
Date and Cashew Nut Barfi/Fudge
EVENT: A- Z CHALLENGE
THEME : A DISH BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER D
What is the A- Z Challenge? Well, we’re a Facebook group and every alternate month the participants make a dish with the relevant letter. The group was started in May 2018 by Jolly Makkar and Vidya Narayan. For November we have to post a recipe with the letter D. The star ingredient for the dish should begin with D. I made Dalithoi to go with my Vastad Roti when I was doing the A- Z Indian Flatbreads for another group and I was feeling great that I’ve got my D recipe ready. Then a member asked about whether the dish name can begin with the specified letter and I re checked with Vidya. Unfortunately for now its the ingredient that has to begin with the letter and not the dish. So dalithoi is still waiting patiently to be posted.
Now with Diwali literally just a few days away, I panicked that I had not made any sweets to give if by chance someone came to my house around Diwali. So with D ringing in my head and with a huge huge box of dates sitting in some corner of the fridge, I thought lets bring that iron rich dried fruit out and put it to good use. Ideally would have loved to make a drumstick curry but right now the drumsticks available in the market seem as though they are on a diet. They literally are like thin sticks. To enjoy drumsticks, they should have some pulp in them.
My recipe for this challenge is a Date and Cashew Nut barfi (fudge), and before I made it, I came across Freda’s recipe for kaju katli where the syrup is not made to make the kaju barfi. She added powdered sugar to the cashew nut powder and it worked like a charm. Freda thank you so much for sharing the recipe. Please check it out here.I reduced the amount of sugar used as the dates are naturally sweet. This recipe is actually so so so so easy to make. Go on make it if you still haven’t made a sweet or mithai for Diwali.
It seems I may have to make some again as the barfi is fast disappearing and come Monday will have nothing left, just in case someone decides to pop in.
So here’s the simple and yet full of nuts and dry fruit recipe.
DATE AND CASHEW NUT BARFI
Makes about 20 pieces
For the Date filling:
18-20 dates (about 200g), remove the seeds
15-20 almonds, lightly roasted and roughly chopped
15-20 pistachios lightly roasted and roughly chopped
¼ cup cashew nut powder
2 tbsp rose water
½ tsp cardamom powder
½ tsp ginger powder
1 tsp ghee or unsalted butter
For the Cashew Nut Barfi:
1 cup cashew nut pieces
⅓ cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
¼ tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp ghee or unsalted butter
rolling pin
parchment paper
Preparation of the Date filling/barfi:
- Chop the dates into pieces.
- Put the dates and rose water in a food processor and process it to a paste.
- Heat ghee in a pan over low heat.
- Add the date paste and cook the mixture stirring it all the time over medium to low heat. Make sure it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
- When the paste becomes dry take the pan off the heat.
- Add the cashew nut powder, cardamom powder, ginger powder, chopped almonds and pistachios.
- Mix well. Let the mixture cool down.
Preparation of the Cashew Nut Barfi (fudge):
- Put the cashew nuts in a food processor and process them to a fine powder. However be careful not to over process it as it may clump up. You want a powder.
- Add the cashew nut powder into a bowl.
- Add sugar, cardamom powder and ghee to the cashew nut powder.
- Mix everything together.
- Add 2 tbsp of milk and begin to form a dough.
- Be patient as it will become into a pliable dough. As you knead the mixture, the natural oil from the cashew nuts will be released which will help to make a soft pliable dough.
Final preparation of the Date and Cashew Nut Barfi:
- Divide the date mixture into 2 parts and roll them into a log like shape about 6 inches long.
- Divide the cashew nut dough into 2 parts and roll each part into a ball.
- Cut parchment paper into squares that are about 8 -9 inches. You will need two of them. If you don’t have parchment paper then use cling film or cut plastic bags.
- Place the cashew nut dough on the paper and press it down with your palm.
- Place the other paper on top of it and roll into a rough square shape about 6-6½ inches all sides.
- Remove the top paper. If you find the dough is torn just push it together gently to seal.
- Place the date log on the bottom side of the rolled dough.
- Using the parchment paper, roll it into a log.
- Using a butter knife, gently rub down the edges to seal or use your fingers.
- Place the roll on a greased tray or plate.
- Repeat steps 4 to 10 with the remaining cashew nut dough and the date log.
- Place the tray in the fridge for 30 minutes, uncovered.
- Using a sharp knife slice the rolls. The thickness depends on how thick you want them.
- Store in an airtight container. I have stored them in the fridge as its pretty hot here.
Tips:
- Add nuts and seeds of your choice to the date mixture.
- Use the date mixture to make date barfi of date slices. Its a healthy as it has no added sugar.
- Don’t roll out the cashew nut dough too thin. Trim any extra dough at the sides. You can roll the remains into a ball.
- Adding ginger powder is optional as I love the slightly hot taste.
- Don’t over process the cashew nuts.
- Use the same recipe for cashew nut barfi to make kaju katli or cashew nut barfi.
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
You may want to check out my other date recipes:





Sending this recipe to the following events:
CookOnceEatTwice@Searching for Spice
48 Comments
Priya Suresh
November 2, 2018 at 9:25 pm
How ultimate and stunning those barfi fudges looks.. Trust me, i have been literally drooling over those slices of fudges, wish i get a huge box from you Mayuri as my Diwali gift.. Too tempting..
mayurisjikoni
November 3, 2018 at 12:40 am
Thanks Priya. Ohh I wish I could send some over… trust me postage from here costs more than the barfi, even if I used only almonds!
Freda
November 2, 2018 at 10:47 pm
It looks so yummy:) love your variation with the date stuffing, so so good 🙂
mayurisjikoni
November 3, 2018 at 12:37 am
Thank you so much Freda.
The Girl Next Door
November 5, 2018 at 10:06 am
The fudge looks delectable, and is healthy too! What more can someone ask for from a sweet treat?
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2018 at 9:55 pm
Thanks Priya…was quite popular for Diwali.
Vidya Narayan
November 6, 2018 at 9:03 am
What I really loved is the outer covering of cashew burfi with the date filling inside. Ideal for gifting to friends and family and also to make and enjoy once Diwali is over, when dry fruits are always excess at home.
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Thanks Vidya and yes this barfi can be made anytime as its quite healthy.
Shobha Keshwani
November 6, 2018 at 9:08 am
This is such a lovely idea of stuffing the dry fruit mixture in the cashew barfi Rolls.
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2018 at 9:50 pm
Thank you so much Shobha.
Geetha Priyanka
November 10, 2018 at 7:55 pm
Love the idea of healthy treat for this festival. Cashew and date combo sounds interesting and super tempting.
mayurisjikoni
November 11, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Thanks Geetha. The sweet was enjoyed by many for Diwali.
Seema Doraiswamy Sriram
November 16, 2018 at 2:45 am
My kids feel layered snacks are really a big treat. I will make this for the upcoming birthday. I am sure they will love it.
mayurisjikoni
November 16, 2018 at 10:04 pm
Seema and its so easy and yes its a favorite with kids. You could add a bit of cocoa to the inner layer.
Jayeeta
November 16, 2018 at 8:25 am
Date and Cashew nut barfis are looking so inviting…….very innovative and healthy share……perfect energy bites for Diwali celebration……. 🙂
mayurisjikoni
November 16, 2018 at 10:03 pm
Thank you so much Jayeeta.
Renu Agrawal Dongre
November 16, 2018 at 7:38 pm
I do make the nut barfi, but I have never coated or added the outer layer of cashew in it. Would love to try your version too. Thanks for the detail step by step pics.
mayurisjikoni
November 16, 2018 at 10:01 pm
Thanks Renu, please try it.. its different and delicious.
themadscientistskitchen
November 18, 2018 at 5:32 pm
OMG! You are making me drool and wish I can grab some off my screen. In fact I have been wanting to do that from the time I saw it on the FB. Bookmarking for later use as a reward when I start working out.
mayurisjikoni
November 21, 2018 at 8:43 pm
Thanks Archana and please do try it.
Ashima
November 18, 2018 at 10:46 pm
these must have been such a perfect mithai for your Diwali party! It’s like a date role coming together with Kaju katli 🙂 two of my favourite sweets! Thanks for sharing
mayurisjikoni
November 19, 2018 at 6:07 pm
Thanks Ashima, and it was a great treat, everyone at my Lions Club loved it.
Batter Up With Sujata
November 20, 2018 at 3:37 am
Wow Mayuri what a great share. Date cashew nut fudge looks gorgeous. I would be happy if I get these fudge as Diwali gift. Saving your recipe to make my next sugar free sweet for my husband. Loved the idea. Beautiful click too.
mayurisjikoni
November 20, 2018 at 8:46 pm
Thank you so much Sujata and please let me know what you use for the cashew nut barfi instead of sugar.
Batter Up With Sujata
November 20, 2018 at 9:23 pm
Sure
Corina Blum
November 20, 2018 at 2:04 pm
This sounds delicious and a lovely treat to be able to offer guests at Divali. Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice!
mayurisjikoni
November 20, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Thank you Corina.
Jolly
November 20, 2018 at 10:59 pm
WoW the fudge looks so delectable,I have been tasted so many times kaju rolls but there is no filling at all. Your kaju barfi loaded with full of dates & nuts filling making me drooling over here. This is superhit share for the D challenge. Thanks for sharing!!
mayurisjikoni
November 21, 2018 at 8:06 pm
Thank you so much Jolly, I love the combination as it makes it a bit healthy with the dates and nuts.
FoodTrails
November 21, 2018 at 12:52 am
Tempting.. seems so delicious.. and with no sugar in filling only dates a sweetener it is perfect for folks like me who like mildly sweet desserts!!
mayurisjikoni
November 21, 2018 at 8:05 pm
thank you so much.
Anshu Agarwal
November 24, 2018 at 4:59 am
Got a brilliant recipe to make these beautiful rolls for any upcoming event. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe. These look absolutely perfectly.
mayurisjikoni
November 24, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Thanks Anshu, please share a photo when you make this recipe.
Anshu Agarwal
November 29, 2018 at 12:49 am
For sure Mayuri 🙂
Ankita
November 26, 2018 at 6:43 am
Looks so tempting…love to try some..
mayurisjikoni
November 28, 2018 at 6:44 pm
thanks Ankita.
Veena Krishnakumar
November 28, 2018 at 9:18 am
Oh I love thing. What a wonderful combination of cashew burfi covering with dates filling. Must have tasted out of the world. Lovely share
mayurisjikoni
November 28, 2018 at 6:37 pm
Thank you so much Veena, its a great combination.
Paarul
November 29, 2018 at 4:59 am
The barfi looks just perfect I love the outer cashew layer, filling it with dates and nuts makes it guilt free treat for everyone.Awesome share Mayuri,
mayurisjikoni
December 3, 2018 at 11:01 pm
Thank you so much Paarul.
code2cook
November 29, 2018 at 8:32 am
wow, handling cashew like this very difficult and you made it with such a perfection. Love the recipe and this cashew nut barfi is my favourite. Taste amazingly yummy. I will make it in december so tempted now to have a bite.
mayurisjikoni
December 3, 2018 at 10:59 pm
Thank you Bhawana and it was not that difficult.
poonampagar
November 30, 2018 at 7:33 am
The fudge with cashew and dates and nuts filling sounds perfect festive treats. They look so adorable and simply irresistible di !
mayurisjikoni
December 3, 2018 at 10:42 pm
Thank you so much Poonam.
Aruna
December 2, 2018 at 9:12 am
Now this is what a festive sweet should be….. delicious and decadent without being unhealthy. THE perfect bite-sized sweet for any occassion or even JLT.
mayurisjikoni
December 3, 2018 at 10:39 pm
Thanks Aruna.. I agree a little indulgence for any time.
Sasmita Sahoo Samanta
December 20, 2018 at 2:27 pm
The date and cashew barfi looks so delish here !!! Just love the outer cashew layer with filling of dates and nuts Awesome share Mayuri di 🙂
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