Gujiya, or Karanji, are Indian Dessert Empanadas made with khoya (mawa), typically made for Holi & Diwali. In this easy & healthy Baked Gujiya recipe, I bake (not fry) these dumplings using store-bought pie dough!
Microwave Khoya (Homemade or store-bought) for 2-3 minutes, in 30 seconds increments to make khoya easy to crumble. Heat non stick fry-pan on medium heat. Crumble khoya in to the pan.
Using a wooden spoon or spatula, press down and break it in smaller pieces. Keep pressing till khoya becomes soft, consistency of a soft dough. (it should be pliable).
Turn off the heat. Alternatively, you can do this whole process in the microwave by heating khoya for 3-5 minutes in 1-minute increments, stirring in between, till the khoya becomes soft.
Add chopped nuts, coconut powder, and cardamom powder. Mix well and allow to cool off for a few minutes (4-5). Add sugar and mix well. Taste to adjust sugar to your taste preference. The stuffing is ready.
Assemble Gujiya and Bake
Place thawed pie crust between plastic wrap and roll outwards to thin out the dough. (See video for clarity).
Using a 2 inch round cookie cutter, cut out pie circles for filling. Fill each pie circle with roughly 2 teaspoons (or heaping ½ tablespoon) filling, and seal by pressing the edges together. (Just like you would for a turnover).
While Gujiya is baking, heat a sauce pan on medium heat. Add sugar and water. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium heat till it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5-6 minutes.
Glaze and garnish
Dip baked Gujiyas in the cooled sugar syrup, coating well on all sides. Sprinkle some crushed pistachios on top. Place on a wire-rack for setting.
Notes
Thaw the dough overnight: For best results thaw the frozen pie dough overnight in the refrigerator.
Prep everything: Take it out just before you are ready to work, and work quickly while it is still cold. The key is to keep everything ready before you roll and cut it.
Stuff moderately: Don't overstuff the pie circles since it will be hard to seal the edges.
Use a mold: Using an empanada or dumpling mold can make the folding process of the hand pies very easy.
Substitute for Khoya: If you don’t have access to khoya, you can easily make it at home with ricotta cheese using this 15-minute recipe for homemade khoya.
Note: The nutrition facts below are my estimates. If you follow any diet plan, I recommend cross-checking with your preferred nutrition calculator.