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gajar halwa recipe | carrot halwa recipe, how to make gajar ka halwa recipe

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gajar halwa recipe, carrot halwa recipe
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carrot halwa or gajar halwa recipe with step by step photos – a traditional way of making delicious gajar ka halwa without any shortcuts or tweaks. by the way, at home we call carrot halwa as gajrela.

during winters, we make gajar ka halwa often. its a popular dessert in north india during winters. there are few variations of making carrot halwa recipe:

we generally use red delhi carrots to make the halwa as they are tender and juicy. here i used organic english carrots to make the halwa. after some days again, i made the halwa and this time used the red delhi carrots. you can use any carrots. but just make sure they are not fibrous and dense. you can even use the orange ooty carrots to make the carrot halwa.

this traditional carrot halwa recipe uses just full fat milk, ghee and sugar to make the halwa. you don’t need khoya (evaporated milk) or condensed milk. to make gajar halwa, it is important to buy tender and juicy carrots so that they are easy to grate. some arm work is needed to make this halwa as you have to first grate the carrots and then slow cook them in stove top and keep on stirring them on regular intervals.

you can grate the carrots manually or in a food processor. obviously the food processor makes grating the carrots easier. i suggest to use a heavy iron kadai to make the halwa. the carrot halwa is simmered and simmered and stirred often. so that it should not get burnt, a really good kadai makes the job easier. you can also use a non stick kadai or a thick bottomed pan.

you can store gajar halwa in fridge. it stays well for almost a week but will get over quickly. when serving, you can just warm the halwa and serve. you can even have the gajar halwa cold, if you prefer. some people like to have it cold or at room temperature and some people like to have carrot halwa warm. its just a personal preference. in some restaurants they top the carrot halwa with vanilla ice cream and believe me this combo taste good.

carrot halwa recipe quick video (1.28 minutes video)

carrot halwa or gajar halwa recipe below:

carrot halwa recipe

gajar halwa recipe | carrot halwa recipe

gajar ka halwa recipe - a traditional slow cooked recipe of making delicious carrot halwa with just carrots, milk, ghee, sugar and a few dry fruits.

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course desserts
cuisine north indian, punjabi
prep time 15 minutes
cook time 1 hour 45 minutes
total time 2 hours
servings 6
calories 324 kcal
author dassana

ingredients (1 cup = 250 ml)

  • 8 to 9 medium tender juicy carrots (gajar) - yields approx 4 to 4.5 cups grated carrots
  • 4 cups full fat organic milk
  • 4 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
  • 10 to 12 tablespoon regular sugar or organic unrefined cane sugar or as required
  • 20 to 25 whole cashews (kaju)
  • 5 to 6 green cardamom (chotti elaichi) - powdered finely in a mortar-pestle or about 1/3 teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 1 pinch saffron strands (kesar) - optional
  • handful of golden raisins (kishmish)

how to make recipe

grating carrots:

  1. first rinse, peel and then grate the carrots (8-9 medium sized tender juicy carrots), either with a hand held grater or in a food processor.

  2. you need approx 4 to 4.5 cups grated carrots.

making carrot halwa recipe:

  1. in a kadai or deep thick bottomed pan combine milk and grated carrots.
  2. on a low to medium flame, bring the whole mixture to a boil and then simmer.
  3. while the mixture is simmering on a low flame, keep on stirring in between.
  4. the grated carrots will cook in the milk and the milk will start to reduce and evaporate.
  5. when the milk has 75% reduced, add the ghee, sugar and powdered cardamom to the mixture.
  6. stir well and continue to simmer and cook on a low flame.
  7. do keep on stirring the gajar halwa in between.

  8. towards the end, add the cashews, crushed saffron and raisins and simmer carrot halwa till all the milk is evaporated. switch off the burner.

  9. serve gajar halwa hot, warm or you can also serve it cold.

recipe notes

this approximate nutrition information is per serving of carrot halwa:

Nutrition Facts
gajar halwa recipe | carrot halwa recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 324 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 130mg 5%
Potassium 550mg 16%
Total Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 34g
Protein 7g 14%
Vitamin A 295.7%
Vitamin C 6.3%
Calcium 21.7%
Iron 4.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.


how to make carrot halwa or gajar halwa recipe:

1. first rinse, peel and then grate the carrots (8-9 medium sized tender juicy carrots), either with a hand held grater or in a food processor.

grate gajar for gajar halwa recipe

2. in a kadai, add all of the grated carrots.

grated gajar for gajar halwa recipe

3. pour 4 cups full fat milk.

milk for gajar halwa recipe

4. stir the grated carrots and milk and keep the kadai on the stove top.

simmering gajar halwa on stove top

5. cook this mixture on a low to medium flame. the milk will froth and start reducing slowly and slowly.

making gajar halwa on stove top with milk

6. keep on stirring this halwa mixture often. keep scraping the sides of the kadai to remove the evaporated milk solids. add the milk solids to the cooking mixture.

making gajar halwa on stove top with milk

7. the mixture should reduce by 75% and then you add 4 tbsp ghee/clarified butter. some milk will be there when you add the ghee.

add ghee to gajar halwa

8. next add 10-12 tbsp sugar or as required.

add sugar to make gajar halwa recipe

9. add the cardamom powder (5 to 6 green cardamom/chotti elachi, powdered finely in a mortar-pestle or about ⅓ tsp cardamom powder).

making gajar halwa recipe

10. stir and continue to simmer on a low flame till the mixture starts to thicken and reduce more. stir at intervals.

making gajar halwa recipe

11. when the halwa has reduced much and you see a little milk – like that of a pudding consistency. then add 20-25 whole cashews, a pinch of saffron strands and handful of golden raisins (kishmish).

dry fruits for gajar halwa recipe

12. continue to stir and simmer till the whole mixture becomes dry. the milk should evaporate completely and you will see fine milk solids in the carrot halwa. remember to scrape the milk solids stuck at the sides of the kadai or pan and add them to the gajar halwa. some moisture is also fine in the halwa. 

gajar halwa recipe, carrot halwa recipe

serve gajar ka halwa hot or warm.

gajar halwa recipe, carrot halwa recipe




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{ 262 Responses }

  4. I tried this today and it turned out yummy !! As I don’t cook a lot, my husband doesn’t expect much from me. But I’m sure today he’ll be very much impressed 😊

  6. Planning to try this recipe this weekend. Any reason why the cashew n raisins are not roasted in ghee before adding to the halwa?TIA.

    • Ashwini, In North Indian halwa recipes, generally the dry fruits are not fried or roasted in ghee in beginning. They are added once the halwa is almost ready and then just cooked for 1-2 minutes.

  7. I’m making the halwa now after trying it in a restaurant and I was wondering, when I grind the cardamom up, do I use only the seeds or the whole pod?

    • breanna, discard the husks and just use the seeds while grinding. i first add the whole green cardamom pods in the mortar. then crush them lightly. this loosens the outer husk. i remove the husk and either use them in tea or discard them. then powder the cardamom seeds.

  8. I tried the gajar ka halwa recipe today – halved it as I had only half the required quantity of carrots. It tasted delicious and was much appreciated by all. Many thanks for your recipe, Dassana ! You are the best !

  9. Hi dassana.. Am making this halwa for second time today the first time I tried ur halwa was amazing and yummy all my husband’s friend loved it and this time they want it again from my hands ..am making for second time in my life today… All credit goes to u 🙂 thank for ur delicious mouth watering recipes..

  10. Hello Dassana,

    Firstly, thank you so much for your recipes. As someone who didn’t grow up cooking and is in a completely different continent from his family, your website has helped immensely. I get to taste the tastes of home without asking my mom for recipes every week.

    Pertaining to this particular recipe, I followed it exactly and it came out excellent. Comparing my progress to your pictures, I noticed a lot less of the milk solids in my preparation. The only milk available to me was regular processed milk, which has had a lot of fat removed. If I were to use Half and Half, would I get a higher yield of the milk solids? If so, how much should I be using, the same 4 cups or more?

    Thanks,
    Sam.

  12. Can one use melted butter instead of ghee? I suppose not, but I hate to buy a jar and have so much left over. Thank you.

    Karen

  13. It was my first try and i must say ot turned out awesome.. everyone in my family loved it.. thnx

  14. Hi
    First attempt to make gajar halwa
    And from reading your menu how to make … it went all dark the carrots
    So I washed it out and started again
    Took another 2 hrs well worth the wait my husband loves it Looks yummy thanks
    Jacqueline

  15. I love gajar ka halwa , and this recipe turned out great …following all your recipes…and becoming chef ..thank you so much for sharing…😊😊😊

  16. I see you have different methods of making gajar halwa – which method is the most traditional? Which method do you prefer the most?

  17. Hi, i used this recipe and my halwa became blackish. The aroma was great but it was so unappetising. What could be the problem?

  21. Followed your recipe and it turned out amazing… Everybody loved it in the family.. My daughter was licking her fingers and the bowl 🙂 thank you.

  23. Hello! I was trying out this recipe now and something weird happened, the milk curdled as soons as i added it to the carrots..it was a fresh packet. I tried it once again eitj another milk packet, even boiled the milk, it eas fine by then, again as soon as i added it to the carrots..it curdled. Is it normal? Or there is some issue with it?!

    • indrani, milk does not curdle. could be the quality of milk is not good. milk thickens along with the carrots and becomes like mawa or khoya. don’t use the curdled milk one. you can rinse the carrots in the colander and then use fresh milk. if milk is not there, then refrigerate or freeze the carrots. no need to throw such large amounts. make next day.

  24. thank you so much for the recipe, the measurements are perfect and so useful for beginners like me..i made it exactly as you described and it is super-yummy 🙂

  25. That’s a really nice recipe and can’t wait to try it out. But I don’t have ghee and I can’t find it anywhere around where I live (Sydney) , so can I use butter instead? How much should I use?

  26. Turned out very well in fact. Vouched by my mother and husband 😀 🙂 It was my first time trying out this dish!! Thanks for the recipe. It is very simple and easy to make.

  27. I made gajar halwa yesterday following your wonderful step by step instructions and the result was amazing! It was my second attempt(made it almost a decade ago) but this was far superior and finger licking good! I served it with a dollop of French Vanilla icecream and my kids couldn’t get enough! Thank you so much and keep posting amazing recipes.

  28. I want to try this recipe. I am not sure how much milk to add. You have mentioned 4 cups. What is the size of the cup? How much does it measure?

  29. I made Gajar Halwa today. It came out very well. Thanks for your step by step pictures. They are very useful.

  31. Awesome recipe thank u… Didn’t ever thought ki making gajar ka halwa is so easy….

  33. Can I make without raisins and saffron? Also do we need to boil the milk before cooking?

    • you can make gajar halwa without raisins and saffron. if the milk is pasteurized then no need to boil. but if the milk is raw, then it needs to be boiled.

  35. Looking for a variety using honey rather than sugar that I had while on a business trip in India. It is a great side dish and flavor when hosting a Vegetarian far from home as well as just wholesome goodness.

    • i have never heard about gajar halwa being made with honey. but yes honey can be substituted for sugar. cook the halwa till its done. its should be thick with all the milk evaporated. switch off the flame. let the halwa become warm. then add honey as per your taste. mix and serve. honey should never be heated as it become toxic.

  36. This was amazing! Takes an hour to make but completely worth it. The instructions you gave were easy enough to comprehend, even a 13 year old like me can make it. Thank you.

  37. Thanks so much. My first attempt in this and this has turned out great. I could not stop myself from thanking you and appreciating you. And the best part is the simplicity of this recipe and the way you have explained. You are a sweetheart.

  38. After a lengthy trip to Bangalore in 2015 I came home with a huge appreciation for the taste of India. Found this recipe and have made it 5 times now and it is always a big hit with whomever is at dinner. Thank you and please keep up the good work here.

  39. Hi.. Thank you so much for making me a good cook.. I make carrot halwa by traditional method of slow cooking carrot n milk.. Can i add khoya to this halwa to make it more rich in taste n set it as a barfi? Also what will be the differece in taste? In which carrot halwa recipe of yours can i add khoya? I wanted to make carrot barfi using khoya.. Please guide.. Thanks

  44. thank u sooo much but can u suggest some othr simple dishes like this?
    i am a south indian ,i love dishes like this. i luv cooking and also vacation is cmng so i cud try a few
    can u suggest a few pls?

  47. Hi di, I am really thankful to you.. I was in boarding school since my childhood so dint even know a bit of cooking, but you made me a pro cook..I am married now and I made a good impression in my laws house just because of you.. Thanx a lot

  48. Continues stirring and low flame cooking makes the halwa perfect. Your step by step explanation and the photos helped me to cook gajar halwa crispy and tasty.

  50. Your recipes are too good! Do you have any other blog where there are non-veg recipes? I’d love to learn those recipes 🙂

  51. Thank you very much because your recipe really comes out very “yummy” as anyone’s else recipe, we made it 2 times and yeah it was the best Gajar Halwa!!!!

  52. Hi dasana amit thnks for sharing u r so sweet recipe u made so easy thnks I will try tomorrow u r gajar ka halwa

  54. Being away from from home as a grad student in the US is tough. Especially if you are a foodie and I am one. I had some time during my winter break and decided to make some sweets but I didn’t know any recipe. So I looked up your site and made rasulla, wheat cookies and gajar halwa. They all turned out great and reminded me of home food! I can’t thank you enough dasana akka. Dhanyavadagalu!

    • neha, i have added 10 tbsp. but depending on the sweetness of the carrots and sweetness preferred by you and your family members, you can add accordingly.

  57. Hello mam, I m a great fan of ur blog. I have tried so many recipes from yours tawa paneer, bis bele bath, kadai veg, mushroom Manchurian.. Etc urs recipes means it will definitely come well..for diwali I made besan laddoo nd it came out too gud..thank u for al

  58. Amazing, literally amazing.
    You made me learn how to cook. You made me love what i cook. Its all because of you that i can stand infront of 100 other people holding your recipe and appreciation goes to you. I value your descriptive writings, please do continue this.

  61. It tastes amazing!! The only things I changed was that I added soy milk as I am lactose intolerant and add blended pistachios to the mix. I hope my partner likes it… I am going to surprise him with it as it is his favourite 🙂 thanks for the recipe!!

  62. Tried this fr my hubby bday, came out very well. Thank u fr ur step by step explanation in easy english. I hv also tried cakes frm ur site, they hv been super hit among his frnds!! They hv been teasing mu hubby hw lucky he is… all credit goes to u. Thank u so much

  63. Thanks for the recipe, I tried yesterday and it was really really yummy. I must say the the way you explain recipe with images help us a lot. A big hug to u. Thanks a lot.

  65. Me and my sister tried the carrot halwa today. We used cheese instead of butter and it turned out very well. Thanks for the recipe.

  70. I made gajar ka halwa for my family and girlfriend. Both of them were very happy after eating this. 🙂

  71. Thank youu sooo much for sharing these awesome recipes… 🙂 🙂 🙂
    Gajar ka halwa is the1st sweet dish which i made. It was just superb. Now mumma will not tont me that i cannt make any dish without her help..all thanks to you.

  74. I have cooked gajar halwa today going through your instructions. It’s really easy and amazing. I like healthy and quick cooking foods. so I chanced upon your site. It is really helpful. Carry on. 😀

  76. Hi Dassana,
    Came across your blog and these recipes are amazing…simple and easy to follow steps…when I felt I had lost touch with cooking…these are so handy…tried carrot halwa today came out great, will surely try your other recipes…Great Work…you make life so much easier for us!!..

  77. It looks quite easy and the steps are clearly deliberated.
    One query can i use sugarfree instead of sugar as i am diabetic?

  78. I always look recipes for my toddler kid.
    If you have more recipes for toddler’s please do inform.

    Thank you so much

  79. super &tasty i like it very much …………
    you should make it at home …………(-_-)…………..
    perfect taste ……..wow

  80. Hello Dassana,

    Let me begin by saying a BIG THANK YOU to you, because you are one of the reason I started cooking and loving it. I have tried few of your recipes (must say your absolute accurate instructions helps a lot) and it turned out to be really good. Your website was like a onlinefriend in need when I wanted to learn new recipes (apart from the regular which I do) and like a true friend helped me in need 🙂 Thank you for inspiring me!

  82. Hi….my variation is to give tadka of whole cloves and green cardamom in ghee and then add the grated gajar
    …..the aroma of the tempered spices is simply divine.

  83. I made this recipe with my husband and we nailed it. Thank you so much. It was yummmmmm… 🙂

  87. Dear Dassana, please accept my heartfelt thanks. I did not know cooking at all when I got married. But then I came across your blog, with some of the most amazing recipes…tried and loved your “Punjabi Rajma”, Sambar, Dal Bukhara, Dal Makhni, Kadhi, and many many more. I understood the basics and now I am a pro in cooking, thanks to you! You and I share relation like Guru Dronacharya and Eklavya.

    With this recipe also, you gave me some interesting suggestions to try. Will make the halwa on this weekend, and will share with you the results.

    Thanks a lot!

  88. it is d frst time i made gajar halwa
    thanks to u it is delicious
    i m sure my hubby will like it.

  91. Sir, You have done a great job by showing the delicious items. I tried gajar halva and it was really very good. My small daughter likes very much and my husband was very happy to me after taste the halva ! Thanks.

  92. Traditional gajer ka halwa, I tried and it was really delicious I must say it’s an excellent recipe.

    Thank you!

  93. Dear you, do know that your halwa recipee is just so delicious…. In a worldfull of so much stress, good food is a feast ….what a beautiful job you’re doing!

    Loved it to the core ….
    Thanks a lot!

  94. Dear Amit,

    Tried making ‘Gajar Ka Halwa’ today following your receipe and pictures. My patience paid off and the dish turned out to be real good. Thanks a lot for sharing these recipes and making it look such a simple thing to do. I have become a great fan of yours and your work. Your website is amazing and the simplicity with which you explain the dishes make it really easy to follow for people like us who don’t know much cooking.

  95. Thank you so much.It went good and taste was awesome.My granny and mom prepares gajar ka halwa very delicious.I wanted to eat that right now and was serching for recipe and i got yours.Thank you once again.

  96. To me it looks the recipe & style of making Gajar ka halwa reminds me of my Mother & Grandmother. I am making today & following you specified recipe.

  97. I have been visiting this website for many months and Tried 2 recipes from your website yesterday for dinner party.
    1. Kothimbir wadi
    2. Gajar Halwa

    I followed your recipes and skipped Ghee also used less sugar (used mix of sugar and jaggery) and still the result was amazing. I slow cooked it for more than 2 hours and result was fantastic. Everyone loved it.

    Thank you so much for this recipe.

  99. I love all the recipes on the blog and usually look it up for anything i want to cook.
    Trying the gajar ka halwa today. will keep you posted.

  102. This was served today at a buffet restaurant. It was new on their menu and was delicious. I wanted to find a recipe and was glad to find yours. Thank you.

  103. Hi Dasana,

    This is my first post but I have followed many of your recipes and I must say, you have been my saviour.

    Regarding this recipe, if I have to make gajar ka halwa for 12 people, shall I just double the amount of all ingredients?

    Thanks!

    • thanks neha. just double everything proportionately. gajar halwa recipe is very flexible and adaptable. but it will take more time than what is mentioned in this recipe.

  104. Hi Dassana,

    The recipe you have mentioned is so simple and yet so beautiful. I was cooking for the very first time in my life sitting in the US and my wife and everyone else who tasted the halwa gave it a 5-STAR and i’m passing those 5 STARS to you as you deserve it.

    Very well explained with relevant pictures and it is of great help for beginners like me. Will look out for more of your recipes ! ! ! Many Thanks to you . . .

  105. I made this today. It was delicious. I am currently living in the US and I didn’t have whole milk so I used what is called 2% milk. Just thought I’d mention, in case it is of use to anyone. 🙂

  106. Hey Dassana Happy Diwali to you and your family. I just made this Gajar Halwa recipe for Diwali and it turned out really delicious, I am a novice cook and your website is really helpful and informative. It’s really encouraged me to cook and step out of my comfort zone. Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic recipes. X

  108. Hey dassana your recipe is so good. i am from an another country and I tried. it was the best. thank you once again 🙂

  109. I’m always referring to your blog for reliable recipe. Tried this last week and like you claim it was heavenly. Thanks for sharing.

  111. Thank you for sharing these recipes. Is there a reason you didn’t add the saffron and golden raisins to the microwave version?

  113. Hai dassana…
    I have tried dis recepie with milk maid. . I want it to b soft as of now even for 2 days.. anything u recommend pls.. but d taste was fabulous ty..

  114. Tomorrow my b’day, i’m going to make it for my frnds and my swt heart……

  117. This looks just delicious, i am going to make this for my sis today, she loves gajar ka halwa with loads of kaju and kishmish

  118. I made this for my parents last weekend. Great recipe! It was very easy and delicious 🙂

  119. Your halwa is yummy and pictures are awesome! I don’t understand why people pressure cook carrots? They are already so soft and cook in milk anyway.If you want to retain juices why don’t you cook with milk ?Just wondering why to complicate this simple recipe? I am going to try this recipe in slow cooker…Hope it turns out good:)

    • thanks sudha. even i would feel the same. i have seen some recipes where the carrots have been pressure cooked. i once made also this way. to be very honest, i did not like carrot halwa made this way. there was no juiciness felt at all in the halwa. it resembled like sweet potato halwa or potato halwa. after you have tasted the real stuff, why go for such variations. do try and the slow cooker variation will taste damn good.

      • I made slow cooker version of this recipe and it was really yummy…drool!!
        I had to cheat a bit though as milk really takes too long ,I reduced milk to nearly 75% before adding to slow cooker.Next time I want to use evaporated milk from can ,dont know if the taste will be same?
        Thanks for inspiring to try different.

        • you mean with milk the carrot halwa takes long. it will take as the cooking is done in a slow cooker. you can use sweetened condensed milk too. with khoya/evaporated milk the taste will be different. thanks sudha.

  121. thats the very best and easy method you give us thanks alot i will try it at my home …..

  125. Tried this yesterday and came out awesome… didn’t know we could make this without condensed milk and khoya….

  126. This carrot halwa looks delicious and yummy! 🙂 Good pics as well. Thank you so much for the recipe.

  127. This season I didn’t make the gajar ka halwa for some reason. I make the halwa quite similar to yours. However, I pressure cook the carrots in their own juices before cooking them with milk and also, I add the ghee when all milk has evaporated. I know this halwa is delicious 🙂
    Love that first shot. It looks AWESOME!