Gajar Halwa Croissant
Soft, buttery croissants filled with a warm, comforting gajar halwa, topped with a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream - the perfect desi fusion brunch that comes together in 20 minutes!
Equipment
- Grater
- Saucepan
- Silicone spatula
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp ghee or butter
- 300 grams grated carrots weighed after squeezing the moisture out
- 180 ml condensed milk
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/4 th tsp nutmeg powder
- 4 croissants
- Vanilla ice cream
- 1 tsp crushed nuts
Instructions
- Start by grating the carrots and pressing out as much liquid as possible before measuring.
- Heat ghee or butter in a pan, then add the grated carrots. Cook them on medium heat for about 5-8 minutes until they soften and turn slightly darker in color.
- Stir in the condensed milk, mix well, and cover the pan. Let it simmer on low heat for another 8-10 minutes until the carrots are tender and the mixture is creamy.
- Add in the cinnamon and nutmeg, and cook for a couple of minutes to bring out their aroma.
- Carefully slice each croissant down the middle, leaving one side intact so they hold together.
- Spoon the warm gajar halwa into the croissants, then finish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Garnish with crushed nuts and serve immediately while still warm.
Notes
Storage:
The halwa can be made ahead and stored for 1-2 days. Heat it before filling it into the croissants.
- Drain the carrots well – Make sure to squeeze out the excess liquid after grating; this helps the halwa cook faster and prevents it from turning watery.
- Choose fresh croissants – Slightly crisp, bakery-style croissants work best since they can hold the warm halwa without getting soggy.
- Don’t rush the carrots – Cooking them slowly with condensed milk ensures they absorb all the flavor and turn beautifully soft.
- Adjust the sweetness – If your condensed milk is very sweet, you can balance the flavor with a pinch of salt or add less based on preference.
- Spice it up – Cinnamon and nutmeg give warmth, but you can also add cardamom for a more traditional halwa flavor.
- Serve immediately – The contrast of warm halwa with cold vanilla ice cream is what makes this dessert shine, so assemble just before serving.
- Make ahead – You can prepare the gajar halwa in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just reheat before filling the croissants.