Everyone knows that most Indians have a sweet tooth that especially comes alive during festivals and special occasions. Every region of the nation has its own varieties that are cooked up and shared or sold with great passion. And when it comes to sweet dishes or mithai from Rajasthan, milk cake is a must-have that has grown in popularity and is now available across the nation. But if you look at its roots, milk cake comes from the small city of Alwar.
Milk cake is still a huge deal in Alwar. All the sweet shops in town use the original old recipe (or so they claim). Over the centuries, this imperial dessert has spread beyond the royal palace walls into the bazaars and streets of Alwar. The city remains the place to experience authentic milk cake. Made with love and infused with the flavours of history, Alwar ka mawa or milk cake is a treat for all senses and a culinary treasure of India.
Satisfy your craving for milk cake and connect with history - give milk cake a try on your next visit to Alwar!
Difference Between Milk Cake & Kalakand
The curious mind often wonders about the subtle differences between kalakand and milk cake, both dishes that originated in Alwar. At first glance they appear quite alike. Both are made from milk which has been reduced until it thickens. Both have a soft, crumbly texture and a milky sweet flavour, yet they are totally different.
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In Kalakand milk is simmered for hours with sugar until it becomes dense and fudge-like. It is flavoured with saffron, cardamom, and/or rosewater, lending it a floral aroma. Milk cake on the other hand starts with a cooked custard base enriched with cream. The custard is chilled until set, then crumbled and bound together like dough. The kneading process helps get that chewy texture that milk cake is famed for, while kalakand is often more crumbly.
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So, while both sweet dishes come from Alwar, one emphasizes slow reduction while the other relies on coagulation. Tasting them side by side, it can be found that kalakand has a stronger caramelized milk flavour compared to milk cake’s delicate notes. So next time while encountering these creamy confections, remember that sometimes the most similar looking things can be intriguingly different upon closer inspection!
Also read: Quick Milk Cake Recipe
Best Places To Have Milk Cake In Alwar
Here are some of the most popular places to buy authentic milk cake when visiting Alwar:
- Bansal Sweets - Located near Rajmahal Cinema, Bansal Sweets is one of the oldest and most renowned sweet shops in Alwar.
- Chawla Sweets - Operating since 1960, Chawla Sweets is another iconic sweet shop known for its melt-in-the-mouth milk cakes.
- Mehta Sweets - Mehta Sweets is a small, 60-year old shop near the bus stand that serves delicious milk cakes with exotic flavours.
- Shreeji Bakers - A new entrant, Shreeji Bakers is located in a bylane near Sanjay Cinemahas is famous for its soft and creamy milk cakes.
- Nirula's Bakery - The popular Nirula's chain also has an outlet in Alwar where you can relish their signature milk cake by the slice or as a whole cake.
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Recipe Of The Divine Milk Cake
The traditional recipe for milk cake uses simple ingredients like milk, sugar, ghee and mawa that you probably already have in your pantry. To begin, grease a plate with ghee and keep it ready. Now comes the fun part - boil the milk in a heavy pan until it reduces to a quarter of its original amount. Keep stirring every now and then to prevent sticking. This should take 30-40 minutes. Next, add sugar and cardamom for that signature flavour. Give it a good mix and cook for 2 more minutes.
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Now, throw in the mawa/khoya and blend well. After a minute, turn off the flame and quickly mix in the flour. Pour this luscious milk solid mixture onto the greased plate. Spread evenly with a spoon or spatula. Sprinkle chopped nuts and raisins on top for some crunch. Let it set completely before cutting into your favourite shapes. The cardamom and nutty flavours combined with the dense, cake-like texture make this milk cake an unforgettable experience for your tastebuds.