Apple Halwa (Apple Pudding)

Apple halwa is an easy and delicious halwa or Indian apple pudding that is made with sweet apples, ghee (clarified butter), sugar, and nuts. You can make this for any festive occasion or whenever you can have too many apples lying around.

It is an interesting and popular Indian dessert recipe made with grated apple, sugar, and a generous amount of ghee. the recipe is very simple and easy to prepare and shares similar characteristics of carrot halwa or bottle gourd halwa.

This halwa was super easy to make and I needed only 3 ingredients to make it -apples, ghee (clarified butter), and sugar. The rest of the ingredients are optional but recommended.

The best part of this apple halwa is that it is not a heavy dessert as no milk, cream, or evaporated milk (khoya) is added to the halwa. This apple halwa is a good way to sneak in some apples for kids who are not fond of apples.

This apple halwa or Indian-style pudding is prepared using just apples, sugar, and nuts of your choice. One of the best recipes to try for fasting days as no onion, no garlic, plus no flour, milk, cream, or khoya is used.

it is generally made as a premium dessert for celebrations feast or perhaps as a festival dessert. Kids would also love to gorge on this lip-smacking and unique sweet dish. Try out this easy recipe and let us know how it turned out to be!

Ingredients for Apple Halwa

• 2 apples (around 2 cups apples)
• ¼ cup sugar (add more if required)
• 1+1.5 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
• ¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder
• ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon powder
• 10 almonds (chopped)
• 10 cashews (chopped)

Instructions for Apple Halwa 

1. Rinse the apples very well in water using a colander. Drain all the water and then peel each apple.
2. Grate all the apples. you can alternatively blend it to smooth paste or chop it into small cubes.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a pan on medium heat.
4. Add cashews and almonds and saute just till it becomes light.
5. Transfer this to a plate and keep it aside.
6. Now, Heat a heavy Kadai (wok), skillet, or frying pan and keep heat to medium-low.
7. Add 1.5 tablespoons ghee to the Kadai and let it melt.
8. Once hot, add the apples.
9. Mix it with the ghee and begin to saute the apples on low to medium-low heat.
10. Saute for about 5 to 6 minutes stirring often. You will see that some cubes of apples will soften.
11. keep stirring until the juice from the apple is released.
12. Cover the Kadai or pan and cook for 12 to 15 minutes on low to medium-low heat.
13. After, The apple mixture will start to thicken. Cook the apples till all the water is evaporated.
14. Then add the sugar. In case your apples are slightly tangy then you will require to add some more sugar. So the amount of sugar to be added depends upon the sweetness of the apples and also on your taste preference.
15. Stir continuously to avoid forming lumps. keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.
16. Once the sugar is added, the mixture loosens up and appears moist.
17. When the halwa starts leaving the sides of the kadhai, add cinnamon powder in it along with cardamom powder.
18. Stir it continuously.
19. Finally, add the roasted nuts.
20. Mix very well. Check the taste and if required add some more sugar.
21. Now, remove it from Kadai and transfer the halwa to a bowl. Garnish with dry fruits. Serve hot.

Serving Suggestions

Serve apple halwa hot or warm garnished with some chopped nuts. Leftover apple halwa can be refrigerated. Stays good for about a week in the fridge.

Apple Halwa or Pudding is ready. Serve hot or cold, with a scoop of ice cream if desired, and enjoy.

FAQs

What type of apples are to be used?

Use sweet apples to make apple halwa. Any sweet-tasting apple variety would do. Avoid sour or green apple varieties. The halwa has a sweet-sour flavour and you might need to add more sugar if you use tart or tangy apples. So the amount of sugar to be added depends upon the sweetness of the apples and also on your taste preference.

Is sugar compulsory?

The recipe doesn’t require sugar, therefore it can be fully skipped. So you may make a sugar-free apple halwa by completely avoiding the sweetener. If the apples are already quite sweet, you can skip or reduce the sugar.

What are the Alternative sweeteners?

Instead of sugar sweeteners like palm sugar, coconut sugar, jaggery, and maple syrup, and brown sugar can also be added. Please do not add honey as honey becomes toxic on heating.

Tips and variations

• If you use tart or tangy apples, then you may also need to add more sugar.
• Do not grate the apple and rest for a long time as it turns brown.
• Sugar is optional in the recipe and can be skipped. If the apples are very sweet then consider skipping sugar or adding less sugar.
• For flavorings, you can add vanilla extract, a pinch of nutmeg, etc.
• You can add any dry fruits and nuts of your choice.
• additionally, for a smooth halwa texture, blend the apples to a smooth paste.
• If you like it dark brown or orange, add a pinch of saffron food color.
• The recipe can be scaled to make a small batch.