Gujiya: A Taste of Sweet Nostalgia

Gujiya is more than just a famous North Indian sweet—it's a bite-sized symbol of celebration, comfort, and tradition. Popular during Holi and Diwali, this little sweet delight is packed with a fragrant filling of khoya, dry fruits, coconut, and a pinch of cardamom, all wrapped in a crispy golden shell.

And for me? Gujiya is paradise in a pastry. I know that sounds dramatic, but every time I taste one—especially the ones I make at home—it feels like the food world is giving me a warm hug. It's one of my absolute favourites.

The fun fact? It’s surprisingly easy to make! Just a handful of ingredients, a little love, and your kitchen will smell like a festival.

Every bite of homemade gujiya feels like diving into a world where festivals dance on the taste buds and childhood memories melt in sweetness. It’s crispy on the outside, rich and soft on the inside, and made with pure joy.

How to Make Gujiya (The Desi Way)

Here’s an easy step-by-step recipe you can follow, whether you’re making it for a festival or just craving something festive on a random weekend.

Ingredients:

For the outer dough:

• 2 cups flour (Maida)

• 4 tablespoons ghee (Amul butter)

• A pinch of salt

• Water, as needed to knead

For the stuffing:

• 1.5 cups khoya (milk solids)

• ¾ cup powdered sugar

• ½ cup grated dry coconut

• ½ teaspoon cardamom powder

• ½ cup chopped dry fruits (almonds, cashews & raisins)

For frying:

• Desi ghee or refined oil

Prepare the dough:

• Mix maida, ghee, and salt in a bowl. Rub everything together until it feels like breadcrumbs.

• Add water little by little and knead into a firm dough.

• Cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes.

  
  

Make the filling:

• Roast khoya lightly in a pan until it turns a bit golden and smells divine.

• Turn off the heat and mix in the sugar, coconut, cardamom powder, dry fruits, and raisins.

• Let the mixture cool—it will feel like festival joy in your hands!

  
  

Shape the gujiya:

• Take small balls of dough and roll them into small circles (like tiny puris).

• Place some stuffing in the centre.

• Dab a bit of water on the edges, fold into a half-moon shape, and seal well. Use a gujiya mould if you like or just pinch and fold by hand. They don’t need to look perfect—they just need to taste amazing!

Fry the gujiyas:

• Heat ghee or oil in a deep pan on medium flame.

• Fry the gujiyas until they’re golden brown and crispy.

• Drain on paper towels and let them cool.

Gujiya isn’t just about taste—it’s about togetherness. It’s about mothers teaching daughters, grandparents sharing stories, and kids running around with flour-covered faces. It smells like happiness, tastes like love, and looks like celebration.

So next time your heart says, “I need something festive,” just roll out the dough, stuff it with joy, and fry up some magic.