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    Home » Air fryer Recipes » Air Fryer Indian Recipes

    Homemade Gujiyas

    By Rachna Published: Mar 5, 2015 · Modified: Mar 22, 2024 23 Comments

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    Gujiya is a delicious Indian sweet that is especially made on festive occasions like Holi and Diwali. I have shared both the deep fried and air fryer recipes here.

    These gujiyas are similar to empanadas with a sweet filling. They taste so good. Since I don’t like too much sugar which the store-bought ones invariably have, I prefer them homemade. I also don’t dip them in sugar syrup like some people. The filling is sweet enough for me.

    3 air fried gujiyas on a white plate

    You may also like kachori in air fryer, dahi vada, medu vada in air fryer, air fryer namak paare, air fryer vada pav, Aloo tikki chaat.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Gujiya is a delightful sweet. You can adjust the filling as per your liking. I always make it with khoya or milk solids, sugar and lots of nuts. Chironji tastes really good here but you can skip it if you can’t source it.

    Making gujiyas in the air fryer makes them slightly healthier as you avoid deep frying them. Definitely less greasy too.

    I love how they are crispy while staying slightly flaky. Don’t skimp on the oil/ghee in the outer coating.

    Ingredients

    For the outer shell

    Flour: I have used 2 cup all-purpose flour here.

    Oil: I have used 2 tbsp. of vegetable oil or ghee here.

    Salt: Just a pinch of salt is used here.

    Water: I used about ¾ cup water to make a soft dough. Don’t use too much water, just as much as is needed for forming the dough.

    Filling

    Khoya or mawa: You can use about 1 cup or 200 gm. unsweetened khoya.

    Nuts: I use ¾ cup of roasted and powdered chopped cashews, almonds and chironji along with 1 tsp. raisins.

    Flavoring: 1 tsp. of cardamom powder is used here. Just crush cardamom seeds with a rolling pin.

    Sugar: Use as per taste. I used about 3 tbsp. for the filling after powdering it in the blender.

    Ghee: 1 tsp. ghee is used for sauteing the khoya.

    Optionals: You can use dessicated coconut about 2 tbsp. in the filling.

    3 gujiyas in a white plate

    Variations and Substitutions

    This recipe is vegetarian as it uses evaporated milk solids (khoya) and ghee. You can use vegetable oil or coconut oil and mashed silken tofu in the filling to make it dairy free. The taste would differ.

    You can also vary the nuts you use as well as the base of the filling depending upon your taste preference. You can even make the filling savoury if you so like.

    Serving Suggestions

    These gujiyas are perfect as a sweet treat or dessert. Once fried or air fried, they last up to a week in the fridge. Reheat and serve. 

    They are also good with chai or a cup of coffee. 

    You can also gift them to your friends as a holiday gift.

    Instructions

    To prepare the dough, add 2 tbsp. melted ghee or oil to 2 cups all-purpose flour. Mix it well till the oil is well incorporated in the flour and is of sand-like consistency.

    all purpose flour in a bowl
    Flour mixed with ghee

    Slowly add water to form a soft dough. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for about 10-15 minutes.

    Soft dough in a bowl

    Prepare the Stuffing

    Take 1 cup mawa or khoya and lightly roast it in a pan with 1 tsp. ghee till it is golden brown. It takes about 5-10 minutes on low heat. Take off the heat and cool.

    Mawa being roasted in a skillet

    Roast nuts that you are using and keep aside. Then blend them coarsely. Let everything cool down.

    Roasted nuts in a pan

    In a bowl, crumble roasted mawa, add desiccated coconut (if using) along with powdered nuts, cardamom powder and powdered sugar. Taste and adjust sugar.

    Stuffing mixed together and raisins added.
    Roasted mawa with powdered nuts, cardamom powder and powdered sugar.

    Now, you are ready to roll out the dough. Make small round balls and keep them covered with a damp cloth. Roll out a 4-5 inch round.

    Dough ball rolled out.
    Balls of dough

    Take about 2 tsp. of filling in the centre of the rolled out round. Use water to seal the side into half moons. Now you can either use a mold or using your fingers give it a braid like design on one side. Your gujiya is ready.

    Gujiyas placed on a board

    You can make other gujiyas in a similar manner and keep aside.

    Deep frying

    Take about ½ cup of vegetable oil in a Kadhai or pan. Heat it and then slowly fry 2-3 gujiyas at a time till they are golden brown.

    2 gujiyas being deep fried in a kadhai

    Remove with a slotted spoon and keep aside. Your gujiyas are ready to serve.

    Air frying Instructions

    Preheat air fryer at 160C or 320F for 5 minutes. Place gujias in one row without overlap. You can lightly brush them with oil or ghee for a more golden appearance.

    5 gujiyas placed in air fryer basket.

    Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 160C or 320F till golden brown. Flip midway for even browning and cooking.

    5 browned gujiyas after air frying in air fryer basket.

    Take them out and serve hot. Cool down for storing in an air tight jar at room temperature.

    They look slightly paler than the deep fried ones and are slighly more crispy especially the outer shell as compared to deep fried gujiyas.

    Expert Tips

    1. You can use any combination of nuts. Chironji tastes quite good in this if you can source it.

    2. If you want your gujiyas richer, you can fry them in ghee. If you want to cut out the grease, you can bake them or air fry them.

    3. You can also make khoya at home by reducing full-fat milk till all the moisture has dried up.

    4. Some people use dessicated coconut in the recipe but I don't enjoy the taste as much so I skip it.

    5. While air frying, air fry at a lower temperature to ensure that the pastry does not get too hard.

    6. Brushing the gujiyas with ghee or oil makes them more golden while air frying.

    Here's the recipe card:

    📖 Recipe Card

    3 gujiyas in a white plate

    Homemade Gujiyas

    Rachna Parmar
    This is a sweet pastry filled with nuts and condensed milk mawa which is delicious and especially served around Holi.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 16 minutes mins
    Resting time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 51 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine North Indian/ UP
    Servings 14
    Calories 219 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Air fryer

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 tbsp. ghee or vegetable oil
    • 1 pinch salt
    • ¾ cup water
    • 1 cup khoya unsweetened or mawa
    • 1 tsp. ghee
    • ¾ cup nuts almonds, cashews, chironji and raisins
    • ½ tsp. cardamom powdered
    • 3 tbsp. sugar powdered or to taste

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    Instructions
     

    • To prepare the dough, add 2 tbsp. melted ghee or oil to 2 cups all-purpose flour. Mix it well till the oil is well incorporated in the flour and is of sand-like consistency. Slowly add water to form a soft dough. We don’t want a very soft dough.
    • Cover with a damp cloth and set aside for about 10-15 minutes.

    Prepare the Stuffing

    • Take 1 cup mawa or khoya and lightly roast it in a pan with ½ tsp. ghee till it is golden brown. It takes about 5-10 minutes on low heat. Take off the heat and cool.
    • Roast nuts that you are using and keep aside. Then blend them coarsely. Let everything cool down.
    • In a bowl, crumble roasted mawa, add desiccated coconut (if using) along with powdered nuts, cardamom powder and powdered sugar. Taste and adjust sugar.
    • Now, you are ready to roll out the dough. Make small round balls and keep them covered with a damp cloth. Roll out a 4-5 inch round.
    • Take about 2 tsp. of filling in the centre of the rolled out round. Use water to seal the side into half moons. Now you can either use a mold or using your fingers give it a braid like design on one side. Your gujiya is ready.
    • You can make other gujiyas in a similar manner and keep aside.

    Deep frying

    • Take about ½ cup of vegetable oil in a Kadhai or pan. Heat it and then slowly fry 2-3 gujiyas at a time till they are golden brown.
    • Remove with a slotted spoon and keep aside. Your gujiyas are ready to serve.

    Air frying Instructions

    • Preheat air fryer at 160C or 320F for 5 minutes. Place gujias in one row without overlap. You can lightly brush them with oil or ghee for a more golden appearance.
    • Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 160C or 320F till golden brown. Flip midway for even browning and cooking.
    • Take them out and serve hot. Cool down for storing in an air tight jar at room temperature.
    • They look slightly paler than the deep fried ones and are slighly more crispy especially the outer shell as compared to deep fried gujiyas.

    Notes

    1. You can use any combination of nuts. Chironji tastes quite good in this if you can source it.
    2. If you want your gujiyas richer, you can fry them in ghee. If you want to cut out the grease, you can bake them or air fry them.
    3. You can also make khoya at home by reducing full-fat milk till all the moisture has dried up.
    4. Some people use dessicated coconut in the recipe but I don't enjoy the taste as much so I skip it.
    5. While air frying, air fry at a lower temperature to ensure that the pastry does not get too hard.
    6. Brushing the gujiyas with ghee or oil makes them more golden while air frying.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 7gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 53mgPotassium: 71mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 82IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 132mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know on Instagram @rachna.parmar or tag #rachnacooks
    Check out our Food videos Subscribe to our Food channel for recipe videos

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bhagyashree says

      March 05, 2015 at 10:56 am

      Muuh mein paani aa gaya...
      Yummy Rachna
      Happy Holi to you and yours....

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 05, 2015 at 12:37 pm

        Thanks, Bhagyashree. Wish you the same.

        Reply
    2. Smita says

      March 05, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Aaah! We made it this tuesday...Holi is incomplete without them na 😀

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 05, 2015 at 12:37 pm

        Bilkul. Happy Holi to you too.

        Reply
    3. Bikramjit says

      March 05, 2015 at 1:02 pm

      Yum yum yum ..I have to go to work now 🙁

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 05, 2015 at 1:29 pm

        Oh. 🙁 Go out and find some gujhiyas to eat this Holi. Happy Holi.

        Reply
    4. itzzzjuzcynthia says

      March 05, 2015 at 1:19 pm

      Yummy, I am going to try this. Happy Holi to you

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 05, 2015 at 1:30 pm

        Thanks. Wish you the same. Hope you like it.

        Reply
    5. Shailaja/ The Moving Quill says

      March 05, 2015 at 2:41 pm

      YUM! They look delicious! I am going to invite myself over one of these days 😉

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 05, 2015 at 2:45 pm

        Thanks! I would be elated if you come. 🙂

        Reply
        • Shailaja/ The Moving Quill says

          March 05, 2015 at 2:46 pm

          Be careful what you wish for 😉

          Reply
    6. nabanita21 says

      March 06, 2015 at 10:12 am

      Rachna I want to live near your place!! So that I can come over every time you post recipes 😉

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 06, 2015 at 10:13 am

        hahaha How did the cake baking go?

        Reply
        • nabanita21 says

          March 06, 2015 at 10:15 am

          It was okay ..the sugar was a little less...next time I need to use a little more 🙂 I was scared it would turn out to be like a stone but thankfully it was okay !

          Reply
          • Rachna says

            March 06, 2015 at 10:16 am

            Wow, that's fabulous. Cake baking is always tricky. Even with recipes, first time is a trial. The only saving grace is you can adjust according to taste. 🙂

            Reply
    7. nabanita21 says

      March 06, 2015 at 10:13 am

      Oh and Happy Holi Rachna to you , Gurudev and your wonderful boys 🙂

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 06, 2015 at 10:16 am

        Thanks so much. Wish you, Shobhit and everyone at home a great Holi.

        Reply
    8. B k chowla says

      March 07, 2015 at 7:34 pm

      I don't know how Gujiyas are made.
      Yes,I know they are very tasty

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 07, 2015 at 7:41 pm

        Now you know how they are made. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Sandhya Kumar says

      March 05, 2016 at 7:52 am

      It is long time since I made this! Children are grown ups now....so, no snacks at all! Will do it again soon!

      Reply
      • Rachna says

        March 23, 2016 at 2:04 pm

        Hope you do, Sandhya!

        Reply
    10. Alok Singhal says

      March 11, 2017 at 4:38 pm

      They are a hot favorites during celebrations in North India...I had written to a friend about the same few days back on the blog.

      Good to see your family enjoying it.

      Reply
    11. Natasha Sinha says

      March 01, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      Thanks to your blogpost and my Ma’s ritual of making Gujiyas eversince we were kids in making this today. But looks like I got too much khoya! 1 kg!!!

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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