This Bhapa Doi Cake is a Bengali dessert, and it is soft, creamy, rich, smooth, melt-in-the-mouth, and flavored with cardamom. It is made with only four ingredients and tastes amazingly delicious!
The recipe for this Steamed Yogurt Pudding is beyond easy and quick. It makes a perfect dessert with a meal, after dinner, or for a sweet craving!
Creamy Bhapa Doi Cake
Bhapa Doi is a delicious dessert from eastern India with a delicate, velvety, smooth texture. The name Bhapa Doi comes from the word steamed or baked yogurt.
Traditionally, this Bengali Dessert is just a three-ingredient dish. It is made with Greek or hung yogurt, milk, and condensed milk.
Some recipes even use only yogurt and condensed milk. While some like to add milk to the yogurt mixture, and some recipes call for heavy cream instead of milk.
So, you can also make this dessert yours and flavor it as you desire! However, do not add too much milk or cream, and do not thin the yogurt mixture.
I have made this dessert like a cake by steaming it in a cake tin rather than in individual bowls. Also, I like to add heavy cream to make it more creamy, rich, and decadent.
I have flavored this Bhapa Doi Cake with cardamom to intensify the Indian flavor. Cardamom is my favorite in most Indian sweets and desserts, and it’s no less in this steamed yogurt pudding.
The recipe for this Indian yogurt cheesecake is beyond easy, with only four ingredients. Preparations will take just five minutes, and steaming will take 20-25 minutes. However, the only tricky part is waiting, as this dessert needs to be set in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
This Bengali dessert is soft, smooth, and irresistible. If you want to try different flavors for Bhapa Doi, you can check out Bhapa Doi with Strawberry, Bhapa Doi (With Saffron and Cardamom), and Baked Vanilla Yogurt with Blueberry Compote.
Why You Will Love Bhapa Doi Cake
- This dessert is eggless and vegetarian.
- It is creamy, rich, thick, and velvety smooth.
- Bhapa Doi Cake is delicious and irresistible, with a luscious texture.
- The recipe requires only four ingredients.
- It is easy and quick to make.
- Steamed Yogurt Pudding is perfect for post-lunch or post-dinner dessert.
- This perfectly sweet dessert is flavored with cardamom.
Ingredients
- Yogurt: Yogurt is the base for this recipe. Thick yogurt is essential for creamy, rich, and smooth Bhapa Doi Cake. I used hung yogurt (homemade) for this dessert, but you can also use Greek yogurt.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy or whipping cream makes the dessert extra creamy, smooth, and rich. It also balances the tanginess of yogurt and sets Bhapa Doi during steaming. However, if you do not want to use cream, skip it and add a little less condensed milk.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: It makes the dessert sweet and also provides volume. For this recipe, do not use sugar instead of condensed milk.
- Cardamom Powder: Ground cardamoms provide delicious and warm flavors to the Bhapa Doi Cake. I highly recommend not to skip this spice.
Step-by-Step Directions
Preparations
- Lightly grease a 6-inch round cake pan with non-stick oil spray or melted butter, and line it with parchment paper.
- Prepare a steamer or a large pot with a lid for steaming the Bhapa Doi Cake.
- Put a metal ring or trivet in the center of the pot or steamer and pour 3 to 4 cups of water.
- On medium to high heat, bring water to a boil.
Making The Yogurt Mixture
- Add hung yogurt to a mixing bowl and whisk until the yogurt is smooth and lump-free.
- Then, add sweetened condensed milk, cream, and ground cardamom.
- Whisk well until everything is combined and the mixture is smooth without any lumps.
- Taste the mixture and add more condensed milk if required.
- If you skip adding the cream, add a little less condensed milk.
Steaming The Bhapa Doi Cake
- Pour the yogurt mixture into the prepared pan and cover it with aluminum foil.
- Place the pan in the steamer and cover it with the lid.
- Steam it for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pan from the steamer and remove the aluminum foil.
Chilling And Serving The Cake
- Let the Bhapa Doi Cake come to room temperature, and then chill it in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Remove the cake by running the sharp knife through the edges of the pan and flipping it on the plate.
- Top the cake with chopped pistachios and slice it as you desire.
Helpful Tips
- Yogurt: Thick yogurt is essential for the creamy and rich Bhapa Doi Cake. So, use hung yogurt for this recipe or store-bought Greek yogurt for convenience. If using plain yogurt as it is, Bhapa Doi will not set, and it will still be liquid after baking.
- Heavy or Whipping Cream: It makes the dessert rich, creamy, and luscious. However, you can skip the cream or use light cream or half-and-half instead of whipping cream.
- Condensed Milk: Condensed milk makes the yogurt mixture sweeter and thicker. The amount of condensed milk will vary depending on how tangy the yogurt is and how sweet you prefer your dessert. So initially add ¾ cup of condensed milk, and after mixing everything, taste, and add more as needed.
- Pistachios: You can garnish the Bhapa Doi cake with your choice of nuts or skip it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Bhapa Doi Not Set?
It is essential to use thick yogurt for the thick Bhapa Doi and to ensure it sets well. Steaming the Bhapa Doi Cake is vital until a toothpick inserted into it comes out almost clean. So, for the best result, use thick yogurt, do not skip the cream, and steam until the Bhapa Doi sets.
More Indian Desserts
Recipe Card
Bhapa Doi Cake / Steamed Yogurt Pudding
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ cups (360g) hung yogurt or Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup (60ml) heavy or whipping cream (optional)
- ¾ cup (230g) sweetened condensed milk (or add as required)
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- 8-10 pistachios finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
Preparations
- Lightly grease a 6-inch round cake pan with non-stick oil spray or melted butter, and line it with parchment paper.
- Prepare a steamer or a large pot with a lid for steaming the Bhapa Doi Cake. Put a metal ring or trivet in the center of the pot or steamer and pour 3 to 4 cups of water. On medium to high heat, bring water to a boil.
Making The Yogurt Mixture
- Add hung yogurt to a mixing bowl and whisk until the yogurt is smooth and lump-free.
- Then, add sweetened condensed milk, cream, and ground cardamom. Whisk well until everything is combined and the mixture is smooth without any lumps.
- Taste the mixture and add more condensed milk if required. If you skip adding the cream, add a little less condensed milk.
Steaming The Bhapa Doi Cake
- Pour the yogurt mixture into the prepared pan and cover it with aluminum foil. Place the pan in the steamer and cover the steamer with the lid.
- Steam it for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the pan from the steamer and remove the aluminum foil.
Chilling and Serving the Cake
- Let the Bhapa Doi Cake come to room temperature, and then chill it in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Remove the cake by running the sharp knife through the edges of the pan and flipping it on the plate.
- Top the cake with chopped pistachios and slice it as you desire.
Notes
- Yogurt: It is essential to use thick yogurt for the creamy and rich Bhapa Doi Cake. So, use hung yogurt for this recipe or store-bought Greek yogurt for convenience. If using plain yogurt as it is, Bhapa Doi will not set, and it will still be liquid after baking.
- Heavy or Whipping Cream: It makes the dessert rich, creamy, and luscious. However, you can skip the cream or use light or half-and-half cream instead of whipping cream.
- Condensed Milk: Condensed milk makes the yogurt mixture sweet and thicker. The amount of condensed milk will vary depending on how tangy the yogurt is and how sweet you prefer your dessert. So initially add ¾ cup of condensed milk, and after mixing everything, taste, and add more as needed.
- Pistachios: You can garnish the Bhapa Doi cake with your choice of nuts or skip it.
Thanks for coming! Let me know what you think.