Kaju Katli — cashew-fudge diamonds
Kaju katli — "cashew slice" — are silver-leafed diamonds of cashew-and-sugar fudge, the most luxurious of the Indian gifting sweets. The texture is dense and slightly fudgy, the flavour pure cashew. They are sold in elegantly stacked boxes for Diwali, Eid and weddings.
i. Origin & history
Kaju katli are a product of the modern Indian sweet shop — twentieth-century rather than ancient — and reflect the rising prominence of the cashew in subcontinental cooking after the Portuguese introduced it from Brazil in the sixteenth century.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 24 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 300 g unsalted cashews
- 250 g caster sugar
- 100 ml water
- 1 tbsp ghee
- ½ tsp cardamom
- Edible silver leaf (vark)
iii. Method
- Grind cashews to a fine powder. Sift; re-grind any large pieces.
- Cook sugar and water to a one-string consistency.
- Add ground cashews, ghee and cardamom. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture pulls together into a smooth dough — 4-6 minutes.
- Tip onto a sheet of parchment. Cover with a second sheet. Roll out 5 mm thick.
- Peel away top sheet. Apply silver leaf if using. Cut into diamonds with a wet knife. Cool fully before separating.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Pista katli uses pistachios in place of cashews. Coconut katli uses desiccated coconut. Chocolate kaju katli adds cocoa for a contemporary twist.
vi. Common questions
What is kaju katli?
Kaju Katli is cashew-fudge diamonds, from indian & south asian cuisine. The texture is dense and slightly fudgy, the flavour pure cashew
Where is kaju katli from?
Kaju Katli is from the indian & south asian dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does kaju katli keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 2 weeks airtight.