Vegan Rose Flavored Basundi

Indian desserts and dairy

Indian desserts and dairy go hand-in-hand. It is very difficult to imagine Indian sweets without milk, ghee, paneer, or khoya. 

Most traditional desserts call for some kind of dairy and frankly speaking, they really bring out the flavors of the dessert. 

After I started blogging and experimenting with vegan cuisine, I wanted to recreate some classics for my vegan audience. 

I realized that with just a few swaps and tweaks, it's not at all difficult to make just as delicious vegan versions of Indian desserts. 

Sweetcorn Pudding and Beetroot Halwa are some of my favorite vegan Indian dessert recipes.

If looking for non-Indian vegan dessert recipe, then check out Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies and Strawberry Ice Cream.

What is Basundi

Most Indians have a sweet tooth. No wonder we have so many varieties of desserts in our cuisine. Through this blog, I want to document dessert recipes from different parts of India.

Basundi is a milk-based Gujarati dessert. It's also made in Maharashtra and Karnataka. It's made by thickening the milk till it becomes rich and creamy. 

This milk pudding recipe is very simple and easy to make but a bit time-consuming when made on the stovetop. You need to be constantly stirring the pot till the milk thickens. It's quite an arm workout! 

There are many variations to this recipe online and one such variation is Rose Basundi. I love rose-flavored deserts. They lend a refreshing flavor and fragrance to dishes plus they make it look so beautiful. 

Rabri vs Basundi

Although they both call for similar ingredients, they are different. Rabri is thicker in consistency than Basundi. This also alters the taste. Rabri also has chunks of malai in it while Basundi is more smooth.

I have a recipe for Rabri Ice Cream if you want to check out. The sweet beetroot sauce glaze on top of this ice cream is to die for! 

Why make this

This instant Indian dessert has a refreshing new rose flavor! This not just makes it visually appetizing but also flavorsome. 

• Vegan twist to a classic Indian dessert
• Is made without condensed milk
• It's a 5-ingredient dessert recipe
• Will be loved by kids and adults

Creamer - Use any dairy-free creamer. I have used Almond + Coconut milk creamer. You can also use vegan evaporated milk or whipping cream. 

Milk - I have used full-fat coconut milk for this recipe. You can also use any other sweetened or plain non-dairy milk. 

Sugar - I have used powdered sugar, but you can use any kind of sugar. 

Rose flavor - I have used rose milk powder and rose water. You can also use rose syrup instead of powder. If using syrup then food color can be skipped.

Nuts - Pistachios and almonds are what I have used. 

Always use a wide mouth thick bottomed pan when making such milk-based recipes. 

1. Pour full-fat coconut milk into the pan.
2. Then pour the vegan creamer. Mix and bring to a boil. Keep the flame on low to medium. Chef Tip - Keep stirring at regular intervals and scraping the sides of the pan to avoid scorching. The mixture should reduce in half. 
3. Then add sugar. You can also add jaggery or cane/brown sugar. 
4. Add rose powder and rose water to the pan. Continue to cook on medium flame till the mixture thickens. This could take 20-25 minutes. Chef Tip - Do not cover the pan at any point. 

Serving suggestions 🍽 

The final consistency should resemble a smoothie. Fry almonds and pistachios in oil and pour them over the Rose Basundi. You can serve this vegan Basundi hot or cold.

This instant pudding with coconut milk can be served as is in individual cups or bowls or served with Puri. Basundi Puri is an amazing combo! 

It's the perfect dessert to make when you have sudden guests, to serve on any happy occasion, party, or on festive occasions like Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even Valentine's day. 

Alternate ways of serving it

Soak oats in Basundi and you have Basundi flavored overnight oats. They taste yum! 

Another fun way to enjoy this coconut milk vegan pudding is to pour them in Popsicle molds and freeze them. Rose Basundi Popsicles on a hot summer day is always a good idea! 

Top recipe tips 💭

For rose flavor, you can also add rose syrup instead of rose milk powder. If doing so, adjust the quantity of sugar as it's already sweet. Also, there is no need to add food color.

Cardamom powder, nutmeg, and saffron can also be added to give it a more aromatic flavor. Skipping the sugar and adding vegan condensed milk will help reduce the cooking time as it will help thicken the milk quickly. 

You may use other non-dairy milk like almond, oat, or soy milk in place of coconut milk. If your not vegan, you can totally make it using whole milk and creamer. 

If you like your milk pudding to be smooth, add nuts powder instead of whole nuts. Especially some kids/fussy eaters don't like pieces to chew on when drinking something. 

You can add some fruits like mangoes, pineapple, raspberries, and strawberries towards the end. It helps cut the sweetness with some tart in this flavored milk recipe. 

Recipe FAQs 📖

More dessert ideas with Rose

Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram @cookilicious with the hashtag #cookiliciousveg. I love hearing your feedback! 

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