Artificial Food Coloring Free Gulab Jamun
These pillowy, syrup-soaked dumplings are one of the most beloved sweets in South Asian cuisine, and for good reason — they're soft, fragrant, and absolutely dripping with cardamom-and-rose-water syrup. The ingredient list is refreshingly straightforward: milk powder, flour, butter, and a handful of pantry staples come together into a dough that fries up into golden, cloud-like spheres. For anyone avoiding synthetic dyes, this is exactly the kind of dessert that delivers stunning color and richness entirely on its own terms — that deep amber hue comes purely from the frying process, with no artificial shortcuts needed. The syrup is equally clean, built from sugar, water, crushed cardamom, and a splash of rose water for a floral finish that feels genuinely special. The key to getting them right is patience: low-and-slow frying keeps the centers soft while the outside turns evenly golden, and a long soak in warm syrup is what transforms them from good to unforgettable. A scatter of slivered pistachios on top adds a gentle crunch and a pop of natural green that makes the whole plate look like it came from a proper mithai shop. This is the kind of recipe you make once and then find yourself craving for weeks.
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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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