This gulab jamun cheesecake recipe is flavored with the popular Indian snack, gulab jamuns. Make sweet eggless gulab jamun cheesecake for a Diwali party or other festivities and special occasions. You’ll love how easy these mini gulab jamun cheesecakes without gelatin are to make. You don’t even need a special springform pan or Instant Pot to make my no bake gulab jamun cheesecake!

Gulab jamun is a popular Indian delicacy that consists of golden brown deep-fried “donuts” made from milk solids or sometimes milk powder. These fried dumplings are then soaked in a sugary syrup flavored with rose water, cardamom, or saffron. In this Indian fusion dessert recipe, we’re adding gulab jamun to the cream cheese filling in cheesecake. So delicious!

This Indian-inspired cheesecake is truly the best- I can’t wait for you to try it!

➕ Why is it called gulab jamun?

The name “gulab jamun” is derived from two Persian words:

• Gulab comes from words in the Persian language that mean “flower” and “water.” Flower water is referring to the rose water-scented syrup that the gulab jamun is served in.
• Jamun refers to the jamun fruit, also known as the Indian black plum. This fruit is similar in shape and size to the pieces of gulab jamuns.

What is gulab jamun flavor?

The flavor of gulab jamun is sweet and syrupy, rich, and aromatic. The cheese curd dumplings are dense, moist, and melt-in-your-mouth, with a sweet and fragrant flavor from the sugar syrup. Its indulgent taste makes it a favorite among many people in India and across the world.

Do you eat gulab jamun hot or cold?

Gulab jamun is typically enjoyed warm or at room temperature.

🍰 How to Make Gulab Jamun Cheesecake

Here are the ingredients for gulab jamun cheesecake:

For no bake cheesecake crust (has egg):

• 12-24 Nilla wafers

For eggless baked cheesecake crust:

• 6 graham cracker sheets (about 1 cup graham cracker crumbs or digestive biscuit crumbs)
• ¼ cup butter (4 Tbsp)

Cheesecake filling ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese brick, softened (227 grams)
• 8 ounces Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed (227 grams)
• 1/3 cup sugar (granulated)
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) rose water (or vanilla extract)
• ½ teaspoon cardamom
• 12 small gulab jamun
• Gulab jamun syrup, edible dried rose petals, crushed pistachios, graham cracker crumbs, whipped cream (optional garnishes)

Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!

You also need muffin tins, muffin papers, and an electric hand mixer. I used to make this recipe with air fryer gulab jamun, but using canned gulab jamun is easier and tastier! Making gulab jamun with Gits gulab jamun mix is another option you can try.

Some recipes for cheesecake use sour cream in place of whipped cream or whipped topping. I prefer the taste of whipped topping, so that’s what I chose to use.

Gulab Jamun Cheesecake Recipe

Here are the step-by-step instructions to make gulab jamun cheesecake:

1. Put cupcake liners into 12 compartments of a muffin tin.

2. For no bake cheesecake: Place 1-2 Nilla wafers into the bottom of each muffin tin compartment. For baked cheesecake: Preheat oven to 350F (177C). Crush graham crackers into fine crumbs. Mix crumbs with melted butter and divide mixture evenly between the 12 muffin papers. (You’ll have about 1 tablespoon of crumbs per compartment.) Press crusts into a tightly packed even layer and bake for 5-8 mins cook time. Let cool before filling.

3. Beat cream cheese, whipped topping, sugar, rose water, and cardamom with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. You could also use a food processor. It’s easiest to mix the cheesecake batter if the ingredients are close to room temperature.

4. Divide the cream cheese mixture between the 12 mini cheesecake crusts with a spoon. Don’t overfill them!

5. Place one gulab jamun into the center of each cheesecake. (You may need to cut them in half if they’re large.)

6. Allow to chill for 2-3 hours until the cheesecake mixture is firm. Garnish as desired and serve.

What is gulab jamun dough made of?

Homemade gulab jamun dough is typically made by kneading khoya (milk solids) with a small amount of all-purpose flour, which helps bind the dough. Sometimes a small amount of semolina or bread crumbs is also added to provide texture. The dough is then shaped into small balls and deep-fried until they turn golden brown.

Gulab Jamun Cheesecake Calories

This gulab jamun cheesecake recipe has 409 calories, 46.4 grams net carbs (46.7 grams total carbohydrates), and 6.9 grams protein per serving. This is for a mini cheesecake with a graham cracker crumb crust. Exact nutrition information may vary depending on the specific ingredients you use.

🌡️ How to Store Gulab Jamun Cheesecake

Store gulab jamun cheesecake cups for up to 1-2 days in the refrigerator. After that, the gulab jamun will begin to get stale. These mini cheesecakes also freeze well.

To freeze gulab jamun cheesecake, put them in an airtight container in the freezer. To thaw, place them back in the fridge for about 1-2 hours. You can drizzle the gulab jamun with more gulab jamun syrup if it’s drying out.

FAQs

How to make keto gulab jamun?

To make keto gulab jamun, use almond flour or coconut flour instead of regular flour. Replace sugar with a keto-friendly sweetener. Make the dough by combining the flour, ghee, and a binding agent like psyllium husk or xanthan gum. Fry the dumplings in ghee, and soak them in sugar-free syrup flavored with rose water or cardamom.

What are the gulab jamun carbs?

The exact carb content of gulab jamun varies depending on the recipe and portion size. Small traditional gulab jamun made with regular flour and sugar can have around 45-50 grams of carbs per serving. Keto-friendly versions made with almond or coconut flour and sugar substitutes can have significantly lower carb counts.

What are the 3 styles of cheesecake?

The three common styles of cheesecake are New York-style, which is dense and creamy with a rich flavor; Italian-style, which is lighter and fluffier due to the addition of ricotta cheese; and no-bake or refrigerator-style cake.

Why add whipping cream to cheesecake?

Whipping cream gives cheesecake filling a smooth and creamy texture. The fat content in heavy whipping cream adds richness and contributes to the luxurious mouthfeel of the cheesecake. Additionally, whipping cream can help stabilize the filling and prevent it from cracking or collapsing during baking. Sweetened condensed milk substitutes for the whipped cream and sugar in some cheesecake recipes.

How do you eat canned gulab jamun?

Eat canned gulab jamun as is or warmed up before eating. Heat them in a microwave for a short duration or warm them gently in a pan. Once warm, serve as a standalone dessert or paired with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of syrup for added indulgence. Enjoy them while they are still moist and syrupy.

👩‍🍳 Other Indian Recipes

Try these other recipes for Indian food next:

• Best Air Fryer Indian Recipes (Includes air fryer Indian sweets!)
• Instant Pot Paneer Recipe
• Palak Paneer Instant Pot Recipe
• Air Fryer Samosas
• Egg Keema Recipe

👩🏾‍🍳 More Dessert Recipes

Looking to satisfy a sweet tooth? Here are some more recipes for desserts to enjoy:

• Sugar Free Lassi
• Mango Nice Cream
• Sugar Free Apple Crisp
• Sugar Free Strawberry Shortcake
• Dalgona Coffee (Sugar Free)

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