. In case you don’t like their look, you’ll be able to cowl the dish with a bit of aluminum foil after it’s been within the oven for about an hour to forestall it from darkening.

Vitamin

Did you make this recipe?

Share it with me on Instagram and ensure to comply with me on Pinterest for extra recipes.