Bengali Bhapa Doi is served with a fusion twist - an incredible spiced orange syrup. This Indian dessert is also known as Indian style cheesecake and is prepared by steaming or "baking" Greek yogurt, condensed milk and whole milk.
Delicately creamy with a subtle tang from the yoghurt, it has a texture not unlike a baked New York cheesecake - smooth, light, and indulgent. Except it's totally egg-free.
My version stays true to the classic Bengali flavours, but with a twist. I’ve added a touch of orange zest to brighten the flavour, and rich, spiced orange syrup topping. It's made by reducing orange juice with cinnamon, clove, and star anise — the perfect finishing touch.
You can serve Bhapa Doi either warm or chilled - both ways are equally delicious.
The ingredients couldn’t be simpler:
- Greek yoghurt - or strained plain yogurt
- Condensed milk - adds sweetness while saving the time and effort of reducing milk and sugar from scratch.
- Milk powder - replaces fresh milk. It helps thicken the yoghurt and prevents it from splitting during baking.
I absolutely love yoghurt-based desserts in the warmer months. I could happily eat bowlfuls of Greek yogurt shrikhand or devour Indian fusion cream horns!
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 the yogurt and condensed milk, mix well until it's nice and smooth.
- Then add in the milk powder, whisk using a balloon whisk. It should be fairly smooth after whisking.
- Pour yogurt mixture into the cast iron skillet, until ¾ of the way. Tip: If using ramekins, make sure they’re roughly the same size so they cook evenly. I like using shallow ramekins or skillets so the Bhapa Doi sets quicker and gets a gently golden top.
- 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 ¾ of the way up the sides. Tip: The water bath helps the dessert bake evenly and prevents cracking or curdling. Be careful not to get water into the ramekins.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until yoghurt starts getting little golden on the sides. Mine took about 55 minutes on this occasion so it's important to keep an eye. Once it is baked, the mixture should be wobbly, neither firm or liquid/runny. If it is still runny, it needs longer cooking time. Times will vary based on the size of your container.
- Turn off the oven and let the yoghurt set overnight in the oven or remove and allow it to cool at room temperature. Overnight is better to develop flavour and texture.
- Once cooled, cover the skillet with tight foil and leave it to refrigerate for a minimum for 4-5 hours.
Spiced Orange Syrup - while the bhapa doi chills
- Place orange juice and spices into a saucepan. I like to use good quality fresh orange juice for better flavour. I find long life orange juice cartons taste bitter. Add some sugar if your juice isn't that sweet.
- Bring it to boil and let it simmer until the syrup gets thicker, it will take about 8-10 minutes. 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.
- 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 flowers.
Other Yogurt Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Bhapa Doi (Baked Yogurt) with Spiced Orange Syrup
Equipment
- Bowl
- Cast iron skillet/cake tin/ramekins I have used 6.5 inch skillet and two small ramekins
- oven
- Baking tray
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt full fat or hung yogurt
- 200 gram condensed milk
- 3 tbsp. milk powder full fat
- 1 tsp. orange zest optional
Syrup
- 50 ml orange juice fresh
- 25 g sugar
- 1 tablespoon whole spices total with cinnamon, star anise, green cardamom, cloves
- 2 oranges sliced
Garnish
- 2 tablespoon pistachio nuts slivered
- 1 tablespoon almonds slivered
- 1 tablespoon rose edible rose petals
Instructions
Bhapa Doi (Baked Yogurt)
- Preheat the oven to gas mark 4, 180C or 350F.
- Combine all the baked yoghurt ingredients in a bowl and whisk well. Pour into individual oven-proof ramekins or cast iron skillet which is oven proof.
- Place the filled ramekins or skillet in a big baking/roasting tray and fill the tray with hot water to about ¾ of the way up the sides.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes or until yoghurt starts getting little golden on the sides.
- Turn off the heat and let the yoghurt sit in the oven for one hour.
- Remove it from the oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature.
- Cover it with tight foil and leave it in the refrigerate to chill for at least 4-5 hours or overnight.
Orange Spiced Syrup
- Add fresh orange juice, sugar and spices into a saucepan.
- Bring it to a boil and let it simmer until the syrup thickens a little. It may take 10 minutes.
- Set aside to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, peel away the skin from the orange then slice into squares or rounds. Set aside for later.
- Arrange orange slices on top of the set yogurt, spoon spiced orange syrup on top if it and garnish with chopped pistachio nuts and edible flowers.
Video
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Share on Facebook Pin This RecipeNote – 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.
Cathleen says
I love everything about this!! It is rare to find a recipe using oranges, so I am so happy to have found one!! Making this on Valentine's day, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Hayley says
@Cathleen, you are so welcome, please do try our other recipes too and your lovely feedback is always important, thanks
Leslie says
I think orange flavored desserts are highly underrated! It's one of my favorite dessert flavors. This recipe is perfection!
Hayley says
@Leslie, yes i totally agree with you, so happy you like this recipe, please try our other recipes too, and keep giving your feedback, thanks
Liz says
I have never had this before, but it sounds so delicious! Definitely sounds like my kind of food! I saved this to make sure I give the recipe a try!
Hayley says
@Liz, thanks, i hope you try it and enjoy it,thanks for stopping by, take care
Marie says
What an elegant dessert, you'd never know it's so easy to make! I loved the spiced syrup, it's so flavorful and a perfect match for the zesty, juicy oranges.
P.S. Your photos are just stunning, they totally made me want to make the dish!
Hayley says
@Marie,thanks for your lovely encouragements, so nice to hear from you, take care
Nicole says
I'm a huge fan of Indian sweets and this one did not disappoint. The orange syrup with the spices is incredible, gotta love that cardamom!
Hayley says
@Nicole, so happy that you like this recipe, please try out our other recipes too. Cheers
Jessica says
So creamy and flavorful! I really loved this recipe!
Hayley says
@Jessica, thanks a lot please do try our other recipes too, thanks
Megan Ellam says
I had never heard of this until your recipe. I am so inspired to try a low carb version now as this looks soooooo good! I hope it comes out half as good as this one looks!
Hayley says
@Megan Ellam, iam so overwhelmed by your beautiful feedback, thank you so much,pls stay in touch, thanks
Beth says
I have never seen a recipe for cheesecake that doesn't call for cream cheese, and I love that it contains yogurt instead. The orange syrup and other toppings are just beautiful, too.
Hayley says
@Beth, thank you for your encouraging feedback, take care.
Heather says
What a wonderfully easy dessert and so impressive looking too. Loved the flavor of the orange zest too!
Hayley says
@Heather, thank you so much, your feedback is so important, please stay in touch
Petro says
Whoa, this looks gorgeous and so delicious! So many beautiful flavors!
Hayley says
@Petro, thanks you , so happy to read that you liked it,please stay in touch, take care
Sandra says
Beautifully presented and your instructions are so easy to follow. What a lovely dessert for a special occasion and orange flavours are my favourite.
Hayley says
@Sandra, you are so welcome,so glad you like it, take care
Gina says
I LOVE that this is egg-free! Looks outrageously luscious and loving the orange flavors that permeate the custard.
Hayley says
@Gina, thank you for your lovely feedback, so happy you liked it, take care
danielle says
I've never had this dish before, but I am loving the orange and all the warm spices in it! It's right up my alley, can't wait to try it this weekend!
Claudia says
Amazing and so rich looking I would love some of this dessert it's simply elegant and delicious looking!
Hayley says
@Claudia,thanks for your very kind words,please do take care.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Such a beautiful dessert! I love orange flavours and cheesecake so I can't wait to make this. Thanks.
Hayley says
@Amanda Wren-Grimwood, you are so welcome hope you tried and enjoyed it, thanks a lot, nice to hear from you.