Kesar Badam halwa, or Saffron Almond Pudding, is the undisputed “king” of Indian desserts. Made using just six simple ingredients, it is one of the most delicious and decadent desserts. I make it using almond flour , milk, butter or ghee (clarified butter), sugar, cardamom and saffron.
Naturally sweet and nutty almond flour
Traditional Stove-Top Recipe
Up until I came up with this recipe, I had been making Almond Halwa following my mother-in-law’s super delicious recipe. I would start by soaking the almonds in warm water for 3-4 hours, peel off their skin, then puree them into a paste using about a quarter cup of milk. I would then saute the almond paste and sugar mix in ghee. Saffron soaked in warm milk would go in and I’d continue to saute till it reached a pudding like consistency. That process took anywhere from 30 -45 minutes depending on the quantity. During the entire process, I would have to stir almost continuously to prevent the almond paste and sugar from sticking at the bottom and burning. The result was always finger-licking good, but, it was a labor of love!
Quick, Easy & Healthier Recipe for Kesar Badam Halwa
Ever since I got my electric pressure cooker (instant pot), I have been experimenting with our cherished family recipes and making them simpler, quicker and healthier to make. It took me a couple of attempts to perfect this one. I’ve made this recipe simpler and quicker by replacing raw almonds paste with almond flour
The original recipe uses about 3-4 tablespoons of ghee or butter, to provide that rich and creamy texture. I’ve made this recipe healthier by cutting ghee or butter down to a tablespoon, and, increasing the quantity of milk. I feel that almonds have natural oils that release during the process of cooking, so I don’t feel the need to add more than a tablespoon of ghee. But that’s a personal preference. If you enjoy your halwa with more ghee, you can always add more. Cutting down ghee reduces the saturated fat content, hence reducing calories. Increasing the quantity of milk adds a rich flavor and gives a silky smooth finish to Kesar Almond Halwa .
I make this kesar badam halwa in my programmable pressure cooker, Instant Pot 6 Qt
Dairy-Free Variation of Kesar Badam Halwa
You can make Kesar Badam Halwa halwa dairy-free by replacing two ingredients in this recipe. Add any clear oil instead of butter or ghee, and, add unsweetened plain Almond milk
More Indian desserts to enjoy
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Kesar Badam Halwa | Saffron Almond Pudding
Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 tablespoon ghee or unsalted butter
- 1 cup Almond Flour
(can also use Almond Meal
)
- 3 tablespoons Slivered Almonds
+ 1 tablespoon for garnish
- 3/4 cup milk (Almond milk
for Dairy Free)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon Saffron
- 3/4 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon Cardamom Powder
(about 5-6 Cardamom Pods
, peeled and crushed)
+ 1 tablespoon for garnish
(about 5-6 
, peeled and crushed)Instructions
Saute Heat butter or ghee on SAUTE. Reserve 1 tablespoon of slivered almonds for garnish and add the rest in. Add almond flour and saute for 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, heat milk, water and saffron in the microwave for 3 minutes. You can also heat this on the stove-top. Add sugar to the almond mix and stir well.
Pressure Cook Add crushed cardamom and saffron milk mixture to the pot, and whisk well to prevent any lumps. Cancel SAUTE, close the lid. Set the vent to 'sealing' mode and pressure cook for 4 minutes on high pressure.
Reduce Do a quick release of pressure (QR), by turning the knob from sealing to venting position. Once the pin drops, open the lid and turn on SAUTE. Reduce the liquid and stir in between. For this quantity, in a 3qt Instant Pot, it takes about 10 minutes for the halwa to reduce to a pudding like consistency. This time can vary depending on the quantity of halwa and size of your pot. A larger surface area will help reduce the halwa faster. Turn off SAUTE when Halwa reaches a desired pudding like consistency. It will continue to thicken while it cools too. Garnish with the reserved slivered almonds and serve warm! Enjoy!
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