Double Cherry Rice Pudding

Rice pudding might just be the ultimate comfort food, but that doesn’t mean it’s not ripe for an update. In this version, cherries are a definite upgrade from the usual currants or raisins, and a dash of mahlab adds an appealing note of burnt almond. Serve topped with a spoonful of mahlab-flavored whipped cream to underscore the cherry theme. Any short-grain rice will work just fine here; no need to break the bank on pricey arborio.