Artificial Flavors Free Gulab Jamun
These pillowy, syrup-soaked dumplings are one of the most beloved sweets in South Asian cuisine, and making them from scratch means you control every single ingredient that goes into them. The fragrant cardamom-and-rose-water syrup is the soul of the dish — warm, floral, and just sweet enough to make each bite feel like a celebration. Because everything here is built from whole, recognizable pantry staples like milk powder, butter, flour, and real rose water, there's no need to reach for artificially flavored syrups or pre-made mixes that often sneak in synthetic additives. The technique is more forgiving than it looks: gentle frying at a lower temperature lets the dough puff and cook all the way through before the outside deepens to that signature golden brown. After a long soak in the warm syrup, the balls plump up beautifully and become almost impossibly tender at the center. A scatter of slivered pistachios on top adds a little color and crunch that makes the whole plate look as good as it tastes. Whether you serve them warm straight from the syrup or let them rest to room temperature, this is the kind of homemade dessert that genuinely impresses.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 tbsp rose water
For the dough
- 1 cup milk powder (full-fat)
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 3–4 tbsp whole milk, as needed
For frying
- 2 cups neutral oil (such as canola or sunflower), for frying
For serving
- 2 tbsp slivered pistachios (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, sugar, and crushed cardamom pods in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes until the syrup is slightly thickened and coats a spoon lightly. Remove from the heat, stir in the rose water, and keep warm over the lowest heat setting.
- 2
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk powder, all-purpose flour, and baking soda. Add the softened butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs with no visible butter pieces.
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