Craving a traditional Indian sweet but don’t want to spend hours stirring in the kitchen?
Besan Halwa is the perfect answer, a rich, melt-in-the-mouth dessert that comes together with just a few pantry ingredients like besan, cashews, sugar, ghee, and milk. It’s creamy, nutty, aromatic, and tastes like something straight out of a festive temple prasadam counter.
This version is especially unique because it combines besan and cashew powder, giving it a luxurious texture similar to Thirupagam, a traditional sweet from Tamil Nadu known for its soft, silky, halwa-like richness.
Whether it’s a festival day, sudden guest arrival, or late-night sweet craving — this halwa is a lifesaver. No complicated sugar syrup, no worrying about thread consistency, and yet you get a beautiful professional finish every time.
A Little About This Traditional Sweet
Besan halwa has been part of Indian household cooking for generations. It originated as a quick comfort dessert made during festivals, pujas, or winters when something warm and nourishing was needed.
Adding cashew powder transforms it from a basic halwa into something royal, rich enough for special occasions yet simple enough for beginners.
What Makes This Besan Halwa So Good
This recipe stands out because:
- Dry-roasted besan flavour + nutty cashew aroma = instant indulgence
- Ghee and milk create a silky, smooth texture
- Cardamom and saffron add festive warmth and colour
- No sugar syrup measurement stress
- Tastes even better after resting and setting
Perfect for Deepavali, Navratri, Rama Navami, birthdays, or anytime you want a quick homemade sweet.
Ingredient Breakdown
- Besan flour: The core flavour — gives a roasted aroma and halwa body.
- Cashew powder: Makes the texture creamy, rich, and luxurious.
- Sugar: Balances the sweetness and binds the mixture.
- Ghee: The soul of any halwa — richness, flavour, and smooth finish.
- Boiled and cooled milk: Helps bring everything together without lumps.
- Cardamom powder & saffron: Aroma, colour, and the true festive feel.
🌿 Vegan Swap: Use almond milk + vegan ghee. The flavor changes slightly but still delicious.
Let’s Walk Through the Cooking Flow
Start by grinding your cashews into a dry powder. Short pulses work best to keep them from releasing oil.
In a heavy kadai, combine besan, cashew powder, and sugar before turning on the heat; this simple trick ensures a lump-free halwa later.
Pour in the ghee and milk, mixing until everything becomes smooth. Once combined, turn the flame to low. Drop in the cardamom powder and saffron to start infusing flavor right from the beginning.
Now all that’s left is stirring. As the mixture heats up, it will slowly thicken, turn glossy, and begin to bubble. Increase the flame slightly and keep mixing until the halwa starts leaving the sides of the pan and becomes dense and shiny. That’s your sign to stop.
Turn off the heat and let it rest — the halwa will firm up beautifully as it cools. The texture becomes soft, rich, and easy to slice or scoop, just like temple-style Thirupagam.
Pro Tip: For an extra luxurious finish, add a teaspoon of warm milk infused with saffron on top before setting.
What Goes Well With Besan Halwa
Serve it alongside:
- Poori or chapati for a traditional meal vibe
- Hot chai or filter coffee
- Vanilla ice cream (fusion dessert treat!)
- Festive thali meals
How to Serve
Serve warm for soft, flowing halwa or chilled for a sliceable mithai-style sweet.
Storage & Bulk Prep
- Stays good in the refrigerator for 4–5 days
- Reheat with a teaspoon of milk or ghee if needed
- Perfect for festival gifting — sets cleanly for packaging
Other Related Recipes You Might Like:-
- Makhana Kheer – creamy and delicious kheer made with fox nuts, perfect for festive occasions.
- Moong Dal Halwa – rich, aromatic halwa with ghee-roasted lentils and nuts.
- Shakarkandi Halwa (Sweet Potato Halwa) – nutritious and naturally sweet halwa made with sweet potatoes.
- Rava Kesari – classic semolina halwa with saffron flavour and ghee.
- Dry Fruit Ladoo – a healthy, energy-packed ladoo made with assorted dry fruits.
- Besan Ladoo – traditional melt-in-the-mouth ladoos made with roasted besan and ghee.
- Moong Dal Kheer / Paruppu Payasam – festive South Indian-style kheer simmered in milk and jaggery.
- Sabudana Kheer – smooth creamy kheer perfect for fasting and celebrations.
Besan Halwa
Description
Besan Halwa is a rich, smooth, and comforting Indian sweet that comes together quickly with just a few simple ingredients like besan, ghee, cashew powder, milk, and sugar. It has a beautiful melt-in-the-mouth texture and a warm aroma from cardamom and saffron that makes it perfect for festivals, celebrations, and even sudden sweet cravings. Everything cooks in one pan, and as the mixture thickens and turns glossy, it transforms into a delicious halwa that tastes just like traditional Thirupagam. If you’re looking for an easy sweet that feels special and takes very little time, this recipe is definitely worth trying at home.
Ingredients
To make besan halwa
Instructions
Prep Work
-
Grind cashews
Grind cashews to a fine powder without releasing oil
-
Measure dry ingredients
Measure besan, cashew powder, and sugar and keep ready
-
Cool milk
Boil milk and allow it to cool completely
Method
-
Combine powders
Add besan, cashew powder, and sugar to a heavy kadai and mix well before heating
-
Add ghee and milk
Pour ghee and boiled, cooled milk and mix until smooth
-
Start cooking
Switch on the stove and cook on low flame, stirring continuously -
Flavour
Add cardamom powder and saffron strands for flavour and colour -
Thicken
Continue stirring as the mixture thickens and bubbles form -
Final cooking
Stir until it leaves sides of pan
-
Switch off
Turn off heat and allow the mixture to set -
Cool fully
Let it cool completely before cutting or scooping
Equipment
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Nutrition Facts
Servings 6
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 420kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 22g34%
- Saturated Fat 12g60%
- Cholesterol 35mg12%
- Sodium 18mg1%
- Potassium 210mg6%
- Total Carbohydrate 47g16%
- Dietary Fiber 2g8%
- Sugars 32g
- Protein 7g15%
- Vitamin A 485 IU
- Vitamin C 1 mg
- Calcium 48 mg
- Iron 1.9 mg
- Phosphorus 102 mg
- Magnesium 28 mg
- Zinc 0.9 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
