Sweet Creamy Baked Rice Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup aborio short-grain rice
3 cups half-and-half cream (or use full-fat milk)
1/2 cup sugar (or to taste)
1/4 cup butter
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch nutmeg (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Preparation

Set oven to 300 degrees.
Butter a baking dish with a lid, large enough to hold the mixture (I use my White Corning ware oval baking dish for this).
Place all the ingredients (except raisins) in a baking dish; mix to combine.
To speed the oven cooking time up, you can bring to a simmer on top of the stove if desired over medium heat.
Cover with a lid and place in the oven to bake for about 2 hours (could take more or less time) stirring a couple of times while cooking.
Add in raisins the last 30 minutes of cooking.
*NOTE* the mixture will thicken even more after cooking.