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Kesar Peda is a classic Indian sweet made with khoya, sugar, saffron and cardamom. It's soft, delicious, rich and lightly flavored, and easy to make at home.

If you enjoy making traditional Indian sweets at home, try my Moong Dal Ladoo, Mawa Modak, and Walnut Halwa.

What is Kesar Peda?

Kesar Peda or Saffron Peda is a traditional Indian sweet made using unsweetened khoya / mawa (dried milk solids), sugar, saffron, and cardamom powder. It is one of the commonly prepared and most popular sweets during festivals like Diwali and other special occasions.

The base of the peda is khoya, which is reduced milk solids. Khoya is gently cooked with sugar until it softens and thickens enough to hold its shape, then allowed to cool slightly. Once warm, it is kneaded into a soft dough and shaped into small discs. A peda mould is often used to give a traditional design, but shaping by hand works just as well.

It is soft, slightly dense and smooth. It is not chewy or hard, but firm enough to hold its shape. There are many traditional and fusion variations of peda, kesar peda is one of the easiest and most popular among them all. Saffron is soaked in hot milk and crushed before adding. This step helps release its color and flavor properly.

If you are looking for more recipes using Khoya, try my Khoya Gulab Jamun, Mawa Besan ladoo, Makkan Peda, and Mango Modak.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Khoya - Also known as Mawa. This is the base of the recipe and gives the peda its rich and milky flavor. Use fresh and good-quality khoya for the best texture and taste. Make sure you are using unsweetened mawa in this recipe. You can use homemade mawa or store-bought mawa. If using frozen mawa, thaw completely before use.

Sugar - I have used regular white sugar. This adds sweetness and helps bind the mixture. You can also use brown sugar but the flavor and color will be a little different.

Saffron - It gives the peda a lovely yellow color and mild saffron flavor. The quantity of saffron is usually kept minimal so it doesn't overpower the taste. Soak it in hot milk and crush before adding for the best results. You can also skip saffron and stick to cardamom to make elaichi-flavored pedas. If you love fusion Indian sweets, check out my Chocolate Peda.

Cardamom - Adds a mild, warm and traditional flavor that complements the saffron and khoya. Use fresh and high-quality cardamom powder.

Milk - You will need a little hot milk to soak the saffron. You can also replace it with water.

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Kesar Peda

Soak the saffron in hot milk for about 5 minutes. Crush it lightly and set aside.

Crumble the khoya lightly and add it to a pan. Let it cook for a minute on a low flame.

Add the saffron-infused milk, sugar and cardamom powder to the pan and mix well.

Cook until the sugar melts completely and blends with the khoya.

Continue cooking on medium-low flame, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and comes together.

Remove it from the flame and let it cool down until warm.

When the mixture is warm enough to handle, knead it into a smooth dough. Grease your hands with a little ghee if needed.

Divide the dough into 10 equal portions.

Roll each portion into a round ball, then flatten gently into discs.

Gently press with a peda mold/stamp to get the traditional design.

Let them cool and set completely before serving.

Serving suggestions

Serve the kesar peda at room temperature once it is set.

They are perfect for festivals like Diwali, Holi, Rakhi, or any special occasion.

They are perfect for Diwali parties or gatherings. You can arrange them on a sweet platter along with other Indian desserts like Tutti Frutti Kesar Burfi, Rava Khoya Ladoo, Mango Kesari, and Rasmalai.

They also work well as homemade gifts when packed in boxes.

If you want a simple finish, top the pedas with a few strands of saffron or chopped pistachios. You can also decorate them with silver varq/ edible silver foil.

Storage suggestions

Store the kesar pedas in an airtight container for 2 days at room temperature. Avoid keeping them at room temperature for long, especially in warm weather.

Store them in the refrigerator for up to a week.

If you want to store them for longer, freeze them for 3 months.

Before serving, bring them to room temperature for a softer texture.

More Indian Sweet Recipes

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Kesar Peda Recipe

Kesar Peda is a classic Indian sweet made with khoya, sugar, saffron and cardamom. It's soft, delicious, rich and lightly flavored, and easy to make at home.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Dessert, Sweet

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: easy diwali sweets, Indian Sweets, kesar peda recipe

Servings: 10 Pedas

Calories: 110kcal

Author: Hari Chandana Ponnaluri

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Unsweetened Khoya / Mawa crumbled
• ¼ Cup Sugar
• A pinch of Saffron
• 1-2 Tablespoons Milk
• ⅛ Teaspoon Cardamom Powder

Instructions

• Soak the saffron in hot milk for about 5 minutes. Crush it lightly and set aside.
• Crumble the khoya lightly and add it to a pan. Let it cook for a minute on a low flame.
• Add the saffron-infused milk, sugar and cardamom powder to the pan and mix well.
• Cook until the sugar melts completely and blends with the khoya.
• Continue cooking on medium-low flame, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and comes together.
• Remove it from the flame and let it cool down until warm.
• When the mixture is warm enough to handle, knead it into a smooth dough. Grease your hands with a little ghee if needed.
• Divide the dough into 10 equal portions.
• Roll each portion into a round ball, then flatten gently into discs.
• Gently press with a peda mold/stamp to get the traditional design.
• Let them cool and set completely before serving.

Notes

• Use fresh and high-quality ingredients for the best results.
• Use a heavy-bottomed wide pan to prevent burning.
• Keep stirring continuously.
• Make sure you are cooking on a low-medium flame. High heat can burn the mixture and make it dry too quickly.
• The mixture should be thick but still soft. Overcooking the mixture will make the peda hard and chewy after cooling.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 109IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 0.01mg