World Milk Day is a celebration of dairy's role in nutrition and culinary heritage, and few Indian desserts embody this better than milk cake. This dense, caramelised sweet, known for its granular texture and deep milky richness, is already a festive staple. But giving it a contemporary update can elevate its charm further. Enter the traditional milk cake with Dairy Milk topping, a luscious blend of old school craftsmanship and modern indulgence. Below are five inspired takes on milk cake with smooth Dairy Milk chocolate that bring together the best of both worlds.
1. The classic
This version keeps the essence of milk cake intact, having slow cooked khoya, caramelised sugar, and that signature dense bite, but adds a glossy chocolate ganache topping made with melted Dairy Milk.
Ingredients:
- 1 litre full fat milk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 100 g Dairy Milk chocolate
- 3 tbsp fresh cream
Method:
- Boil the milk and curdle it using lemon juice.
- Strain and simmer the chenna on low heat until it turns grainy and begins to brown.
- Add the sugar and ghee, stirring till it thickens.
- Pour into a greased dish and let it set.
- For the ganache, melt the Dairy Milk chocolate with cream over low heat, stirring until smooth.
- Pour over the set milk cake and refrigerate until the topping firms slightly. The result is a comforting dessert with an elegant finish.
2. The rose and cardamom Milk Cake
Flavored with rose water and cardamom, this milk cake brings floral and spiced notes to the table. It’s then sprinkled generously with chilled Dairy Milk shavings for texture and richness.
Ingredients:
- Base milk cake made as above
- 1 tsp rose water
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- 50 g chilled Dairy Milk, grated
Method:
- Once the milk cake mixture is cooked and before setting it, stir in rose water and cardamom powder.
- After setting and cooling, top the cake with finely grated chilled Dairy Milk. The shavings melt slightly into the surface but retain enough firmness to offer contrast with each bite. It’s aromatic, indulgent, and visually beautiful, perfect for a festive celebration like World Milk Day.
3. The layered pistachio milk cake
This take adds a pistachio layer for color and nuttiness, along with a top layer of thin Dairy Milk discs that melt slightly into the cake’s surface for a soft, chocolatey finish.
Ingredients:
- Base milk cake mixture
- 2 tbsp pistachio powder
- 75 g Dairy Milk, cut into thin circles or discs
Method:
- Once the milk cake is cooked, divide the mixture into two portions.
- Mix pistachio powder into the one half.
- Layer the pistachio portion at the bottom of a greased dish and the plain portion on top.
- While the mixture is still warm, place the Dairy Milk discs gently on top, letting them soften without losing shape. This version plays with texture and layers, perfect for when you want a dessert that’s both festive and polished.
4. The almond milk cake
Transform your milk cake into bite-sized squares and drizzle each piece with melted Dairy Milk chocolate. This version is ideal for serving a crowd while keeping portion sizes under control.
Ingredients:
- Traditional milk cake
- 2 tbsp almond flour
- 100 g Dairy Milk, melted
Method:
- Once the milk cake mixture is thickened, stir in almond flour for extra richness.
- Set the mixture, cut into cubes, and line them up on a tray.
- Drizzle each piece with warm melted Dairy Milk and garnish with a slivered almond. The balance of nutty richness with sweet chocolate makes this version irresistible.
5. The rabri inspired milk cake
This final twist draws inspiration from rabri, incorporating saffron and cardamom into the milk cake. It’s topped with jaggery-sweetened Dairy Milk bark for a rustic yet indulgent finish.
Ingredients:
- Traditional milk cake base
- Pinch of saffron soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- 100 g Dairy Milk
- 1 tbsp powdered jaggery
Method:
- Add saffron and cardamom to the milk cake as it cooks.
- For the bark, melt Dairy Milk and stir in powdered jaggery until combined.
- Pour the mix onto a flat tray and allow it to cool until set, then break into shards.
- Once the milk cake is set and cooled, top with the jaggery sweetened chocolate shards. This variety feels familiar yet exciting, being a true showstopper for World Milk Day.