Indian Sweet Ras Malai Bags Second Place in World's Best Cheese Desserts List

Celebrate India! Popular Bengali sweet Ras Malai nabs the second spot on Taste Atlas' prestigious list of the world's 10 Best Cheese Desserts. Discover the diversity of global cheese desserts and delve into the deliciousness of Ras Malai.

Team IFT Team IFT
Mar 16, 2024 - 13:57 Updated: Mar 16, 2024 - 13:58
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Indian Sweet Ras Malai Bags Second Place in World's Best Cheese Desserts List

Renowned food authority Taste Atlas unveiled its much-anticipated list of the "10 Best Cheese Desserts" in the world, and India has a reason to celebrate! The delectable Ras Malai, a Bengali origin sweet, secured the prestigious second place ranking.

Cheese desserts are known for their rich, soft textures that melt in your mouth. But they extend far beyond the classic blueberry or chocolate cheesecakes. This global list highlights the vast diversity of cheese desserts, showcasing unique ingredients and preparations from various cultures.

The top spot was awarded to Sernik, a Polish cheesecake made with twarog, a type of curd cheese, eggs, and sugar. This cheesecake can be baked or unbaked and often features a crumbly cake base. Taste Atlas highlights a popular Sernik variety with a sponge cake base and a delightful topping of jelly and fruit.

Following closely behind in second place is India's beloved Ras Malai. This sweet dish translates to "juice cream" and originates from West Bengal. Made with soft, fresh cheese called chhena (prepared with milk, lemon juice, and water), Ras Malai features spongy dumplings cooked in sugar syrup. These dumplings are then immersed in a flavorful rabdi, a sweet milk reduction infused with cardamom and adorned with chopped nuts like almonds and pistachios. Ras Malai is best enjoyed chilled and is a staple dessert during Indian festivals like Holi and Diwali.

The prestigious list also features other globally cherished cheese desserts such as the New York-style cheesecake, the light and fluffy Japanese cheesecake, and the dense and caramelized Basque cheesecake.

Also Check: Mumbai's Beloved Vada Pav Cracked the Top 20 in TasteAtlas' "Best Sandwiches in the World" List!

Here's the complete list for your cheese dessert cravings:

  1. Sernik (Poland)
  2. Ras Malai (India)
  3. Sfakianopita (Greece)
  4. New York-style cheesecake (USA)
  5. Japanese cheesecake (Japan)
  6. Basque cheesecake (Spain)
  7. Rakoczi turos (Hungary)
  8. Melopita (Greece)
  9. Kasekuchen (Germany)
  10. Misa rezy (Czech Republic)