Alia Bhatt recently turned 32, and what caught the eye of netizens was her cake, which was made with her favourite Indian dessert, moong dal halwa. Not just Alia but the Bachchan family, too, loves giving their birthday cakes an Indian touch. Jaya Bachchan has spoken about how the family prefers cutting the Indian sweet, milk cake, on special occasions rather than a regular cake.
Maintain the integrity of the cake, but add your elements
Chef Pooja Dhingra , who baked Alia’s cake, says that while it’s important to do justice to the cake, experimenting with Indian desserts adds to the experience. She adds, “This year Alia’s sister Shaheen placed an order for the moong dal halwa cake . I wanted to give it a twist so I added toasted hazelnut praline and crunch to it and layered sponge cake and the halwa. You want to maintain the integrity of the cake but also add your elements and make sure it’s well balanced in sweetness and texture.”

A fusion dessert shouldn’t feel forced
Not just Indian desserts, but even drinks like masala chai and rose falooda are available in the form of cakes. Chef Pooja Ganeriwala says a fusion dessert shouldn’t feel forced. “Just placing a gulab jamun on top of a cake does not make it a fusion dessert, it’s important to understand how to infuse the flavours into the dessert without letting anything overpower it. Not all Indian flavours pair well with Western desserts. Finding the right flavour pairings is important” she explains.

Chef Sheetal Dedhia adds, “Not all Indian desserts are healthy, but there are many which are healthier than international desserts. To balance the sweetness, check the texture and combination of flavours.”

How to create the perfect fusion cake
Balance flavours carefully. Indian sweets can be overpowering, so blend them subtly.
For texture compatibility, combine creamy elements with crispy or more textural ones.
Watch the moisture content. Since Indian sweets are dairy-heavy, it can make desserts soggy and also reduce shelf life.
Don't overcomplicate it. Avoid too many elements.
Some people expect a replica of their favourite mithai in cake form, which isn’t always possible. Setting the right expectations is important.