Gulab Jamun Indian Dessert Balls

I grew up eating the most soft and fluffy gulab jams that my mom made. I was the kid in the house who loved sweets and had a hard time keeping my hands off these sweet balls of goodness. Every time I opened the refrigerator, I would pop one in my mouth. Shh…don’t tell my daughter, else she will start doing this too. After eating the gulab jamuns made by my mom, I could really never enjoy store-bought ones, as they were never as soft melt-in-the-mouth, similar to how mom made them. If you have tried the store-bought ones, you will definitely see a difference when you try making them yourself! Enjoy these Gulab Jamun as is or combine with shrikhand to make these fusion Gulab Jamun Shrikhand bowls or with custard to make Gulab Jamun custard jars. Don’t forget to check out my other popular Indian desserts – Mawa Gujiya, Kheer, Carrot Halwa, and Zarda Sweet Rice.

Watch How to Make Gulab Jamun

What is Gulab Jamun?

Gulab Jamun is a classic Indian dessert that is the star of many festive celebrations in India. These are milk-based fried donut balls, which are dunked in sweet sugar syrup to make them melt-in-the-mouth soft. You might have enjoyed these at lunch buffets at Indian restaurants. They are there at any festival, party, birthday, you name it!

Using Khoya vs. Milk Powder

Gulab Jamun can be made with khoya (mawa) or milk powder. Khoya is basically milk solids that have been made by simmering milk for a long time until all the water evaporates. We will make gulab jamuns with khoya, as they come out super soft. Khoya is easily available at many Indian sweet stores or in the refrigerator/freezer section at Indian grocery stores. You can also use dry milk powder to make gulab jamun. It is easily available in stores. This is the method that is used by the ready mixes such as MTR and Gits. Making Gulab Jamun with ready mix: You can also get a ready mix such as Gits brand to make these. These ready mixes use the milk powder method. One tip I learned from my mom to make the ones from the packet soft is to keep a mishri (crystallized sugar) or a raisin at the center when making the ball from the dough. This helps to keep them softer. I did not have to do this for the ones I have made below from scratch, and they were still very soft.

Gulab Jamun Ingredients

You just need a few main ingredients to make these perfect gulab jamuns. Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.

Khoya (Mawa) or Milk Powder – You can find it at Indian grocery stores in the refrigerator or frozen section. You can also use milk powder to make gulab jamuns with the same recipe. All-purpose flour (Maida in Hindi) – It helps to bind the dough by forming gluten to keep the balls intact. Milk – Helps to keep the dough soft and pliable. Ghee – Used to add to the dough and for frying the gulab jamuns. You can use a neutral oil to fry the jamuns, but I highly recommend ghee for the best taste. Cardamom powder – Used for flavor and aroma. Baking powder – It helps to make the dough airy.

For the Syrup:

Sugar – I use regular granulated sugar to make the syrup. Cardamom pods – Lightly crush the cardamom pods and add them when making the syrup. Saffron – This is optional, but I like to add it for the flavor and aroma. Rose Water – Adds an amazing aroma and flavor to the sugar syrup. Lime Juice – Helps to avoid crystals from forming in the sugar syrup.

As you can see from the ingredients, these gulab jamuns are not vegan or gluten-free.

How to make Gulab Jamun?

There are four main steps to make Gulab Jamun:

Making the Gulab Jamun Dough

Let’s start with gathering the ingredients for the dough. I used refrigerated mawa from the Indian grocery store. If you have freshly available, it is even better.

In a large bowl, grate or crumble the khoya (or add the milk powder). Add all-purpose flour (maida), baking powder, and cardamom powder to it. Mix it well. Now add ghee and mix again.

Add milk a little at a time until the dough starts to form. You don’t want the dough to be too sticky; we just want enough milk for it to come together. Don’t over-mix the dough. You want it to be smooth and soft. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and rest for 30 mins.

Making Sugar Syrup for Gulab Jamun

While the dough is resting, let’s make the sugar syrup.

Making Gulab Jamun Balls

While the syrup is boiling, let’s make the balls for Gulab Jamun.

Frying Gulab Jamun Balls

Here is the traditional way – Fry gulab jamun in ghee for the real deal! You can fry them in oil to make them lighter. However, I very much prefer the taste of ghee (yes, spoiled by Mom!).

Heat the ghee/oil well in a fry pan/wok to about 325°F (160°C). Gently add the dough balls to the ghee. Do not overcrowd the pan, and fry in batches.

Fry on medium-low heat. On high heat, they will get dark from the outside but will not be cooked well from the inside. Stir gently so they are golden brown on all sides.

Remove them using a slotted spoon. Add them to the syrup while the syrup is warm (not boiling hot) so they soak in all the sweetness and become soft. If the syrup is too hot, the balls might break. If it is cold, then the balls will not soak the syrup well. Soak for at least 1 hour before enjoying. Soaking for up to 2-3 hours works great too.

Pro-Tips for Perfect Gulab Jamun

Dough: It is important to knead the dough well and make it smooth. Add a little extra milk as needed when making the dough if it is not smooth. The final dough has to be soft and smooth without cracks. Dough Balls: Make smooth dough balls with no cracks. Use light hands, and don’t apply too much pressure when making the balls. Keep the balls covered with a damp cloth until ready to fry them. Frying: Make sure the ghee is heated to the right temperature. If the ghee is too hot, the gulab jamuns may get browned quickly but can be uncooked inside, and sometimes they can also break. If the ghee is not as hot, the jamuns will soak too much ghee.

Serving Gulab Jamun

We love Gulab Jamun’s served warm. You can also serve them at room temperature. Add 2-3 jamuns to a small bowl. Top with 1-2 spoons of syrup in the bowl. Garnish with sliced pistachios or almonds. You can also serve warm Gulab Jamun with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This is not the traditional way of serving, but it is so delicious! If you are serving the next day, just keep some in a bowl and microwave for a few seconds before serving. For two gulab jams, microwave for just 10 seconds. We don’t want them to burn your mouth. You can refrigerate Gulab Jamun’s for up to a week. Another way to serve gulab jamun is by using it in fusion desserts:

Gulab Jamun Custard Jars Gulab Jamun Shrikhand Bowls

Common Questions

Give these delicious melt-in-the-mouth Gulab Jamuns a try, and do let me know how they turn out! Check out the collection of 35+ Diwali Recipes for more sweet and snack ideas!