Holidays were created for sweets and desserts! Here is a recipe for your favorite Indian burfi or mithai - Kaju Katli. This is a very easy recipe and you’ll never have to run to the sweet shop again ! Kajoo Katlee made easy…
Prep time: 15 min.
Cook time: 75 min. (including 60 mins for setting)
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
Powdered Cashews - 1.5 cups (150gms)
Powdered Sugar - 1 cup (110gms)
Instant Non-Fat Dry Milk (Milk Powder) - 1/2 cup (60gms)
Cardamom Powder - 1/8 tsp
Water - 2 tbsp
Rose Essence - 2 drops (optional)
Method:
1. Take a double-boiler (see below) and bring the water to boil.
2. Once hot, add in the Powdered Sugar and Milk Powder in the top pan.
3. Stir continously for 2-3 minutes till the Sugar and Milk Powder are warm all the way through.
4. Pour the Cashew Powder in a mixing bowl.
5. Once the Sugar and Milk Powder are done, add them to the Cashew Powder in the mixing bowl.
6. Add the Cardamom Powder and mix them all well.
7. If you are using the Rose Essence, add the 2 drops to the 2 tbsp of warm Water.
8. Start kneading by adding a little water at a time.
9. Knead till it forms a dough and the cashew starts letting oil go.
10. Grease hands and rolling pin for easier rolling.
11. Roll out the dough to the desired thickness on to a wax paper to avoid sticking.
12. Cut the rolled-out dough into desired shapes (traditionally cut into diamond shapes).
13. Allow to set at room temperature for 1-2 hours or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
14. Store in the refrigerator and serve at room temperature for great taste.
Double Boiler:
1. Take a pan and add water to it and bring water to boil.
2. Take another pan that will sit well on top of the bottom pan (not submerged in).
3. The water in the bottom pan is boiled.
4. The top pan is used for cooking/heating so that it is not intense and direct heat.
5. The water from the bottom pan needs to touch the bottom of the top pan in order to be effective.
See Video for demonstration.
Tips:
1. Adding Varak gives it a very traditional and a grand look but if you don’t have it, the burfi will taste just as good.
2. We noticed that powdering the cashew is best done in a coffee grinder or an appliance meant for dry-grinding. The blender/mixie does not do a very good job and it needs to be very fine powder.
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October 13th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Hi there…
Thanks for one more great recipe.
Where can I find varak paper?
October 13th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Hi
thanks for this wonderful recipe..will try it out very soon!
where do u buy ur ladles(the ones with metal handles n coloured plastic ends). I found the spatulas in the dollar store but not the ladles..
October 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Hi Hetal & Anuja,
Nice one..I didn’t know its that easy to make..have added it to diwali recipe list..Btw,i dont know where to post this question,reg ur stress free party dvd..basically i am a south indian pure vegetarian..so,can u guys tell me if the dvd has got recipe stuff for me also?
October 13th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
hi hetal and anuja,
i didnot know it is so easy to make these sweet. i wanted to know where u buy the silver thing that u put on the sweet…pls let me know.thanks in advance
October 14th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Hi Hetal, Anuja,
My kids really love kaju katli. I’ll give them a surprise. Similarly can i please have the recipe of hash brown potatoe pattice please.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
hi hetal and anuja,
where can i buy the powdered sugar? becoz u have mentioned not to take sugar and powder. please let me know.
thanks
vani.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
Thanks for this wonderful recipe. I din’t know a single person who doesn’t like this sweet. One question though, From where did you buy that thin silver sheet? and I think you can buy thin gold sheet also, right? please do reply.
Thanks
Khushbu
October 15th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Madhavi, Vani & Khushbu:
The ‘varak’ is from India, we don’t know if it can be bought here (USA). Best bet would be to try to get it from an Indian Sweet shop, they may be willing to sell you some. And yes, it does come in gold as well!
Vani:
Powdered Sugar can be bought at any grocery store- Walmart, Kroger, Target. It is also known as ‘Confectionary Sugar’ or ‘Icing Sugar’, avaialable in the sugar/baking aisle.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:56 am
SR:
The ladle is from a store here…unfortunately, we have not seen them for a long time now!
Deepa:
The DVD has a full menu from appetizer to dessert. It has one non-vegetarian dish but the rest of it is pure vegetarian but the most important part is that the DVD covers how to organize and have a stress-free and a successful party. We are sure it will be of great value.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
One quick question: did you use raw cashews or roasted cashews?
October 20th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Hi Lynne,
We use raw cashews for this recipe.
Cheers!
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 am
Hi Hetal/Anuja,
Where do i find the Instant Non-Fat Dry Milk (Milk Powder)? Is it available in walmart/kroger in sugar/baking item section?
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 am
Hi Renu,
Yes, it is available in Walmart and kroger. I have at times seen it in the baking/ugar aisle and sometimes in the hot cereals aisle. One of the most popular brand is Carnation but the store brands work just as well.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
nice receipes but i don’t have grinder can i use blewnder for this
October 24th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
If you can make a powder of the kaju without adding any liquid to it, you should be able to follow the recipe. Take care!
October 27th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Hi Anuja,
I’m not sure if you remember me. I had met you at the Diwali Mela..and boy was i excited to see you:).
Anyway, I remember you had mentioned that the same Kaju katli can be made in the microwave also. Could you please give me that recipe again? I don’t remember the exact recipe that you gave out there at the mela. Thanks a lot.
Prathima.
October 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I wish you and your family a very happy diwali!
I tried this kaju sweet for diwali and it came out well. But i experienced dryness while kneading and did not get the exact consistency of a tough dough which can be rolled like chapathi..I then put it in microwave for few seconds and oil from cashew comes out and it was easy to make it like a ball and roll it.Thanks for the easy and tasty recipe.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Hi Prathima,
Ofcourse, I remember you! It was really wonderful meeting you and thanks for stopping by to say hello!
For the mircrowave, here is what I do:
1. Combine the Milk Powder and the Sugar.
2. Mix well.
3. Heat in the microwave for 3-4 minutes stirring every minute.
4. The mixture needs to very very not.
5. Add it to the Cashew powder.
6. Mix and then add in the water (warmed) and knead.
Follow the rest of the recipe as is.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Hi Anuja,
Thanks for replying. I did make the Kaju katlis last night. I did have some problem powdering the cashew nuts. I tried the coffee grinder and the regular Indian blender. But I couldn’t get very fine powder. However, the Kaju katlis came out quite well and everybody loved it and it is almost getting over.
I’m going to try another batch today using the microwave recipe.
I had another question. Would this recipe work for Almond powder or pistachio powder also?
Thanks,
Prathima.
October 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Hi Prathima,
I use a coffee grinder as well for grinding powders and spices and it works really well, I am surprised yours did not- maybe, the setting was not right!
Regarding the substitution of Almond and Pistachios with Cashews…I really don’t know, we have never tried it but on paper it looks do-able. Do let us know if you do try it. Thanks!
October 31st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Hi,
First of all thanks to both of you for such a great job & wonderful recipes on your website. This Diwali I was looking for some nice sweet recipe & there you gave me one of the best Kaju Katri recipe. I just need to know that where I can find Silver Foil for decoration. I know I can fine them in India but do u know which place I should look for them.
Thanks,
Wish you both Happy New Year,
Bijal.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 am
Hi Anuja and Hetal,
I tried the same recipe with powdered pistachios and it turned out very well. I made this for a party and everybody loved it.
Thanks for the recipe,
Prathima.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Hi Hetal and anuja
Thanks to both of you.A quick question
“Is powdered sugar and icing sugar same or different?”
November 12th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Hi Nitu,
Powdered Sugar can be bought at any grocery store- Walmart, Kroger, Target. It is also known as ‘Confectionary Sugar’ or ‘Icing Sugar’, avaialable in the sugar/baking aisle.
Hope that helps!
November 19th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Hi gals,
Made this katli this morning and I must say it turned out very well. It is like a store bought version. Thank you for sharing this one.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:17 am
hi ladies,
i tried rasamallai with milk powdered and it turned out superb.then tried kaju,it turned out bit hard,not like the one we get from shop.was it due to the sugar ,i couldnt hear clearly in video,so used ordinary sugar,and i stired more then 4min ,lots of oil left out from kaju while kneeding,can u point my faultmso that i can try again.can we use the foodproc for kneeding.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Hi Annam,
What we said in the video was ‘not to take the regular use sugar and blend it’ it does not work!:-(
Powdered Sugar/Confectionary Sugar/Icing Sugar has cornstarch mixed in making it a little different. Regular Sugar will get crystalized and get hard!
Try it with Powdered Sugar/Confectionary Sugar/Icing next time!
Good Luck!
November 20th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Sorry, Annam, forgot to answer your question about using the food processor. Well, again, we have never used it but sounds do-able. Let us know if you do try it out.
Thanks!
November 21st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
hi hetal and anuja,
thanks for your great receipes. i made kajukatli but my colour was light brown not white. why? but teast was good. i used regular white sugar and made powder at home.can u please suggess me?
bye.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
Really you are showing very great receipes. I am very big fan of u people. Actually in my family everybody likes kaju katli. I want to try it. But,I have one question.That is,Where can i find unsalted and unroasted(raw) cashews? I searched in walmart but I found all salted or roasted.Could u please suggest me?
Bye.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 am
well u know i tried kaju katli,it came out well.but this one is for hatel.in this kaju katli video u’r bracelet is looking wonderful ! more than kaju katli i liked u’r bracelet this time !
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:36 am
hi anuja,
thx for u r reply,one more clarification .u had used milkpowder is that ordinary milkpowder that we use for making milk r is it different for baking .if so can we use full cream milk powder.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Hi Annam,
It is the same the we use to make milk and not anything special for baking!
Here in the USA, we only get the non-fat milk powder…I can imagine it being any different if you use full fat milk powder. I would give it a shot, if I had a choice:-)
November 24th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Hi Nisha,
Unsalted Cashews are avaiable at Indian/Pakistani grocery stores. A lot of Health food stores also carry them in the bins.
Take care
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
Do we have any receipie for pizza?
December 10th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hi Anuja & Hital,
I tried kaju katli last night with regular sugar.It came out well.It is my hubby fav sweet.Thanks a bunch fr sharing.
December 16th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Hi gals
I tried kaju katli. It is really easy but when I am eating it , it is a little bit sticky. What could be the reason?Thanks