Festive mithai · 30 minutes
Kaju Katli Recipe (Cashew Fudge)
Dry powder. One-string syrup. Knead warm.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenKaju katli is a thin, smooth cashew fudge. It turns crumbly when overcooked or sticky when undercooked. The fix is a fine, dry cashew powder, cooking it in one-string syrup until it forms a soft dough, and kneading it while warm.
The 3 laws of kaju katli
Why this recipe works
Oily paste
Pulse in short bursts.
Guessing
Test a small ball.
Cold dough
Gets smooth and glossy.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Katli
The NineFoods katli gauge
Is the dough ready?
Roll a small ball between greased fingers.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Powder
- Pulse cashews in short bursts to a fine powder; sift.
Syrup and cook
- Boil sugar and water to one-string, add powder on low.
- Stir until it forms a dough. Use the gauge above.
Knead and roll
- Knead warm with ghee until smooth.
- Roll thin between parchment, cut diamonds.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Overcooked.
Fix next time
Knead with a teaspoon of warm milk.
Why
Undercooked.
Fix next time
Return to low heat 1 minute.
Why
Cashews over-ground.
Fix next time
Pulse in short bursts.
Why
Syrup too thick.
Fix next time
Stop at one-string syrup.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Cashews | Base | Almonds for badam katli |
| Sugar | Sweetness | Powdered sugar method (no syrup) |
| Ghee | Shine | Butter |
| Silver leaf | Decoration | Pistachio slivers |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
As mithai at Eid, Diwali or weddings.
Store
Airtight, room temperature 1 week; fridge 3 weeks.
Reheat
Serve at room temperature.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 8 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the dough ready) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Kaju Katli FAQ
Why is my kaju katli crumbly?
It was overcooked. Knead with warm milk.
Why is it sticky?
Undercooked; cook it a little longer.
Can I make it without sugar syrup?
Yes, cook cashew powder with powdered sugar and milk.
How long does kaju katli last?
About 1 week at room temperature.