Khajur rolls are a healthier alternative to the sugar-laden sweets that are available in the market during the festive season. If you are someone who needs a sweet treat after a meal or if you are simply looking to gift sugar-free mithai to your friends and family, these date and nut rolls certainly won’t disappoint. Khajur rolls are also known by other names like dry fruit barfi roll, dry fruit halwa, date rolls, khajoor dates barfi, dry fruit mithai, date and nut roll, etc to name a few. These khajoor dry fruit rolls have a soft and chewy texture and a subtle crunch from the nuts and the poppy seeds. They are sweet, nutty, and flavored with the exotic fragrance of cardamom.
Ingredients you’ll need
Dates: This forms the base of the recipe and also provides the sweetness needed for the rolls. Use any soft variety of dates. Nuts: I’ve used a mix of almonds, cashew nuts, pistachios, and walnuts. You can use either 1 or a combination of nuts. But stick to the ratio mentioned in the recipe for best results. Ghee: A small amount of ghee is used to roast the nuts and dates. Roasting the nuts in ghee helps in crisping them up while also enhancing their nutty flavour. Also, roasting the dates helps caramelize the sugars in them which gives these rolls a delicious depth of flavor. Cardamom: To flavor these rolls. Poppy seeds, slivered pistachios, and dried rose petals: These are used to coat the exterior of the roll. The poppy seeds and pistachios add a subtle crunch and also add a visual contrast making individual pieces of this date roll look beautiful!
How to make Khajur roll recipe – Step-by-step process
Step 1: Dates paste
Transfer 250 grams of pitted and roughly chopped dates into a blender. Process the dates using the pulse mode to make a coarse paste. (Photos 1 & 2) ☑ Not only delicious but also a good source of energy ☑ Free from refined sugar ☑ Much more economical to make it at home ☑ Can be enjoyed as a snack or dessert. ☑ Perfect for gifting this festive season
Also, grease a plate with a little ghee or oil and set aside. (Photo 3)
Step 2: Roast poppy seeds, nuts, and dates paste
Dry roast 10 grams of poppy seeds on medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside. (Photos 4 to 6) Heat 1/2 tablespoon ghee in a pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped nuts (25 grams each of chopped cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios) and roast until they become slightly golden. Set aside. (Photos 7 to 10) Heat the remaining half tablespoon of ghee. Add the dates paste and cook on low heat until it softens, around 3 to 4 minutes. (Photos 11 to 13)
Step 3: Combine nuts and cardamom powder with the roasted dates paste
Add the roasted nuts and 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder to the dates mixture, mix well, and cook for another 2-3 minutes on low heat. (Photos 14 to 16) Turn off the heat and transfer the date-nut mixture to a plate. Allow it to cool down for a few minutes. (Photo 17)
Step 4: Shape the mixture, refrigerate and slice
Grease your palms with a little ghee or oil and shape the mixture into a 7-inch-long log by pressing it with both your palms. (Photos 18 & 19) Place poppy seeds, 1 teaspoon each of slivered pistachios, and dried rose petals on a plate or silpat. (Photo 20) Roll the log in the poppy seed mixture, ensuring an even coating on the exterior of the log. (Photos 21 & 22) Wrap the log in parchment paper, aluminium foil, or plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 to 60 minutes to firm up. (Photos 23 & 24)
Step 5: Slice and serve
Unwrap the parchment paper and slice the log into 1/2-inch thick pieces. Enjoy! (Photos 25 & 26)
Frequently asked questions
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★ Have you made this recipe? I would love to hear from you! Please be sure to rate this recipe along with your feedback in the comment section below. Do subscribe to our free weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram for the latest recipes. If you make this khajur roll recipe, do share a photo and tag @aromatic_essence77 on Instagram! Refrigerator: For a longer shelf life, it’s best to refrigerate these date rolls in an air-tight container. It will help maintain their freshness. They will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. Freezer: You can freeze khajur rolls for several months. Wrap each roll individually in a cling wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag or in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours before you intend to serve. Dates: I’ve used Omani dates for this recipe. These plump, soft, and moist dates have a rich sweet flavor and a chewy texture. Any soft variety of dates works well for this recipe. If you can get your hands on Medjool dates, definitely use those, they are the best! If you have a dry variety of dates, you can rehydrate them by soaking them in hot water for about 30 minutes. This will help to soften them up. Sweetness: These khajur dry fruit rolls are pretty sweet with the variety of dates I’ve used in this recipe. The sweetness may vary from one variety to another. If the dates aren’t too sweet, you can add a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup, agave nectar, jaggery, or any other sweetener of your choice. Yield: I got about 14 decent-sized pieces with this quantity. But you can either make smaller or bigger rolls and slice the roll as desired. You can also scale this recipe easily to yield more servings.
