Kesar Peda (Indian Milk Dessert)
kesar peda is a classic dessert made for festive occasions. They are delicious sweet snack and made with very few ingredients, milk and sugar, flavored with cardamom and saffron. This is a easy recipe to make.
- 2 cups dry milk powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed cardamom
- Few strands of saffron
- 1 tablespoon milk to soak the saffron
- 1 tablespoon sliced pistachios for garnishing
Soak the saffron strand in warm milk. Set aside.
Heat the frying pan on low heat, I like to use heavy bottom nonstick pan. Add cream and milk powder. Mix it well. Mix will start getting soft consistency of thick batter as it gets warm.
Cook mixture on low medium heat stirring continuously until mixture becomes lumpy like soft dough. This should take about 12-15 minutes. Add saffron and cardamom mix it well and cook for 2-3 more minutes until it is consistency of soft dough. Turn off the heat. Now this is known as khoya.
Transfer the khoya into a bowl and let it cool off until khoya becomes lukewarm.
Add the sugar into the khoya and knead it for about a minute until everything blends together and become soft dough. Note: if you mix the sugar while khoya is hot that will make khoya soft and will not able to make peda.
Divide the mix into 20 equal parts or more, less depends the size you prefer. Make them into ball rolling between your palms. Make a dent into the peda.
Garnish them with pistachios.
Finish peda consistency should be little grainy.
Notes
- If peda mix is too dry add lukewarm cream as needed.
- If peda mix is too soft add little almond powder, now you can call this peda kesar almond peda. Do not try to cook again thinking it will become thick, peda will become chewy.
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SR
October 11, 2020 at 6:09 pmAbsolutely delicious! thank you for this recipe
Raksha
July 9, 2020 at 10:46 amThese look delicious! Looking forward to making it. Love your recipes and videos.
Manjula Jain
July 11, 2020 at 9:05 amEnjoy!
Varsha Pawaskar
September 4, 2019 at 9:06 amHello Manjula aunty
I have tried many of your receipies in the past and they have been a great hit in my family kind of my signature dishes now!!! So thank you very much. I made theses pedas for Ganapati for past 2 years n everyone loved them. So grateful to you. Thank you again.
Manjula Jain
September 7, 2019 at 11:16 pmVarsha, Thank you, I appreciate
Sunita
May 8, 2018 at 11:19 amCan you use single cream for this recipe
Komal
October 16, 2017 at 7:56 amDear Manjula Aunty,
I am so grateful for your recipes! Now I am master chef among my friends 😉
For all peda recipes calling for milk powder, is Non-fat milk powder ok to use? I do not find any other type of milk powder in the grocery stores here.
I am in Connecticut.
Thank you.
Manjula Jain
October 21, 2017 at 8:47 amKomal, non fat milk powder works
Nerisha Maharaj
October 16, 2017 at 7:38 amDear Aunty Manjula
Thank you for all your time and effort you put in to share youryummy recipes with us. Whatever I’ve tried was enjoyed by my family. Thank you and blessings to you.
Love Nerisha
Manjula Jain
October 21, 2017 at 8:48 amNerisha, thank you
Shikha
September 14, 2017 at 7:38 pmHi Manjula
Hope all is well. Iam planning on making the peda for Diwali, can you please let me know how to store and how long it will last.
P.S. really looking forward to making this and sharing.
Manjula Jain
September 14, 2017 at 11:13 pmShikha, you can refrigerate this peda for about 2 months and outside it should stay good for a week.
Sangita
August 28, 2017 at 3:46 pmThank you very much! These are the best pedas I have made
Mili Khatter
August 14, 2017 at 12:38 pmHello Manjula Aunty,
We moved to US within few months of my marriage and since then whenever I try to make a new dish your website is the very first I refer to and follow. Thank you for sharing recipes so easy to follow!!
Manjula Jain
August 14, 2017 at 10:03 pmMili, Thank you, you made me very happy
Hina Barrington-MIstry
July 8, 2017 at 10:32 amHI Manjula
I love your recipe but I’m not sure what you mean by heavy whipping cream do you mean single cream that you whip up yourself?
From Hina leicester
Manjula Jain
July 19, 2017 at 2:32 pmHina, just use heavy cream
Nidhi
May 5, 2017 at 11:07 amThank you for the recipe. To make pedas for the rainbow theme party , can I add different food color in it?
Manjula Jain
May 5, 2017 at 5:40 pmNidhi, that should work beautifully
Alpa
October 28, 2016 at 2:20 amHi Manjula,
I’ve just tried to make this but my khoya turned out like scrambled eggs instead of the smooth sponge like consistency you show in your video. What have i done wrong?
Manjula Jain
October 28, 2016 at 1:58 pmAlpa, you can not use fat free milk for this recipe or you squeeze the water too much.
Khusi Talwar
October 10, 2016 at 6:04 amAfter reading this blog of Kesar Peda recipe, now i am confused what to prepare for Diwali.
But really lots of thanks, as this blog gives all the necessary information about the recipe and the photography is so awesome that everybody desires for the dish
Manjula Jain
October 10, 2016 at 8:05 amKhusi Talwar, thank you
pari
October 3, 2016 at 1:01 pmThanks Manjulaji. Which brand of milk powder do you us ? In the USA ? I would like to use exact same ingredients
Manjula Jain
October 4, 2016 at 10:26 pmPari, I am forgetting the brand but I buy from walmart
Tiala Rachel Jamir.
October 3, 2016 at 12:34 pmI want to make n eat all your sweets. Here we hardly know the recipes to make sweets. We always buy n eat. So I will try to make it.
Vera Daroga
September 30, 2016 at 10:15 pmHello Manjula,
I love watching your recipe videos. You make even the most complicated dishes so simple … and they are great tasting too. Now, regarding this recipe of Kesar Peda, can desi ghee be used instead of heavy cream, and will the pedas turn out good?
Manjula Jain
October 1, 2016 at 12:05 amVera, First let me say thank you, I love to hear these great compliments, make me happy. now using the ghee, ghee is not the replacement for heavy cream you can use just the cream that will work or take the plain milk and reduce to make it like a cream.
Pam Coomar
July 27, 2016 at 9:44 amYou’re a household name in my home, thanks for sharing your knowledge, I have made several of your dishes and it came out perfect. Not sure if you can share this recipe it is call Habsi Halwa, thanks. You are our cooking guru .
Manjula Jain
July 27, 2016 at 11:26 pmPam Coomar, Thank you, I appreciate your comments. I will try to do the recipe for Habsi halwa.
Sumbul Rizvi
July 1, 2016 at 9:50 amHello manjula aunty….
Can i use milk instead of milk powder??
Manjula Jain
August 24, 2016 at 7:07 amSumbul, yes you can you will have to cook much longer to dry the milk, milk powder makes it easy.
Will
April 10, 2016 at 5:30 pmDear Manjula,
Thank you for all your efforts to provide wonderful recipes! I was wondering if Mawa powder can be used in place of non-fat milk powder in this recipe?
Manjula Jain
April 10, 2016 at 6:55 pmWill. so far I did not have good result with mawa powder
MARIE LALL
April 8, 2016 at 8:12 amHello,
What kind of heavy cream is used, refrigerated or canned? Can carnation milk be used instead of cream?
Tks. Marie
Andreas
March 24, 2016 at 11:02 amI just discovered this site in my search for a recipe for something I tried in an “indian tea house” I visited in Sofia (Bulgaria).
There they have something they call “white balls”, which appears to be a white version of Kesar Peda. It looks similar in size and texture. It tastes a bit like it has vanilla in it instead of cardamom, and it has no saffron either. Also they use walnuts.
I just want to ask, does it sound like a different version of Kesar Peda to you, or do you think it’s based on something else?
Manjula Jain
March 26, 2016 at 8:36 amAndreas, sound delicious, every one has own recipes< I am not sure
Marianella
March 4, 2016 at 12:55 pmHello Mrs. Manjula
I have a question, I don’t like the taste of Cardemom 🙁 (I’m so sory), Can I substitute this with any other flavor/spice…..Vanilla, Rosewater, Chocolate etc.
I love your recipes and they are so easy to make.
Best regards,
Marianella
Manjula Jain
March 4, 2016 at 9:49 pmMarianella, try rose water
Priyanka
January 29, 2016 at 10:47 pmHello Manjula,
Your are really a great cook(chef). My mum told me to follow you. She also made heaps of dishes from your you tube channel. Your measurement of spices and best part of salt is great otherwise all I saw was salt to taste but someone who is new to cooking have no idea about it, I loved it( I can’t guess). There was a question in my mind that you use cup as measurement unit in your recipe. Could you please tell me that do you use the universal cup size(8 oz./250 ml) for your measurement. I am just asking out of curiosity.
Thanks.
Priyanka
Manjula Jain
January 30, 2016 at 12:46 amPriyanka, Thank you for a nice compliment. I use standard measuring cup and spoons for measurement.
Neetu tiwari
January 17, 2016 at 1:57 amhello manjula aunty……am such a big fan of yours……as your all the recipes are delicious and without onion garlic ……and i also dont use onion garlic in my food ……your website is very useful to learn cooking without onion garlic ……thnank you so much for being there……
Manjula Jain
January 19, 2016 at 3:48 pmNeetu, Thank you I am happy if I am a help.
Anita
December 12, 2015 at 11:13 pmManjula aunty, am a great fan of yours. Ur website is my most frequently visited site. All ur recipes are without onion and garlic which suits my taste. Thanks for the wonderful recipes.
shari
December 11, 2015 at 5:46 amHello aunty can we use fresh cream instead of heavy cream
Manjula Jain
December 12, 2015 at 12:52 amShari, fresh cream will work
Bakul Nair
December 10, 2015 at 7:31 amHi aunty, Can we use cream which is not packaged? i.e. Cream that we get from full fat milk.. Its not pouring consistency though..
SujanyaRancho
November 18, 2015 at 12:55 amHi Mam, Have you used non fat milk powder or full fat milk powder in this recipe?
Manjula Jain
November 18, 2015 at 8:29 amSujanyaRancho, I have used non fat milk powder
Usha
November 16, 2015 at 1:44 amMam, should we add powdered sugar ??
Manjula Jain
November 16, 2015 at 8:29 amUsha, I like to use fine sugar, that also gives little grainy texture to peda, but you can use powder sugar also
Prema
November 13, 2015 at 2:50 pmIt looks good. I am going to try this one.
Thank you for the recipe
Mee
November 11, 2015 at 9:10 amCan you use skimmed milk powder instead?
Manjula Jain
November 11, 2015 at 12:56 pmMee, that will work
Jyoti
November 10, 2015 at 1:24 pmhello aunty,
can we replace milk powder with malted milk?
thanks,
Jyoti
Manjula Jain
November 10, 2015 at 2:02 pmJyoti, I don’t know much about malted milk.
Parul
November 9, 2015 at 9:55 pmhello aunty,
Can we use “heavy whipping cream” instead of heavy cream,..
Manjula Jain
November 9, 2015 at 11:04 pmParul, yes
Nikita
November 9, 2015 at 9:32 amI am a great fan of urs and before making anything new I make sure ti go thru ur recepies to get exact proportions thet come out delicious, tasty.
Manjula Jain
November 9, 2015 at 11:06 pmNikita, Thank you