Kalakand is a delectable, melt-in-the-mouth dessert whipped up in Indian homes for festivals and celebrations. A moist and flavorful milk cake, Kalakand has a nutty floral aroma and delicate grainy texture. Laced with cardamom and saffron, and dressed up in bright green pistachios, this exotic mithai always stands out amongst the finest of Indian dessert spreads.

stack of kalakand cubes with a festive back drop

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Origins of Kalakand
Ingredients
How to Make Instant Kalakand
Tips
Storing
More Indian Dessert Recipes
Recipe

"LOVE this recipe! I have made it a few times over the past year, its quick and easy and so delicious!!! My family loves really loves it!! I will always make a double batch as I did for Diwali this year because it makes thicker pieces - which everyone loved. Thank you Archana for all of your great recipes and for always answering DM's quickly!"

- Anjali G

Growing up, my father would always buy fresh Kalakand from the local Halwai (sweet shop) for festivals. My sisters and I would look forward to those times, as this sweet was a family favorite. Ever since I moved to the USA, I have missed having fresh kalakand. I have always wanted to find the perfect recipe to make this mildly sweet and moist barfi at home.

kalakand cubes in a silver platter and paper cupcake liners

Origins of Kalakand

Historically belonging to Uttar Pradesh in North India, this versatile milk-based mithai has gained universal popularity across India. Traditionally, Kalakand is made from coagulated full-fat milk and sugar. The milk is curdled to get Indian cottage cheese (paneer) and mixed with sugar. This mixture is then cooked on medium heat till all the moisture evaporates and it attains a moist and grainy-crumbly consistency. However, the traditional recipe takes hours to make, involving complex steps and multiple pots and pans.

So here is MOC’s easy and modern take on this Indian dessert with the same authentic flavors! With this quick and simple 3 ingredient recipe, you can make heavenly Kalakand with 20 minutes of hands-on cooking time. I use full-fat ricotta cheese and sweetened condensed milk to make this effortless yummy burfi. The homemade Kalakand is delicious and similar to its traditional counterpart in taste, flavor, and texture.

Want to try more easy Indian desserts? Try Thandai Kalakand and Almond Burfi recipes.

Kalakand is a wonderful and festive dessert that makes for a perfect treat on your holiday table. I love to cut kalakand into smaller bite-sized cube and place them in mini cupcake liners to share them with my family and friends as part of the Diwali treats gift package!

I am sharing my super easy must-try recipe with you, in time for the Indian festival season and for the upcoming holiday season.

Ingredients

This recipe uses only 3 main ingredients and a couple of optional flavoring and garnishing ingredients:

Full-fat ricotta cheese - this light and creamy cheese is a great substitute for paneer, which is used in the traditional recipe. Make sure to use a good brand like calabra or sorrento for the perfect crumbly texture.
Condensed milk - makes for a perfect sweetener in this recipe and the thickness helps speed up the process
Ground cardamom - known as Elaichi, cardamom seeds are ground and added to Indian desserts for a sweet heavenly aroma
Saffron (optional) - saffron adds an intense aroma, a floral flavor, and a gorgeous golden color.
Pistachios (optional for nut-free) - You can use any nuts in this recipe. I love green pistachios as they add nice color contrast to this barfi.

How to Make Instant Kalakand

Line a small baking dish or tray with 7" x 7" parchment paper. Set aside.
Add the condensed milk and ricotta cheese to a non-stick pan. Using a silicone spatula, mix well and break any lumps. Cook on medium heat stirring frequently. Keep scraping the sides and mixing in every few minutes.
In the first 5 minutes, the mixture will be very liquidy, but it will continue to thicken up.
After about 20 minutes the mixture will start to separate from the sides and will come together as a thick batter. Add cardamom powder and mix well.

photos one through four of making kalakand

Pour the batter on the parchment paper-lined dish.
Using a silicone spatula, press down evenly making a 6" X 6" square evening out the top and sides.
Garnish with chopped nuts, pressing down lightly.
Allow to cool down completely, for about an hour.

photos five through eight of making kalakand

After about an hour, cut the Kalakand barfi into small 1-inch cubes (around 36 square pieces) with a silicone spatula. Traditionally the Kalakand pieces are much bigger in size, but I like to cut them into small bite-sized pieces as they are easier to eat. If you prefer the traditional size, cut it into 9 square pieces. Garnish with sliced pistachios and serve.

Tips

Although it is super simple to make Instant Kalakand at home, here are the tips that have helped me make perfect Kalakand for years:

Use full-fat ricotta for the best and creamiest Kalakand (also called milk cake by some). I highly recommend Calabra (available in whole foods) or Sorrento brands.
Always use good quality condensed milk brands like Eagle or Magnolia. The consistency of some of the store brands is more watery, and that can affect the texture of the final dish .
Use a non-stick pan to make this recipe for easy cleanup and perfect texture.
If you cook for a longer time, the kalakand may get a more chewy, fudgy, Peda-like texture. For best results, cook just until the mix starts to come together and enjoy at room temperature.

Storing

While this Indian mithai tastes best when enjoyed fresh, it can stay good in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Be sure to bring it to room temperature before serving. Kalakand freezes well, but again make sure to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, and serve at room temperature.

More Indian Dessert Recipes

Do you love Indian desserts? Check out some of our favorites:

Rice Kheer with Rose Cardamom Berry Compote - A fusion Indian dessert
Badam Burfi - Instant burfi with almond flour
Sweet Coconut Rice – EASY Instant Pot Recipe
Rice Kheer – Creamy rice kheer without any cream
Gajar Halwa – Quick carrot pudding with cardamom, saffron & nuts
Mango cheesecake – The best Instant Pot cheesecake
Rose Milk Cake – Ricotta Cheesecake with rose, cardamom & pistachios

I do hope you give this easy Indian sweet recipe a try and share your feedback with our MOC family.

Recipe

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4.91 from 60 votes

Easy Kalakand (Just 3 Ingredients to Pure Bliss)

Ricotta Cheese Kalakand is a delightful Indian sweet made with creamy ricotta, sugar, and cardamom - a rich and indulgent treat that's easy to prepare and perfect for any festive occasion.

Prep Time0

Cook Time22

Cooling1

Total Time1 22

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 9

Calories: 222kcal

Author: Archana Mundhe

Equipment

Recipe Video

Ingredients

▢ 15 oz ricotta cheese full fat recommended, I like Sorrento or Calabro brands
▢ 14 oz condensed milk full fat and brands like eagle, carnation or magnolia
▢ 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
▢ pinch of saffron optional
▢ 3 tablespoons pistachios thinly sliced (optional for nut free, or use nuts of your choice)

Instructions

Line small baking tray or dish with 7" X 7" parchment paper
In a wide non stick pan (10 to 11 inches wide) add ricotta cheese and condensed milk. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently for 20 to 25 mins. Keep scraping the sides frequently.
In the first 5 minutes the mixture will be very liquidy and it will continue to thicken up. After about 20 minutes the mixture will start to seperate from the sides and will start to come together as a thickish batter.
Add cardamom powder and mix well. For me, the batter comes together in 22 minutes, but depending on the thickness of your pan and heat level, it may take a few mins more or less. Please see the notes below.
Pour the mix in on the parchment paper-lined dish and using a silicone spatula, press down evenly making a 6" X 6" square evening out the top and sides.
Sprinkle Pistachios and saffron on top and gently press down with the spatula.
Allow to cool down completely, about an hour. You can cut the Kalakand into small 1 inch cubes (around 36 square pieces) or cut into bigger 2" x 2" squares ( 9 pieces) which will look more like the traditional version. I like to cut them into small bite sized pieces which are easier to eat.
Kalakand will stay good at room temperature for a day. It also tastes best at room tempterature. You can refrigerate for up to 5 days. Be sure to bring it to a room temperature before serving. Kalakand freezes well, but again make sure to thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, and serve at room temperature.

Notes

Notes:

Use full fat ricotta for the best and creamiest Kalakand (also called milk cake by some)
Always use good quality condensed milk brands like Eagle, Carnation or Magnolia. The consistency of some of the store brands is more watery, and that can affect the texture of the final dish
Use a non-stick pan to make this recipe for easy cleanup and perfect texture
If you cook for a longer time, the kalakand may get a more chewy, fudgy, Peda-like texture. For best results, cook just until the mix starts to come together and enjoy at room temperature

Nutrition

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Filed Under

Traditional Indian Sweets Stove Top Diwali Indian Festival Foods

Comments

4.91 from 60 votes (39 ratings without comment)

Origins of Kalakand

Ingredients

How to Make Instant Kalakand

Tips

Storing

More Indian Dessert Recipes

Recipe