• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cook's Hideout
  • All Recipes
  • Recipes by Category
  • Subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Recipes by Category
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Dessert » Carrot Halwa

    Gajar Halwa Recipe with condensed milk | Carrot Halwa

    Published: Nov 29, 2011 · Modified: Oct 11, 2022 by Pavani · 34 Comments

    213 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe

    Carrot halwa is one of the most beloved Indian dessert. It is creamy and is made with grated carrot that is cooked in milk & sweetened with condensed milk.

    White bowl with carrot halwa

    Growing up gajar halwa is a standard offering at every wedding, birthday and any other special occasion. This was my sister's favorite dessert and my mom would make it often for us. Since it was my sister's favorite, she got to grate all the carrot. I limited myself to being the taste tester.

    The time consuming part of making this classic Indian dessert is grating carrot. This happens to be my husband's favorite too. So now I am stuck with the grating carrot part. I wish I could get him to grate.

    Ingredients for Gajar ka Halwa:

    The one and only star of this dish is the Carrot. Red carrots known as 'gajar' or 'desi carrot' are typically used to make this halwa. As the name suggests, these carrot are red and are available in winter. They are much sweeter, crunchier and juicier than the regular orange carrot. So, if you get can get your hands on these ruby red beauties, then buy and make this halwa to make it even more delicious.

    I usually buy carrots from the bulk bin because I find them to be sweeter than the bland tasting bagged ones . So, if you plan on making this halwa, try and find good sweet carrots. Trader Joe's organic colored carrots would be great, but the color of the end product would probably not be the same.

    My MIL makes the best carrot halwa. She uses with khoya/ khova (dried milk solids, which makes it rich and decadent. But I took the short cut and made mine with condensed milk. 

    The other ingredients needed are ghee, milk (preferably 2% or whole milk) and sugar (just a little bit since condensed milk is sweet). Ground cardamom gives a nice aroma and flavor. Chopped cashews/ almonds and raisins add crunch and bites of sweetness.

    Step by step photos showing cooking of carrots
    Step by step photos showing cooking of carrot halwa

    How to make?

    Patience is the key in making creamy, decadent carrot pudding. For best results, it has to be cooked low and slow; on a low flame. It has to be stirred occasionally in the beginning and more frequently at the end when the halwa comes together. 

    1. Grated carrot is sauteed in ghee until it doesn't smell raw any more. This takes about 12~15 minutes.
    2. Milk is added to the carrots and the mixture is brought to a gentle simmer and cooked until the milk starts to thicken and the carrots are completely tender. This takes about 15 minutes.
    3. Next condensed milk and sugar are added. The mixture will loosen up as the sugar melts but as it cooks it thickens again. That will take about another 15~20 minutes.
    4. Ground cardamom and roasted cashew & raisins are added. Mix well and the dessert is ready to serve.
    5. Enjoy hot, cold or at room temperature. Tastes great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
    Hand holding a bowl of carrot dessert with spoon

    Carrot Halwa | Gajar ka Halwa

    Carrot halwa is one of the most beloved Indian dessert. It is creamy and is made with grated carrot that is cooked in milk & sweetened with condensed milk.
    Author: Pavani
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Cook Time: 45 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: north indian
    Servings: 12 serving

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup Ghee (clarified butter), divided use
    • 2 tbsp Cashews, chopped
    • 2 tbsps Raisins
    • 6 Medium Carrots, shredded or grated
    • 1½ cups Milk (2% or whole milk is best)
    • 1 12 oz. Can of Condensed milk
    • ¼ cup Sugar (or as per taste)
    • ½ tsp Ground cardamom (elaichi)

    Instructions

    • In a wide saute pan, heat 1tbsp ghee and add the cashews and raisins. Once the cashews are golden and raisins plump up, remove and set aside.
    • In the same pan, heat the remaining ghee and the grated carrots. Saute on low flame until the carrots don't smell raw anymore, this takes about 12~15 minutes
    • Slowly add the milk and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered until the milk starts to thicken and the carrots are completely tender, this will take about 15 minutes.
    • Next add condensed milk and sugar. As the sugar melts the mixture will become liquidy, but as it cooks it thickens again. Cook, stirring occasionally until the mixture becomes thick, takes about 20-25 minutes.
    • Add the ground cardamom and cook for couple of minutes.
    • Garnish with the roasted cashews and raisins. Can be served hot, warm or chilled.

    Notes

    • If you don't have the time, patience or the bicep strength to grate your carrots by hand, then use the grating plate on the food processor or pulse until finely chopped.
    • Taste the halwa and adjust sugar to make sure it is sweet enough for your taste.
    • I have made this completely vegan a couple of times by using coconut condensed milk, unsweetened almond milk and vegan butter. It was equally decadent and delicious. 
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cooks_hideout or tag #cookshideout!
    Hand holding a spoon with carrot halwa

    Top Tips:

    Here are a few of my tips to make this yummy dessert:

    • If you don't have the time, patience or the bicep strength to grate your carrots by hand, then use the grating plate on the food processor or pulse until finely chopped.
    • Taste the halwa and adjust sugar to make sure it is sweet enough for your taste.
    • Want to make vegan Carrot Halwa: Use vegan friendly coconut condensed milk, unsweetened almond milk and vegan butter instead of the dairy versions. It will turn out equally decadent and delicious. 

    Other Recipes:

    So, now you know how to make basic gajar ka halwa, here are a few delicious recipe ideas to make with that:

    • Carrot Halwa Ice Cream
    • No bake carrot halwa cheesecake
    • Carrot Poli
    Carrot Halwa

    More Dessert

    • Blue plate with cups of chocolate custard.
      How to make Chocolate Custard with Custard Powder
    • Namoura squares on a grey plate
      Lebanese Namoura Cake Recipe
    • Chocolate Burfi Recipe using Ricotta Cheese
    • Individual no bake carrot halwa cheesecake.
      No Bake Carrot Halwa Cheesecake
    213 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suma Gandlur

      November 29, 2011 at 1:55 am

      very decadent dessert. I take more shortcuts than you I guess, :)I cook it in a MW.

      Reply
    2. Manju

      November 29, 2011 at 2:16 am

      love all those shortcuts..the few times i made them, i actually grated them and used whole milk to reduce it to the right consistency. Maybe that is why I have not made it more than just a few times! thanks for the tips!

      Reply
    3. The Pumpkin Farm

      November 29, 2011 at 3:16 am

      lovely dish, i like to have mine warm or hot with a scoop of vanilla icecream to make it even more decadent

      Reply
    4. Cool Lassi(e)

      November 29, 2011 at 3:31 am

      I want to lick that bowl clean!

      Reply
    5. Srivalli

      November 29, 2011 at 3:49 am

      Love that halwa!..looks awesome..

      Reply
    6. Priya Srinivasan

      November 29, 2011 at 4:07 am

      Delicious!!! Tempting clicks!!!

      Reply
    7. Vardhini

      November 29, 2011 at 6:29 am

      Looks yummy Pavani .. food processor is so useful for grating.VardhiniCheckout my 200th Post GiveawayEvent: Bake FestEvent: Dish it Out - Soy and Tomatoes

      Reply
    8. Sharmilee! :)

      November 29, 2011 at 6:35 am

      Wow delicious looking halwa and luv the clicks too

      Reply
    9. Gayathri's Cook Spot

      November 29, 2011 at 6:59 am

      Halwa looks awesome. Beautiful snaps...

      Reply
    10. Shanthi

      November 29, 2011 at 7:02 am

      Wow wonderful feel like grabbing it

      Reply
    11. Lakshmi Venkatesh

      November 29, 2011 at 7:56 am

      All time fav. looks very nice.

      Reply
    12. Jaleela

      November 29, 2011 at 8:10 am

      yummy halwa looks tempting

      Reply
    13. PJ

      November 29, 2011 at 9:43 am

      What a yummy dessert!Tasty clicks :). I usually prepare this in a pressure cooker to reduce the cooking time...

      Reply
    14. Priya Suresh

      November 29, 2011 at 9:47 am

      Yum yum,feel like having tat super delicious halwa,my fav anytime.

      Reply
    15. Kaveri Venkatesh

      November 29, 2011 at 10:26 am

      Yummy Halwa, truly a winter special..I have posted it today at my space.

      Reply
    16. Spandana

      November 29, 2011 at 1:53 pm

      Delicious looking halwa and delicious pics too!!

      Reply
    17. Wit,wok and wisdom

      November 29, 2011 at 3:33 pm

      Wow,this looks absolutely awesome!I believe grating by hand definitely yields much much better results than using the food processor - the one time I had tried using the FP,it turned mushy and did not have the right consistency.So making Gajar ka Halwa could well be a synonym for the patience test;)Lovely looking Halwa here!

      Reply
    18. Aarthi

      November 29, 2011 at 4:48 pm

      love it anytime

      Reply
    19. Nalini's Kitchen

      November 30, 2011 at 4:36 pm

      delicious halwa,my fav.

      Reply
    20. TheYummyMorsel

      December 02, 2011 at 1:13 am

      Very pretty pics!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Thanks for coming! Let me know what you think: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    My profile photo.

    Hi, I'm Pavani! the cook in this hideout. Cook's Hideout is all about delicious vegetarian dishes from India and also from around the world. Here you will find recipes that are easy AND tasty to make.

    More about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • Blue plate with cups of chocolate custard.
      How to make Chocolate Custard with Custard Powder
    • Brown plate with a stack of Ethiopian flatbread.
      Easy Injera Recipe | Step by Step
    • Plate with fried plantains and a bowl with garlic sauce.
      Cuban Tostones with Mojo Sauce Recipe
    • White bowl with bangaladumpa vepudu
      Masala Potato Fry | Andhra Style

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Blue bowl with sweet and spicy berry chutney
      The Best Cranberry Apple Chutney Recipe
    • Vegan potato latkes
      How to make Eggless Latkes
    • White plate with stack of Danish Aebleskivers
      How to make Vegan Ebelskivers Recipe
    • Vegan Fruit Cake
      How to make Eggless Christmas Plum Cake

    My Cookbooks

    Vegetarian Indian Instant Pot Cookbook.
    The Essential Vegetarian Indian Cookbook.

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Subscribe

    Contact

    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Foodie Pro on the Foodie Pro Theme

    213 shares