What Is Malai Ice-cream?

Malai ice cream, or kulfi, is one of India's most demanded and highly recommended summer specials. Most quick recipes of malai ice creams lack the signature lustre of a traditionally prepared malai ice cream. The instant recipes involve condensed milk, while the authentic one mandates the introduction of rabri. 

Rabri is a thick and creamy mixture made of milk. It is a slow yet worthwhile process of precisely simmering milk while constantly stirring it. Readymade malai ice cream does not stand a candle to the one prepared using this method. The simmering and stirring take care of it all without adding thickening agents such as cornstarch.

How to Prepare Malai Ice-cream in an Ice-cream Mold?

To prepare a malai ice cream, you can either choose to use heavy cream or skip it out completely. Granted, including heavy cream will intensify the sweet malai-like flavour of the rabri and uplift the taste by a few notches. For those with a sweet tooth, you can add condensed milk or Mawa to the mixture. It will subtly darken the flavour and take your tastebuds for a fun ride.

Other fun additions could be whipped cream and a generous topping of your favourite dry fruits. It will add a professional edge to this dessert and instantly make it your go-to recipe.

This blog presents an easy step-by-step procedure to make malai ice cream. It is a traditional spin on this ancient recipe and will become your favourite within the first attempt.

Ingredients

  • 1 litre of fat milk
  • ½ cup of sugar
  • ¼th teaspoon of cardamom
  • Saffron strands
  • Almonds
  • Pistachios
  • Cashews
  • Mawa (optional)
  • Fat cream or malai
  • Rose water

Recipe Of Malai Ice-cream

Follow this step-by-step recipe to make a malai ice cream like a pro.

  • In a large pan or saucepan, pour fat milk and let it boil on low flame. Keep stirring it now and then to prevent it from overheating at the bottom. Extract the cream that collects on its surface.
  • Once it boils, add the clotted cream back to the milk. Repeat this stir-and-add-cream procedure until it decreases to ⅓rd of the original amount of milk.
  • On low flame, add ½ a cup of sugar. Stir it well for the sugar to dissolve. Proceed to add cardamom to the milk. Add some saffron strands, 2 tablespoons of diced or sliced almonds, 2-3 tablespoons of sliced pistachio, 2 tablespoons of diced cashews, and mawa if you want to.
  • Pour half a cup of malai or fat cream. Blend it well with the milk. Boil it on low flame until bubbles appear on the surface of the mixture.
  • Sprinkle two spoons of rice water and stir it. Cover it with a lid and let it sit until it cools down.
  • Once its temperature lowers to room temperature, pour the mixture into multiple moulds.
  • Use lids or aluminium foil to cover it and let it freeze overnight. Rub it between the palms of your hand before serving

Tips To Make Malai Ice-cream


  • Use these tips as guidelines to get the malai ice cream right on your first try.
  • Scrape off the dried milk chips on the sides and the bottom of the vessel and stir it in the milk.
  • You can add milk powder, mawa, or khoya for better consistency and a richer texture.
  • Use low-fat cream or heavy cream to make it sweeter
  • It's wise to use a thick-bottomed pan to avoid burning the milk.
  • An induction plate takes about 25 minutes for the milk to boil and reduce to ⅓rd of its amount. The time required for this to complete relies on the pan quality, stove type, and flame.

Wrapping Up

Lastly, chop it into aesthetic pieces and serve it with a drizzle of pistachio on top. Here comes the malai ice cream recipe to an end. This is where your work begins. We are sure that this quick recipe will be your go-to summer dessert. Enjoy this traditional approach and enrich your vacation with a must-try recipe.