7 Indian desserts to enjoy with your chai

Our list of favourite sweet treats for that time of day: BYO chai!

Ricotta gulab jamun with saffron syrup. Source: China Squirrel

Afternoon tea. A sacred tradition of generations past, and one that simultaneously refocuses your energies to get through the rest of the afternoon, and gives you a little breather during a long day. Well, we're loving our pots of chai at the moment, and we can't have our spiced, steaming cups of goodness without some sweet things! Here are our favourites.

Indian fudge (burfi)

Indian fudge (burfi)

Burfi or barfi is a sweet, fudgy Indian confectionary. Quite like its Western counterpart, it is made with loads of sugar and milk, but here it is flavoured with cardamom, saffron, fruit extracts or rosewater. Traditionally, milk solids, ground nuts and different types of flours are also used, but now even fancy versions with chocolate and cheese are hugely popular.

Saffron and cardamom milk pudding (shree khurma)

Saffron milk pudding (shree khurma) Source: The Chefs' Line

This milk and rice vermicelli pudding is spiced with saffron and cardamom and sweetened with dates. Pistachios, cashews and almonds add texture. Make ahead and warm just before serving.

Ricotta gulab jamun with saffron syrup

Ricotta gulab jamun with saffron syrup Source: China Squirrel

Think soft doughnut holes, soaked in sugar syrup. These are made with ricotta, for an extra creamy and fluffy interior. These are saccharinely sweet, so serve with an extra-strong cup of chai!

Indian bread pudding (double ka meetha)

Indian bread pudding (double ka meetha)

Often served at weddings and celebrations, this bread pudding is a speciality of the Hyderabadi region and sees pan-fried bread slices soaked in cardamom-scented syrup. The name is derived from ‘double roti’ which was a term used for bread during the British colonial era.

Paneer balls in saffron sugar syrup (rasgulla)

Paneer balls in saffron sugar syrup (rasgulla) Source: Chris Cjhen

If you think that these are just another gulab jamun, you'd be wrong. Made throughout the Indian Subcontinent, but particularly loved by Bengalis, this dessert consists of fresh cheese balls which are simmered, then soaked in a saffron sugar syrup. And if it's boiled instead of deep-fried, then well, it's 'healthier', right?

Carrot halwa

Carrot halwa Source: Feast magazine

Carrot halwa or gajar ka halwa is a favourite Punjabi recipe, but variations appear in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Halwa means sweet in Arabic and how sweet it is, too – an almost caramelised concoction of grated carrots and soft cashews, drizzled with cream.

Rasmalai

Cheat's rasmalai Source: Quadrille

Rasmalai in its authentic form it is made from spongy balls of paneer that have been cooked and soaked in sugar syrup, then placed into a fragrant, milky liquor. This quick and easy cheat's version is made with ricotta, spiced with cardamom and saffron and sprinkled with pistachios. Think of it as a spiced "cheesecake" with extra crunch. 

Get your hands on 50+ Indian-inspired sweet hits right here.