Dessert · South Asian ·

South Asian Cardamom-Saffron Milk Cake

Name: South Asian Cardamom-Saffron Milk Cake
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 270 min
Total time: 360 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3 large eggs, at room temperature; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup whole milk, warm; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1 1/2 cups whole milk; 1/2 cup evaporated milk; 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk; 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, soaked in 1 tablespoon warm milk; 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder; 1 cup heavy whipping cream; 2 tablespoons powdered sugar; 1/4 cup shelled and chopped pistachios

Delight in the indulgent taste of this traditional South Asian dessert, which marries creamy flavors with the earthy notes of cardamom and saffron, topped with crunchy pistachios.

4.2(594 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·November 11, 2025

South Asian Cardamom-Saffron Milk Cake — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 30 min

Cook

4 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Cake

For the Milk Soak

For the Topping

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 533 kcal
Protein: 10.2 g
Carbs: 53.7 g
Fat: 31.5 g
Fiber: 0.9 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 4266 kcal
Protein: 81.5 g
Carbs: 429.9 g
Fat: 252.3 g
Fiber: 7.1 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup all-purpose flour	455	12.9	95.4	1.2	3.4
1 teaspoon baking powder	2	0	0.7	0	0
1/4 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
3 large eggs at room temperature	215	18.9	1.5	14.5	0
3/4 cup granulated sugar	600	0	150	0	0
1/2 cup whole milk warm	74	3.8	5.6	4	0
1/2 cup unsalted butter melted	814	0.9	0	92	0
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom	3	0.1	0.7	0	0.3
1 1/2 cups whole milk	222	11.5	16.8	12	0
1/2 cup evaporated milk	169	8.1	12.6	9.4	0
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk	619	12.1	105.4	17.3	0
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads soaked in 1 tablespoon warm milk	2	0.1	0.3	0	0.1
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder	3	0.1	0.7	0	0.3
1 cup heavy whipping cream	821	6.8	6.6	88.1	0
2 tablespoons powdered sugar	96	0	25	0	0
1/4 cup shelled and chopped pistachios	171	6.3	8.6	13.8	3

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Prepping the Baking Pan

1
Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
Prepare Baking Dish
Grease and flour an 8x8-inch baking dish.
3
Set Aside Pan
Set the prepared pan aside.

Preparing the Cake Batter

1
Combine Dry Ingredients
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2
Beat Eggs and Sugar
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and gradually add sugar until light and fluffy.
3
Incorporate Wet Ingredients
Slowly blend in the melted butter, cardamom, and warm milk.
4
Mix Batter
Add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
Tip: ⚠ Important: Do not overmix the batter to prevent the cake from becoming dense. 💡 Pro Tip: Add the melted butter gradually to maintain a smooth batter consistency.

How to Make South Asian Cardamom-Saffron Milk Cake

Total time: 6 h · Yields 8 servings

1
Bake the Cake
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
2
Prepare the Milk Soak
Mix whole milk, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, saffron-infused milk, and cardamom.
3
Soak the Cake
Once cake has cooled slightly, poke holes with a fork and pour milk soak over, allowing it to absorb completely.