This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Vegan Kaju Katli – 20 minute Indian Cashew Fudge . Soft fudgy Cardamom Cashew Burfi Vegan Gluten-free Indian Recipe Jump to Recipe
Happy Diwali Everyone. This whole month is full of Indian festivals.. its a whole month of festivities for Indians and anyone who celebrates these festivals. Sweets and savory snacks and lots of delicious food!
Continuing with the sweet streak with the favorite Kaju Katlis…. The simplest ever ButterFree Fudge!!
Diwali like most festivals is celebrated in a variety of ways in different parts of the country. The things that are common are Pooja(religious worship rituals performed in different ways to get god’s blessings), making sweets and snacks, visiting family and friends and exchanging gifts and sweets.
Though a good part of India is vegetarian, we do have an intense dairy oriented dessert/sweet consumption. I am trying to make up a collection of already vegan and veganized versions of Indian sweets to celebrate these occasions without missing out on all the sugar high!
Check out my vegan-ized Indian Sweets here.
What is Kaju Katli?
Kaju Katli is basically cashew fudge. Kaju means cashews. It is another favorite Indian dessert. There are several ways to make the fudge, but the key to a great fudge is a good sugar syrup and well ground cashews. Some methods require you to soak the cashews and cook with the sugar for about an hour. Some methods require a lot of elbow grease, constant stirring etc. This is the simplest recipe that I use to whip up fudge within minutes.
Kaju Katli is Gluten-free and vegan. Stores might add ghee(clarified butter) or milk powder, so check ingredients if buying from a store.
Ingredients used for Kaju Katli
Kaju Katli is mainly just 3 ingredients
Cashews, sugar and water
I add a bit of starch to help grind the cashews into a finer powder without it turning into cashew butter
Additional flavors can be added such as cardamom, saffron vanilla, rose water etc
You can make this fudge with Almonds(badam Katli) or peanuts, use raw or slightly roasted nuts for flavor variation.
Where can I find ethically sourced cashews?
Cashews have a history of exploitation in their farming practices with people working long hours cracking open each nut to remove cashews and get exposed to the toxic resin in the outer shell. Higher demands and competing for lower costs often trickle down to cause more problems for the farm workers. Similar issues also affect many other foods and farming practices. Some of the foods(bananas, chocolate etc) and sustainable options are covered by food empowerment project here.
For cashews, look for sustainable, fair-trade, organic, social responsibility audited companies.
Vegan Kaju Katli - Indian Cashew fudge. Glutenfree
Kaju Katli is Cashew Fudge. It is a favorite Indian dessert. There are several ways to make the fudge, but the key to a great fudge is a good sugar syrup and well ground cashews. This recipe takes just minutes! Vegan Gluten-free Soy-free Recipe. Makes a dozen or more pieces depending on the size.
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw cashews
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or other starch, , optional
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 cup ground raw sugar
- Flavor options: 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder, 6 strands of saffron, or a few drops of kewra or rose essence
Instructions
- Grind the cashews to a powder in a dry grinder and keep aside. If using a blender, add cornstarch and then blend. Move the buttery cashew powder from the sides of the blender in between to help with even blending. Transfer the mixture to a bowl to break any lumps. Depending on the blender, you might have some pieces of cashews that don’t break down, remove those so you have mostly a meal/powder remaining. I usually use my hands or a spoon to press and mix the cashew mixture to break the buttery lumps and find any pieces.
- Make the sugar syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine water and sugar and mix well. Bring to a boil, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook over medium heat, until the syrup is a just about single thread consistency (close to 230°F / 110ºc), 3 to 4 minutes. (See note below for how to check single thread consistency.) Stir a few times in between. The syrup will get bubbly while it thickens. Add cardamom or other flavors and mix in.
- Reduce heat to low, then add half of the ground cashews. Mix in well. Keep adding the cashew mixture, a few tablespoons at a time, until the mixture gets thick and adds resistance to the movement of the spatula. Mix well each time by dragging and mixing. The mixture will be somewhere between a thick batter and a soft dough. You will use up anywhere from 1 1/2 cups to the entire 2 cups cashews. Cook for another minute or 2 if the mixture is very soft. I like to add a 1/2 teaspoon vegan butter at this point just for a bit of additional flavor(optional) . (See notes for troubleshooting)
- Transfer the hot mixture to parchment or a greased flat plate or pan. Carefully pat it down or shape using a spatula or another parchment on top. Flatten to a 1/4 inch thick somewhat rectangle. If the mixture is too sticky or hot, let it cool for a minute before patting it down. You can knead the mixture a bit at this point to make it smoother, before shaping into a rectangle.
- Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut the rectangle into a grid. Let cool completely (chill for 15 mins) before separating into pieces and storing. Store in an airtight container for a few days on the counter or several weeks refrigerated.
Video
Notes
Single thread consistency:
Take a drop of sugar syrup carefully between one finger and thumb or between two spoons. When you separate the finger and thumb the syrup should form a single thread at least 1/2-inch long before breaking. You can also check the consistency by dropping a single drop of the syrup in a bowl of cold water. The syrup should not immediately dissolve and should splash into one or more visible threads. Troubleshoot:
• Sugar syrups are tricky. So you can get a really soft fudge or a crumbly burfi. Either way they are absolutely delicious.
• If the mixture gets too crumbly after adding cashews and does not lump up, that means the sugar syrup got too thick or over cooked. Keep the cashew mixture on low heat. Boil some water in another pan and add a teaspoon at a time to the cashew mixture, mix well, adding more if needed, until the mixture is more like a thick resistant batter. Then switch off heat and proceed to Next step.
• If the fudge is too soft, the sugar syrup was likely undercooked. Cook the cashew mixture for a few minutes over medium low heat and then transfer to the pan. If it’s very liquidy, Serve with a spoon as halwa. Nutritional values based on one serving
Take a drop of sugar syrup carefully between one finger and thumb or between two spoons. When you separate the finger and thumb the syrup should form a single thread at least 1/2-inch long before breaking. You can also check the consistency by dropping a single drop of the syrup in a bowl of cold water. The syrup should not immediately dissolve and should splash into one or more visible threads. Troubleshoot:
• Sugar syrups are tricky. So you can get a really soft fudge or a crumbly burfi. Either way they are absolutely delicious.
• If the mixture gets too crumbly after adding cashews and does not lump up, that means the sugar syrup got too thick or over cooked. Keep the cashew mixture on low heat. Boil some water in another pan and add a teaspoon at a time to the cashew mixture, mix well, adding more if needed, until the mixture is more like a thick resistant batter. Then switch off heat and proceed to Next step.
• If the fudge is too soft, the sugar syrup was likely undercooked. Cook the cashew mixture for a few minutes over medium low heat and then transfer to the pan. If it’s very liquidy, Serve with a spoon as halwa. Nutritional values based on one serving
Nutrition
Calories: 307kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 6mg, Potassium: 283mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 2.9mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!
I love this fudge! If you loved this recipe, get this and 15 more dessert recipes in my cookbook! Now available internationally!
This post was originally published in Oct 2011 and has been updated on Oct 8, 2019
I tried this and it bombed :(. I used Trader Joes Turbindo sugar and I never got the single thread consistency syrup. Instead it turned out to be more like sugar candy. What did I do wrong? I followed your exact measures.
oh no. maybe the syrup got overcooked? what do you mean by sugar candy, it is too hard, too chewy?
if the sugar syrup is more than single thread consistency ( like it forms a ball when a drop is put into a bowl of water, it is is 2 to 3 thread consistency by then). at this stage the syrup will crystallize really quickly. so when you add cashews, the mixture will either become hard and diffcult to shape or crumbly.
You can fix this. Heat up some water until it is boiling. Keep the cashew sugar mixture at low-medium heat, add the boiling water 1-2 tsp at a time and mix in. Eventually the mixture will start to get lumpy and wet. Mix well until smooth. Then pour the mixture onto a greased plate or parchment. Spread it using a spatula. Col completely, then slice.
If the sugar syrup was not a single thread consistency, the only thing that will happen is that the katli can range from soft to not well set.
By any chance, do you know how long these will keep?
I’m thinking they’d be a lovely addition to my Winter Solstice party but because of the sheer amount of cooking I’m anticipating, I’m going to favor heavily recipes that can be made days in advance whenever possible.
on the counter for upto 4 days and refrigerated for weeks. keep in an airtight container.
Do you think I could get it smoother by soaking the cashews overnight?
no.. that would become cashew cream and will not work in this recipe. The dry cashew flour and thick sugar syrup make up the right texture of the fudge. Cashew cream would end up with too much moisture and will not set.
Thank you for your submission. I want this right now.
This fudge looks delicious – how amazing it is butter free! Thank you for sharing it with the Hearth and Soul hop. I’ve chosen it as one of my highlights this week!