Karanji Diwali Sweet is today's recipe.It is a delicacy made during festivals. Since Diwali (Festival of lights) celebrated by Indians is almost around the corner, sweet and savory snack preparations are in full swing in the homes of most people who celebrate it. I usually resorted to buying sweets from stores (you do get a good variety here in the US) all these years due to the lack of time, job, and busy life. Being on a break this time, I ventured to make 'Karanji' or 'karchikai' or 'gujiya' (it goes by various names) usually made during festivals.
What is the Karanji Diwali Sweet made of?
This deep-fried delicacy has a covering made of all-purpose flour and the filling is a mixture of roasted desiccated coconut, dry nuts, raisins, white sesame seeds, and sugar. The crisp outer covering with the lightly sweetened taste of all the goodness inside tastes heavenly and out of the world. Although it looks a bit tedious to make, it is worth all the effort and loved by kids and adults alike! Happy cooking :).On the auspicious festival of lights, may the glow of joy, prosperity, and happiness illuminate your days in the year ahead! Happy Diwali !!
Karanji - Diwali Special
A deep-fried delicacy prepared on festive occasions made with all purpose floor, dry nuts, raisins and dessicated coconut
Some prefer to use jaggery or brown sugar instead of white sugar for the filling and it is absolutely one's preference. Also, instead of using all purpose flour alone a combination of wheat and all purpose flour in the ratio 1:1 is sometimes preferred. Another variation in the dough preparation is to replace ghee and milk with oil and water respectively.
Ingredients
For outer covering
- 2 cups All purpose flour
- 2 tbsp semolina
- 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) warmed up
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup milk to knead
For Filling
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- 1 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
- almonds, cashew, pista, raisins - 10 nos each
- 3-4 tsp sugar or as desired
- 4 -5 cardamoms
- 2 tsp white sesame seeds
Directions
- Mix all the ingredients for the outer covering in a bowl.
- Knead the ingredients with portions of milk so that you get a stiff dough.
- In a pan, heat 2 tsp ghee and fry the coconut till slightly browned.
- Keep it aside and let it cool.
- Next heat up the sesame seeds in the ghee till it crackles.
- Powder the nuts, raisins, sugar, and cardamom.
- Mix the coconut, sesame, and powdered dry nuts well,
- Take a small ball of the dough and roll into small circles.
- Add a spoon of the filling and seal with your finger by pinching the edges.
- You can also add a drop of milk so that it is sealed well.
- Heat a pan of oil and deep fry the karanjis until they are golden brown.
- Karanjis are now ready to be served. Enjoy!

Karanji ready to be deep fried

Karanjis sealed with a drop of milk

Karanji

Diwali Delicacy

Karanji or karchikayi or Gujiya

Karanjis close-up

Karanji Diwali Sweet DelicacyA deep-fried delicacy prepared on festive occasions made with all purpose floor, dry nuts, raisins and dessicated coconut
- 2 cups All purpose flour
- 2 tbsp semolina
- 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) warmed up
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup milk to knead
- 1 cup dessicated coconut
- 1 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
- 10 almonds , cashew, pista, raisins
- 3-4 tsp sugar or as desired
- 4-5 cardamoms
- 2 tsp white sesame seeds
Mix all the ingredients for the outer covering in a bowl .
Knead the ingredients with portions of milk so that you get a stiff dough.
In a pan , heat 2 tsp ghee and fry the coconut till slightly browned.
Keep it aside and let it cool.
Next heat up the sesame seeds in the ghee till it crackles.
Powder the nuts, raisins ,sugar and cardamom.
Mix the coconut, sesame and powdered dry nuts
Take a small ball of the dough and roll into small circles.
Add a spoon of the filling and seal with your finger by pinching the edges
.You can also add a drop of milk so that it is sealed well.
Heat a pan of oil and deep fry the karanjis until they are golden brown.
Karanjis are now ready to be served . Enjoy!

Simply love these to bits!!
Same here at our home we just love it! Thanks much Vidya!
Perfect yummy pleasures for Diwali✌✌
Thanks much Jyo ! They are indeed yummy !
Yummy!!
Thank you Lavs!
My favorite Diwali sweet
Glad to hear that! it's a favorite at our home as well!
Happy Diwali to all at home
Thank you and wish you and family the same as well!
One of my fav. I love my grandpa preparation. Happy Diwali nisha
Nice to hear that Deepa, there are many varieties of the same dish . You too have a great Diwali !!
Yes there are many varieties.
Is this the same as gujia? The ingredients sound similar. Gujias totally do me in with greed. xx
Yes I think they are all similar with slight variations to the filling . LoL me as well , they are too irresistable Dippy!
I can taste the ghee-coconut goodness of it from afar. xx
Thank you Dippy! yes indeed rich and yum perfect for the festivities 🙂
Well Happy Diwali in advance 🙂
Wish you the same!
Delicious treat. Hope you had a great Diwali!
Thank you Sumith , this treat is perfect for Diwali and yes looking forward to it .
Mmmm, they look delicious Nisha. X
Thanks much Lorelle!
Beautiful & delicious karanji ! Love to grab one !!
Thank you so much Megala, you are more than welcome !
Delicious!! We all love it to:) Happy Diwali!!
Thank you so much Neeraja! Wish you the same have a great Diwali!
Oh I do love them 🙂
Thank you so much Moushmi, must appreciated!
Never heard of the name, but looks delicious. Well, I am a foodie it doesn't take much time for me to start drooling... by the way happy belated Deepavali wishes Nisha. Have a great and prosperous Hindu new year!
Also please check this link https://rkarkera.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/seven-day-bw-photo-challenge-day-4/
Cheers!
Thanks Raj !Hope you had a great Diwali as well and Happy New year to you as well! I am so honored that you considered me for the B & W photo challenge . This is the first time I am taking part in something like this and would definitely want to take part .Is it ok if I participate in this challenge after 2 weeks around mid November as am a bit tied up currently and out this week .Many Thanks, Nisha
Not a problem Nisha, take your own time, I know we all have real life commitments and that's more important than anything else. So no hurry or compulsions 😊 cheers to you..
Yumm! Masta !!
Thank you so much
😊😊
Yum! I hope you had a wonderful Diwali celebration 🙂
Thank you dear Christy, I had a wonderful celebration indeed
Looking absolutely super delicious...Loved the recipe and pictures..Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe !!
Thank you so much dear! It's my pleasure to share 🙂