Looking for an easy dessert with yogurt? This baked yogurt recipe takes little preparation and is the perfect summer party special!
Easy Bhapa Doi with condensed milk and milk powder
Bhapa Doi is a dessert that you didn’t know you were missing, until you tried it! The beauty of this recipe is that the Bhapa Doi stays true to its classic flavours but we have added some orange zest and made a syrup topping that you can choose to add if you wish. I highly recommend it! You can customise the flavour to your personal liking or to seasonal produce. The ingredients for this bhapa doi couldn’t be simpler, only Greek yogurt, condensed milk and milk powder. This dessert is egg-free. I love yogurt desserts during the summer months! I could easily get through bowl-fulls of Shrikhand and cones of Rose and Pistachio Cream Horns The milk powder is used in substitution to fresh milk and this is because the milk powder helps to thicken the yogurt. It also prevents the yogurt from splitting. Condensed milk is a great alternative to boiling and reducing fresh milk and sugar.
What is Bhapa Doi
Bhapa Doi is a Bengali Sweet traditionally made from yogurt, milk and sugar. It is traditionally served at weddings and celebrations. First, the full-cream milk is boiled and reduced, then sugar is added. Strained yogurt is added to this mixture which is then steamed either in a pressure cooker or in an oven with a water-bath. The result is a baked yogurt dessert that is creamy with a cheese-cake like texture. Bhapa Doi is flavoured in different ways with the most popular being plain sweetened, mango bhapa doi or aam bhapa doi. Nowadays, to speed up the process, condensed milk and milk powder is used because it eliminates the need to boil milk for long periods of time. It can either be served warm or chilled.
How does Bhapa Doi taste?
Bhapa Doi is a creamy dessert with mild flavours and has similar tastes and textures to a baked New York Cheesecake. It is light with a slight tang which comes from the yogurt. This particular recipe uses zingy orange zest to add some sweet and fresh citrus flavours to the yogurt. The spiced orange syrup is a strong concoction of orange juice reduction that is imbued with warm spices such as cinnamon, clove and star anise.
Difference between Bhapa Doi and Mishti Doi
Mishti Doi is another Bengali sweet made from similar ingredients to Bhapa Doi. Mishti Doi is a fermented sweet yogurt which is made by boiling milk until it reduces and thickens. It is sweetened with sugar and allowed to ferment overnight. Earthen or clay pots are used as containers as they provide the optimal temperature for the milk to culture. In mishti doi recipes, the mixture is not steamed however this cooking process occurs in making Bhapa Doi.
Why you’ll love this recipe?
Indian dessert made with only a handful of ingredients that are easily available . Easy, fuss free and lusciousLess than 5 minutes of Prep or Active time neededMake ahead dessert and crowd pleasure Can be prepared in any size, form or shape. Use a small cast iron skillet to share it with the family or use small ramekins for an individual dessert for a party.Customise the dessert per season, mood or flavours.
Ingredients
What you need to make Bhapa Doi
Full fat or whole Greek yogurt – see notes below for more yogurt options and alternatives
Sweetened condensed milk
Full fat/cream milk powder
What you need for Spiced Orange Syrup
Fresh orange juice – use good quality orange juice that is not from concentrate. Alternatively squeeze your own fresh orange juice!
Whole spices – cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, cloves
Oranges – you will need fresh oranges for both the juice and zest if adding to the bhapa doi mixture.
Slivered nuts – we have used pistachios and almonds
Edible dried flower petals – as a garnish for a beautiful presentation
Optional – add extra white sugar if your orange juice is not sweet enough
Notes
If you do not have Greek yogurt, you can strain plain whole yogurt for a few hours before using. If you do not want your orange syrup to be strong, remove the whole spices from the syrup as it is simmering rather than leaving them in. You can also omit the whole spices entirely if you prefer. Once it is baked, the mixture should be wobbly, neither firm or liquid/runny. If it is still runny, it needs longer cooking time. The baking time will be different if baked in small ramekins rather than one big container.
Variations
For variations, you can add other fruit reductions depending what is in season. You can flavour the yogurt with warm and aromatic spices such as saffron or cardamom powder. Instead of making an orange syrup, you can use warm orange marmalade for glazing Why not made plain bhapa doi and simply top with lots of fresh fruits such as mango, pineapple or summer berries or fruit compote. Yogurt blends so well with Butterscotch/caramel/toffee flavours. Add butterscotch/caramel/toffee sauce into the mixture before baking/steaming the Bhappa Doi. Top it up with some crushed praline for a crunch.
How to make Bhapa Doi in oven
This is a quick and easy bhapa doi recipe, sometimes called instant bhapa doi because you do not have to stand by the stove for ages! Here is the step by step method:
In a big mixing bowl add yogurt and condensed milk, mix well.
Then add milk powder, whisk using a whisker.
Pour yogurt mixture into the cast iron skillet (you may use oven proof ramekins, bowl or baking pie dish) Add orange zest (you can add directly into the mixture too before pouring it into the skillet)Place the filled ramekins or skillet in a big roasting tray and fill the tray with hot water to about 3/4 of the way up the sides.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until yoghurt starts getting little golden on the sides. ( Mine took about 55 minutes )Turn off the oven and let the yoghurt set overnight in the oven or remove and allow it to cool at room temperature. Once cooled, cover the skillet with tight foil and leave it in the refrigerate to chill 4-5 hours.
Spiced Orange Syrup
Place orange juice and spices into a saucepan. (add sugar if you want)Bring it to boil and let it simmer until the syrup gets thicker.It will take about 8-10 minutes.Set aside to cool completely.
Just before serving arrange orange slices on top of the set yogurt, spoon spiced orange syrup on top and garnish with slivered almonds and pistachio nuts and edible flower.
Other Yogurt Recipes:
Yogurt and Herb Summer SandwichTraditional Gujarati KadhiDahi AlooCaramel Lassi
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations! Don’t forget to follow me on social media using the buttons below – I can’t wait to see you all there!
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Note – This recipe has been updated from our recipe archives with new images and content, but the recipe remains the same. First time published in December 2015.
