Ep. 01

Dry Fruit Barfi Recipe: Saffron Kaju Sweet for Eid

Name: Dry Fruit Barfi Recipe: Saffron Kaju Sweet for Eid
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 20 servings
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 2.0 cups Premium Cashew Nuts – Large Whole Kaju, Fresh for Cooking & Snacking; 0.5 cup Pista Mota, Pistachio Kernels, Irani – Rich in Protein; 1.0 cup Khoya (Mawa); 0.75 cup Desi Khand 500g; 2.0 tbsp Pure Ghee; 6.0 pods Elaichi - Jumbo Size Natural Green Cardamom; 10.0 strands BABY Kesar; 2.0 tbsp Whole Milk (warm)

Make melt-in-mouth dry fruit barfi for Eid in under 30 minutes — premium cashews, pistachios & saffron from Sindhi Dry Fruits. Perfect for festival gifting.

35 Min

20 Servings

Easy

Premium Cashew Nuts – Large Whole Kaju, Fresh for Cooking & Snacking

Pista Mota, Pistachio Kernels, Irani – Rich in Protein

Elaichi - Jumbo Size Natural Green Cardamom

BABY Kesar

Desi Khand 500g

Premium Kishmish – Soft Seedless Raisins, Naturally Sweet & Chewy

Shop All Ingredients →

Adjust for 20 servings

Premium Cashew Nuts – Large Whole Kaju, Fresh for Cooking & Snacking 2.0 cups Buy →

Blend to a fine powder in a dry grinder

Pista Mota, Pistachio Kernels, Irani – Rich in Protein 0.5 cup Buy →

Plus 2 tbsp extra, thinly sliced for topping

Khoya (Mawa) 1.0 cup

Fresh khoya, crumbled — from your local dairy shop

Desi Khand 500g 0.75 cup Buy →

Powdered — or substitute with fine caster sugar

Pure Ghee 2.0 tbsp

Use good-quality cow ghee for authentic flavour

Elaichi - Jumbo Size Natural Green Cardamom 6.0 pods Buy →

Remove seeds and grind to a fine powder

BABY Kesar 10.0 strands Buy →

Steep in 1 tbsp warm milk for 10 minutes before using

Whole Milk (warm) 2.0 tbsp

For steeping saffron; adds creaminess

Step 1 of 3

Grind the Cashews

⏱ 0–8 min

Start with 2 cups of premium whole cashews — the fresher the nut, the creamier the barfi. Spread them on a dry tray and let them air for 10 minutes if they were stored in the fridge, so they are at room temperature.

Transfer to a dry grinder and pulse in short 5-second bursts until you reach a fine, flour-like powder. Do not over-grind — if the cashews begin to release their oils and clump into a paste, the mixture becomes difficult to set later.

Sieve the cashew powder once through a fine mesh to remove any coarse bits. Reserve the powder in a bowl.

💡 Pro Tip Chill your cashews in the fridge for 30 minutes before grinding. Cold nuts grind to powder without releasing oils, giving you a consistently fine, dry flour every time.

Step 2 of 3

Cook the Barfi Mixture

⏱ 8–25 min

Steep 10 saffron strands in 2 tablespoons of warm milk for at least 10 minutes. The milk should turn a deep amber-gold — this saffron infusion is what gives the barfi its signature colour and fragrance.

Place a heavy-bottomed pan or kadai over low heat. Add the ghee and let it melt fully. Add the crumbled khoya and stir continuously on low heat for 3-4 minutes until it softens and begins to look smooth.

Add the cashew powder and stir to combine with the khoya. Cook on low heat, stirring without pause, for 8-10 minutes. The mixture will gradually come together and start leaving the sides of the pan — this is the signal it is ready.

Add the powdered desi khand and the saffron milk. Stir for another 2-3 minutes on low heat. Fold in the cardamom powder. Taste — the sweetness should be forward but not cloying, and the cardamom should be clearly present.

The mixture is ready when it pulls cleanly away from the pan sides and holds its shape briefly when a small amount is rolled between your fingers.

💡 Pro Tip Keep the flame resolutely low throughout cooking. High heat scorches the cashew powder and produces a grainy, dull-coloured barfi. Patience here is the difference between a sweet that tastes homemade and one that looks like a halwai made it.

Step 3 of 3

Set, Garnish, and Cut

⏱ 25–35 min

Grease a flat tray or thali lightly with a few drops of ghee. Pour the hot barfi mixture in and flatten it to a uniform thickness of about 1.5 cm using the back of a greased spoon or a greased offset spatula.

Scatter the thinly sliced pistachio kernels evenly over the surface and gently press them in with your palm so they adhere.

Allow the barfi to cool at room temperature for 20-25 minutes until firm to the touch, then refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cold-setting produces clean-cut edges that do not crumble.

Using a sharp knife, cut into neat 4 x 3 cm rectangles or traditional diamond shapes. Each piece should have a clean edge and a smooth, fudge-like texture inside.

Store in an airtight container. At room temperature, barfi stays fresh for 3 days. Refrigerated, it keeps well for up to 10 days. For gifting, line a box with parchment and arrange pieces in a single layer.

💡 Pro Tip Dip your knife in warm water and wipe it dry before each cut. The warm blade glides through the barfi without dragging, giving you the sharp edges that make a gift-worthy presentation.

Nutrition

Health Benefits of Dry Fruits & Nuts

✦ AI-Assisted Content

Magnesium (from Cashews) 292 mg / 100g 86% Daily Value

Potassium (from Pistachios) 1,025 mg / 100g 29% Daily Value

Zinc (from Cashews) 5.78 mg / 100g 48% Daily Value

Phosphorus (from Pistachios) 490 mg / 100g 70% Daily Value

Nutritional values are approximate. Source: NIN/ICMR. AI-assisted content — verify with a registered nutritionist before acting on this information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make dry fruit barfi without khoya?

Yes — you can substitute khoya with full-fat milk powder mixed with a small amount of fresh cream or condensed milk to get a similar richness. Use 1 cup milk powder + 3 tablespoons fresh cream. The texture will be slightly different but equally satisfying. Many home cooks in Delhi use this shortcut during Eid when fresh khoya sells out quickly.

How long does homemade kaju barfi stay fresh?

At room temperature (under 25°C), kaju barfi stays fresh for 3 days in an airtight container. In the refrigerator it keeps well for up to 10 days. For Eid gifting, pack in a parchment-lined box and refrigerate until delivery day — the barfi holds its shape and texture perfectly. The dry fruits benefits of cashews and pistachios include natural oils that act as mild preservatives, helping extend shelf life compared to purely sugar-based sweets.

What is the difference between kaju katli and kaju barfi?

Kaju katli is made purely from cashew paste and sugar syrup cooked to a soft-ball stage, producing a very thin, pliable, almost silky sweet. Kaju barfi uses khoya (reduced milk solids) alongside cashew powder, making it richer, denser, and more fudge-like in texture. Barfi also tolerates more garnish (pistachios, saffron, silver varq) because its firmer structure holds toppings. For Eid gifting, barfi is often preferred because it stacks and travels better.

What are the dry fruits benefits in this barfi?

The dry fruits benefits in this recipe come primarily from cashews and pistachios. Cashews are one of the richest plant sources of magnesium — a mineral associated with muscle relaxation, sleep quality, and heart rhythm regulation. Pistachios supply potassium and phosphorus, minerals involved in bone health and cellular energy. Unlike commercial mithai made with artificial flavouring, this recipe derives all its colour (saffron), fragrance (cardamom), and nutrition from whole dry fruits — making it a genuinely nourishing Eid treat rather than empty-calorie sugar.

Which cashews are best for making barfi?

Whole, unroasted cashews with no added salt are best. W240 grade (large, whole pieces) grinds to the smoothest powder with the least grittiness. Avoid pre-roasted, salted, or flavoured cashews — the added coatings interfere with the khoya binding and alter the taste. For barfi that rivals Old Delhi halwais, use fresh stock from a dry fruits shop near me that turns inventory quickly — rancid cashews produce an unpleasant bitterness that no amount of saffron can mask.

Where to Find Premium Dry Fruits Near You

Since 1939, Sindhi Dry Fruits has been supplying premium cashews, almonds, walnuts, pistachios and seasonal dry fruits to homes across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and beyond. Order online with same-day dispatch to Delhi NCR and 2-day delivery pan-India.

Shop Premium Dry Fruits →

Recipe

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Dry Fruit Barfi Recipe: Saffron Kaju Sweet for Eid

Ingredients for This Recipe

The Scale Lab

How to Make It

Grind the Cashews

Cook the Barfi Mixture

Set, Garnish, and Cut

Health Benefits of Dry Fruits & Nuts

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to Find Premium Dry Fruits Near You

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