Kulfi Tiramisu (Cardamom-Scented Indian Tiramisu Fusion)

Kulfi Tiramisu – this Indian tiramisu fusion combines creamy, cardamom-scented kulfi Indian ice cream with coffee infused cake to create a show stopping, layered dessert. It’s absolutely epic!

Aren’t Indian fusion cakes fun? I made my Rasmalai tres leches cake, and it has been very popular and it’s super delicious, so I decided to make another traditional cake into an Indian dessert version. This Indian tiramisu fusion recipe uses my tiramisu sheet cake and keeps the coffee in the cake layer.

Then, you top it with this amazing cardamom cream that would remind you of Indian Kulfi. No coming is needed for the cream layer. Just blend and pour. Once it’s chilled, it thickens into an almost ice cream-like texture, called kulfi.

Kulfi is traditionally made by slowly cooking down milk with cardamom and other seasonings, then freezing it. In this recipe, we skip all of that cooking down and use a combination of coconut milk and nuts to thicken the mixture without needing to use the stove at all.

For the kulfi tiramisu, I make the cake and split it into two, so you get these two thin cake layers with two kulfi cream layers. It is a delicious, decadent dessert that you can serve for festivals, like Diwali, or even the holidays and Thanksgiving!

Why You’ll Love Kulfi Tiramisu

• two sweet, coffee-flavored cake layers
• two creamy, cardamom-scented kulfi layers
• crunchy pistachios on top
• soy-free recipe. Options for gluten-free, coconut-free, and nut-free

More Vegan Indian Fusion Desserts

• Gujiya Peda– almond fudge stuffed with coconut and raisins
• Carrot Halwa Cake – Cardamom caramelized carrot cake
• Baklava Lassi
• Ras malai tres leches cake
• No-Bake Carrot Halwa Cheesecake – grain-free

Ingredients and Substitutions

• all-purpose flour – makes the dry base of the cake. To make this gluten-free, use 1 cup of almond flour, 1/3 cup of oat flour, 1/3 cup of tapioca starch, and use 1 3/4 cup of this flour mixture instead of the all-purpose flour to make your cake. Instead of the 3/4 cup of milk, use 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of club soda.
• sugar – To sweeten the cake and the kulfi cream layer.
• baking powder, baking soda, and salt – For the perfect cake texture.
• cardamom – You use ground cardamom to flavor the cake and either seeds from whole green cardamom pods or more ground cardamom in the kulfi.
• non-dairy milk – Adds moisture to the cake.
• oil – Gives the cake texture.
• non-dairy yogurt – For the cake batter. Use soy-free and/or nut-free, if needed.
• vanilla extract – Flavors the cake and the kulfi.
• coffee – Use hot coffee or espresso plus hot water.
• brown sugar – To make the coffee syrup.
• full fat coconut milk – The fat in the coconut milk is key to getting the kulfi to set up properly, so don’t use light coconut milk or the kind meant for drinking.
• cashews and pistachios – To thicken the kulfi. You’ll also sprinkle pistachios on top of the Indian tiramisu for garnish.
• lemon juice – Adds a mild tang to the kulfi.

Tips

• When making the cream, it’s important that you blend until completely smooth. Follow the blending directions carefully for the best results.
• If the cream layer is too soft, you definitely want to put it in the freezer. The cream layer depends on the fat of the coconut milk, and if the coconut can isn’t full fat or it doesn’t have enough fat, then it won’t set as beautifully in the fridge. You can freeze it for a couple of hours and then move it to the fridge. Once it softens in the fridge, it will still stay set, because it has chilled really well in the freezer.

How to Make Indian Tiramisu

Make the cake first.

Preheat the oven to 350° F (180° C) and line an 8×8″ baking pan or brownie dish with parchment paper.

Add all of the dry ingredients to a large bowl, and mix really well.

Then, add the wet ingredients — add the milk first, then the oil, yogurt, and vanilla extract — and mix really well until you get a smooth batter. If the batter is too thick, add another tablespoon of milk.

Then, pour this batter into the lined baking dish and bake for 28 to 30 minutes or until the cake is cooked when you check in the middle with a toothpick, where the toothpick comes out clean.

Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for five minutes, then remove it from the pan and let it cool completely.

I usually put the cake in the fridge after 5 minutes of cooling on the counter, so that it cools faster. A cool cake is easier to slice in half, so you really want the cake to be completely cool. Refrigerate for 15-20 mins

Make the coffee syrup while the cake bakes.

Combine the espresso shots with some warm water and the brown sugar, and mix well. If you don’t want the coffee to be too strong, you can add in another tablespoon of water to reduce the strength of the coffee flavor. Set this aside for now.

Also make the kulfi cream while the cake cools.

Add the coconut milk, cashews, pistachios, green cardamom, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice to a blender and blend.

Blend for about a minute, then let the blender sit for five minutes, so that the broken down cashews can soften more. Blend again for 30 seconds, then let it sit for 2 minutes, then blend again for 30 seconds. Repeat this at least 3 to 4 times until you get a completely smooth cream.

Taste and adjust the flavor based on your preference. You might want to add some more sugar, if you like it sweeter, and blend it again. You can also add in a bit more vanilla or cardamom, if you like. It really depends on your preference and also the age of the spices.

Set the cream mixture in the fridge to chill(15 mins in fridge or 5 mins in freezer), so that it thickens a little bit. 

Now, you’re ready to assemble the layers.

Once the cake is cool to the touch, slice it in half sideways to get two cake layers. Poke holes in both the cake layers on the cut side using a toothpick or bamboo skewer, then place one of the cake layers back into the baking dish and pour half of the coffee syrup all over this cake layer. 

Spread half of the chilled cream mixture over the top, and even it out, then place the next cake layer on top and then drizzle with the remaining coffee syrup. Cover with the remaining chilled cream, and even it out with a spatula. 

Chop up your pistachios, if you haven’t already, and then sprinkle them on top of the cake. You can just sprinkle them all over, use the pistachios to line just the edge, or however else you like.

Chill this cake for at least a few hours before slicing. I usually put it in the freezer for two to three hours, so that it’s easy to slice and get out of the pan. It also is less messy this way. But it tastes great either which way, whether it’s somewhat frozen or just chilled in the fridge. 

Frequently Asked Questions