Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge

// Til Burfi or Indian Sesame Fudge is a perfect sweet where you get nutty sesame seed bars mixed with sweetened milk. Serve it as an after-meal dessert.



Til Burfi or Indian Sesame Fudge is a perfect sweet where you get nutty sesame seed bars mixed with sweetened thickened milk. 

You can serve Til Burfi as an after-meal dessert or with an elaborated Indian meal. This also makes a nutritious snack when paired with milk.

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a female holding til burfi silver paper box in hand

Til Burfi is laced up delicately with odorous green cardamom powder and garnished with elegant edible silver leaves and almond slivers. This Til Burfi also has a distinctive nutty zing.

With every single bite of this utterly gratifying til burfi, you’ll encounter soft yet chewy and nutty melt-in-mouth textures. 

Making this Til Buri recipe is super easy and quick. It’s ready within 30 minutes. 

Til Burfi stays fresh for up to 2 days at room temperature, and up to 10 days in the refrigerator. But I can assure you that it won’t last that long — at least this has never happened in my home. You will finish it well before its expiry date. ;-) 3 days is the maximum lifespan of this exquisite Indian Fudge at my place. :)

So, follow this simple and quick recipe of til barfi to make excellent barfi at your home and surprise your loved ones.

On this page, you will get a fail-proof Til Burfi recipe with step-by-step photos and video instructions. 

sesame seeds pouring action shot

Til aka sesame seeds dishes can be relished throughout the year but they are specially made and enjoyed during the winter months. 

In India, Til is also the main ingredient used in the festival of Makar Sankranti, which is an auspicious day for Indians and is celebrated in different ways all over the Indian Subcontinent.

This Harvest festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated each year on the 14th or 15th of January when it marks the first day of the Sun’s transit into Capricorn (Makara). 

Sweets made with sesame seeds and nuts are a must on Makar Sankranti. These sweets include Til Chikki, Til Ladoo, Peanut Chikki, Dry Fruits Laddu,  Aate Ki Pinni, and, Coconut Burfi Roll, Chocolate Burfi, and, thandai burfi, peanut ladoo.

In the Indian state of Rajasthan, this festival is also known as the Kite Festival. In addition to Til (Sesame seeds) sweets, dishes such as Paush Khichda, Paush Vada, Corn Pakora, and Aloo Palak Pakora are also enjoyed during this festival in Rajasthan. 

til burfi pieces served in a metal plate

What is Burfi?

Barfi (aka burfi or barfee) is an Indian sweet dish (mithai) which is a type of milk fudge. Khoya/mawa is the key ingredient of many burfis. But there are some other burfis where you add coconut or flours or dry fruits as the main ingredient.

Some popular Indian burfis are Kaju burfi, besan burfi, coconut burfi, Walnut Burfi, and layered coconut burfi.

What is Til Burfi (Sesame Seed Fudge)?

Til Burfi or Sesame Seed Fudge is an Indian Fudge made with toasted and coarsely ground sesame seeds, milk, milk powder, sugar, cashew nuts, cardamom, and ghee. 

Til Burfi = a delightful combination of crisp and nutty sesame seeds, cashew nuts, cardamom flavored sweetened milk. Can a fudge sound more addictive?

Making Til Burfi or Barfi is super easy and quick. You can make this with minimal ingredients that are easily available in any home. 

The Til Burfi recipe I am sharing today is adopted from my Mom’s Til Burfi or Til Chakki recipe. She makes her own soft thickened milk and then adds coarsely powdered sesame seeds to the thickened and sweetened milk. 

My Mom only uses the milk for this recipe, but to fasten the cooking process I have replaced half of the milk with full cream milk powder. 

a hand holding til burfi piece served in a metal plate

What are the features of Til Burfi?

This Til Burfi:

✔ can be served as a dessert, breakfast, or snack

✔ is ready in 30 minutes

✔ is super easy and fuss-free

✔ tastes super delicious

✔ can be enjoyed during fasts (vrat).

✔ can also be packed as an afternoon work/school snack

✔ is rich in proteins and fiber

✔ makes a lovely holiday gift

What are the health benefits of eating sesame seeds?

Sesame seeds are very nutritious and beneficial for health. They are a good source of calcium, dietary fibers, proteins, carbohydrates, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. 

Sesame seeds are heart-healthy and lower the blood pressure. They are also helpful in improving metabolism and bone health.

How to make Til Burfi?

Making Til Burfi is very simple and easy. This is how you make Til Burfi in 9 simple steps:

Step 1: Dry roast the sesame seeds.

Step 2: Let them cool and coarsely powder the sesame seeds.

Step 3: Reduce milk, ghee, and milk powder.

Step 4: Sweeten the milk mixture.

Step 5: Add coarsely powdered sesame seeds to the mixture and cook.

Step 6: Add cardamom powder, cashew nuts and cook until mixture comes together.

Step 7: Pour mixture into a lined container and garnish with silver leaves and slices/slivered almonds.

Step 8: Let the Burfi set for 3-4 hours.

Step 9: Slice into desired shapes and enjoy! 

For a full list of Til Burfi recipe ingredients and step-by-step photo and video instructions, please see the recipe box on this page. 

overhead shot of til burfi in served in a metal plate and in silver paper box

What can be replaced with milk powder in Til Burfi?

In this recipe, I have used milk and milk powder both. The combination of milk and milk powder gives this burfi milky mawa-like flavor and texture. But if you want to omit milk powder, then you can replace 1/2 cup milk powder with any of the below:

  • 1/2 liter of milk

  • 400 ml heavy cream

  • 3/4 cup ricotta cheese

What are sugar substitutes for Til Burfi?

Sugar is added to give sweetness to this sesame seed fudge. I add granulated white sugar, but white sugar can easily be replaced with any of the sweeteners below:

  • Palm Sugar

  • Coconut sugar

  • Powdered jaggery

  • Raw cane sugar

  • Muscovado (khandsari/desi khand) sugar

How to store Til Burfi?

This Til Burfi stays fresh for up to 2 days at room temperature when stored in a dry airtight container. You can also refrigerate it for up to 10 days. Make sure to keep them burfi covered all the time to prevent it from drying.

What are the ingredients for making Til Burfi (Sesame Seed Fudge)?

This til burfi is made with minimal ingredients which are easily available everywhere. These are the ingredients you’ll need to make Til Burfi:

  1. Sesame seeds:  This is the key ingredient of this fudge. So make sure to use the best quality sesame seeds possible. I have used organic unhulled or unpeeled white sesame seeds for this recipe. But you can also use hulled sesame seeds. 

  2. Milk: Use whole milk or full cream milk for this recipe. However, you can also use semi-skimmed milk.

  3. Sugar: I have white granulated sugar, but you can use any other sugar of your choice. I have given some sugar variations on this page.

  4. Ghee:  It adds a nice caramelized and rich flavor to this milk-based nut fudge. But if you don’t have ghee, then you can replace it with the same amount of unsalted butter.

  5. Nuts: I have used cashew nuts and sliced almonds in this recipe. But you can use any of your favorite nuts in this recipe.

  6. Cardamom powder: Green cardamom powder is added here for nice aromatic flavors. 

  7. Edible silver leaves: They are used only for garnishing. So this is completely optional.  

stack of till burfi with a couple of more burfis on the side

What are the pro tips, tricks, and variations for making Til Burfi (Sesame Seed Fudge)?

  1. You can cut this fudge into squares or any other shapes such as triangles, diamonds, etc.

  2. To set, you can leave this fudge at room temperature for 3-4 hours. If you want to speed up the setting process then put it in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour or chill it in the freezer for 15 minutes.

  3. Garnishing the burfi with edible silver leaves and sliced almonds is completely optional. So you can skip this step.

  4. You can easily double or half the quantity of this fudge.

  5. To make this recipe vegan, you replace milk with coconut milk, milk powder with coconut flour, and ghee with coconut oil.

  6. I have used cardamom flavoring for this. You can also add rose water, saffron strands, or ground cinnamon to this fudge.

  7. Do not cook the sesame seeds mixture for a very long time. The mixture is ready to set when it leaves sides but is slightly moist. 

  8. For this recipe, you can use both hulled or unhulled sesame seeds. 

  9. I like the slightly nutty texture of this fudge, that’s why I have coarsely ground toasted sesame seeds in this recipe, but you can also make a fine powder if you want a smooth texture. 

  10. Make sure to use a sturdy stainless steel pan with a heavy bottom for cooking milk; this will stop the milk from burning. 

3 til burfis on a metal plate with more burfis in the paper box

Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge (Step-by-step photo instructions)

How to Make Til Burfi (Sesame Seed Fudge):

  1. Add sesame seeds to a large stainless steel pan with a heavy bottom and toast them over medium-low heat till they are fragrant.
  2. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-1 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  3. Once they are slightly brown they will start to pop. It would take about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-2 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  5. Transfer toasted sesame seeds to a plate and keep them aside to cool.
  6. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-3 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  7. Once cooled, place toasted sesame seeds in the bowl of a blender or food processor.
  8. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-4 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  9. Process sesame seeds to make a coarse powder (about 1 minute).
  10. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-5 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  11. Transfer the coarsely powdered sesame seeds to a plate and keep it aside.
  12. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-6 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  13. In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of ghee and let it melt.
  14. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-7 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  15. After that, add milk and stir it well. Let it scalde over medium heat until you see the bubbles.
  16. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-8 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  17. Now add milk powder and mix it well.
  18. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-9 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  19. Cook over medium heat; keep stirring it often until the milk has thickened and reduced to half. It would take about 7-8 minutes.
  20. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-10 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  21. Now add sugar and mix well. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
  22. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-11 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  23. Now add powdered sesame seeds and mix well until combined. Stir for another 2-3 minutes.
  24. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-12 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  25. Now add chopped cashew nuts and cardamom powder and mix everything well.
  26. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-13 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  27. Keep stirring and cooking till the mixture starts to thicken and starts leaving the pan. At this point, the milk mixture would look doughy. Turn off the heat at this point.
  28. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-14 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  29. Line a pan a 7x5 inch pan or any plate with parchment paper.
  30. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-15 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  31. Then lightly grease it with the ghee.
  32. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-16 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  33. Transfer this mixture into the prepared pan/container.
  34. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-17 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  35. Spread it in an even single layer with the help of a spatula.
  36. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-18 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  37. Garnish with edible silver leaves and sliced almonds.
  38. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-19 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  39. Gently press down with a spatula so that nuts stick to the burfi.
  40. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-20 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  41. Let it sit for at least 2-3 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour in the refrigerator, or 15 minutes in the freezer.
  42. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-21 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge
  43. Remove the burfi from the pan. Cut the burfi (sesame seed fudge) into desired shapes using a sharp knife. Serve til burfi or store in a refrigerator for up to 15 days.
  44. Image of the recipe cooking step-1-22 for Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge

Recipe Card


Til Burfi - Sesame Seed Fudge [Recipe]

Recipe Image
Til Burfi or Indian Sesame Fudge is a perfect sweet where you get nutty sesame seed bars mixed with sweetened milk. Serve it as an after-meal dessert.
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 20 reviews)

Prep time 🕐 Cook time 🕐 Total time 🕐
30 mins
Category ☶ Cuisine ♨ Serves ☺
Desserts Indian 12-14
Nutrition Info ⊛ Serving size ⊚
130 calories 1

INGREDIENTS

For Til Burfi (Sesame Seed Fudge):
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon ghee
  • 2 cups (500 ml) full-cream milk
  • 1/2 cup milk powder
  • 1 cup sesame seeds (unhulled or hulled)
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped cashew nuts
For Garnish:
  • Edible silver leaves (optional)
  • 2 tablespoon of sliced almonds or almonds silvered (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

How to Make Til Burfi (Sesame Seed Fudge):
  1. Add sesame seeds to a large stainless steel pan with a heavy bottom and toast them over medium-low heat till they are fragrant.
  2. Once they are slightly brown they will start to pop. It would take about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Transfer toasted sesame seeds to a plate and keep them aside to cool.
  4. Once cooled, place toasted sesame seeds in the bowl of a blender or food processor.
  5. Process sesame seeds to make a coarse powder (about 1 minute).
  6. Transfer the coarsely powdered sesame seeds to a plate and keep it aside.
  7. In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of ghee and let it melt.
  8. After that, add milk and stir it well. Let it scalde over medium heat until you see the bubbles.
  9. Now add milk powder and mix it well.
  10. Cook over medium heat; keep stirring it often until the milk has thickened and reduced to half. It would take about 7-8 minutes.
  11. Now add sugar and mix well. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
  12. Now add powdered sesame seeds and mix well until combined. Stir for another 2-3 minutes.
  13. Now add chopped cashew nuts and cardamom powder and mix everything well.
  14. Keep stirring and cooking till the mixture starts to thicken and starts leaving the pan. At this point, the milk mixture would look doughy. Turn off the heat at this point.
  15. Line a pan a 7x5 inch pan or any plate with parchment paper.
  16. Then lightly grease it with the ghee.
  17. Transfer this mixture into the prepared pan/container.
  18. Spread it in an even single layer with the help of a spatula.
  19. Garnish with edible silver leaves and sliced almonds.
  20. Gently press down with a spatula so that nuts stick to the burfi.
  21. Let it sit for at least 2-3 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour in the refrigerator, or 15 minutes in the freezer.
  22. Remove the burfi from the pan. Cut the burfi (sesame seed fudge) into desired shapes using a sharp knife. Serve til burfi or store in a refrigerator for up to 15 days.

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NOTES:

  1. You can cut this fudge into squares or any other shapes such as triangles, diamonds, etc.
  2. To set, you can leave this fudge at room temperature for 3-4 hours. If you want to speed up the setting process then put it in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour or chill it in the freezer for 15 minutes.
  3. Garnishing the burfi with edible silver leaves and sliced almonds is completely optional. So you can skip this step.
  4. You can easily double or half the quantity of this fudge.
  5. To make this recipe vegan, you replace milk with coconut milk, milk powder with coconut flour, and ghee with coconut oil.
  6. I have used cardamom flavoring for this. You can also add rose water, saffron strands, or ground cinnamon to this fudge.


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