Bread Halwa is a very easy halwa made with bread slices, ghee, sugar with or without milk as main ingredients. It can be prepared in just few minutes so ideal if you are searching for sweet recipes that can be made quickly. Learn to make Bread Halwa Recipe with step by step pictures and video.
Bread Halwa is an Indian dessert prepared using a combination of bread, sugar, milk and ghee. It is my favorite, I have tried both versions with milk and without milk each has a unique taste. Last week we attended a wedding at Chennai where they served a delicious bread halwa with a non-veg dinner. I loved the halwa so much so wanted to recreate it and it turned out so perfect.
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About Bread Halwa
Bread halwa is a delicious Indian sweet made using bread, ghee, sugar and milk. Flavored with cardamom or saffron, garnished with cashews this sweet is sure a show stealer. Bread Halwa is one of the most popular desserts served in weddings and other special occasions.
The preparation of bread halwa can be made in 2 ways : with milk and without milk. I have posted both the versions so do try as per your liking. Both versions tastes so good but if you want more shelf life then go in for the version without milk.
This Bread Halwa Recipe is easy to make with minimum and available ingredients in your kitchen and also can be made under 30 minutes. This sweet does not require lot of labor like other halwa recipes where we need to keep stirring until the desired consistency is reached.
Bread Halwa can be served warm or at room temperature. This sweet is traditionally served with biryani and it is a great combo. This recipe comes together under 30 minutes so very quick to make in the last minute too.
You can serve bread halwa hot or warm or even at room temperature. If you chill it bring it to room temperature and serve it else slightly heat it up and the ghee will start oozing out, yum! Mittu loves it chilled too so it is purely your wish.
Similar Recipes
Bread Halwa 2 ways
I have shared 2 versions of Bread Halwa here :
- Bread Halwa with milk
- Bread Halwa without milk
Bread Halwa Video
Bread Halwa Ingredients
- Bread – White bread slices are best for this halwa. You can remove the edges or use them as I have did.
- Sugar – White granulated sugar is used for this.
- Ghee – Use homemade ghee which is best however you can use store bought ghee too.
- Milk – Use boiled full fat milk.
- Nuts – You can use cashews and raisins too. I have used just cashews. You can add almonds too.
- Flavoring – Cardamom powder adds a mild flavoring to this sweet.
Bread Halwa Recipe with milk – Step by Step
1.Take 4 bread slices cut them into small cubes and set it aside. You can add with edges or remove them. I add it these days as it makes no major difference in taste.
2.To a pan add 2 tablespoon ghee then 3 tablespoon cashews broken. Fry until golden brown, remove and set aside. In total we need 1/3 cup ghee but we add it little by little.
3.Now add the bread cubes.
4.Fry the bread cubes until golden brown.
5.Add 1 and 1/2 cups boiled milk.
6.Mash and cook for 2-3 minutes. Bread does not take much time to cook.
7.Once cooked add 1/3 cup sugar.
8.Mix well and the mixture turns goey like this. Keep stirring and cooking for 2 minutes.
9.Add little more ghee along with 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
10.Cook until the halwa starts to leave the sides of the pan.
11.Now add remaining ghee.
12.Give a quick mix.
13.Add ghee fried cashews.
14.Bread halwa is ready.
15.When you take the bread halwa with a spoon or ladle it should fall off easily without sticking – this is the perfect consistency.
Enjoy bread halwa hot or warm!
Bread Halwa Recipe without milk
This version of bread halwa without milk uses less sugar and ghee. Bread Halwa is my favorite, I have already tried a bread halwa recipe with milk and posted but this version is without milk. This recipe is easy to make with minimum and available ingredients in your kitchen.
- Trim the edges of the 4 bread slices, Set aside. You can add with edges too. Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee and fry cashews until golden brown, remove the fried cashews and set aside. Now add the bread slices and toast. In total we need 1/4 cup ghee.
- Toast until golden brown and crisp on both the sides, similarly toast the other 2 slices too. Set aside. Now in the same pan add 1/4 cup sugar.
- Add 1/2 cup water and let it boil for 2 mins. No need to thicken it.
- When it starts to bubble rigorously, roughly tear the bread slices and add it.Let it soak for few seconds.
- Then cook and mash it up with a ladle. Start adding ghee.
- Keep cooking in low flame and start adding ghee a tablespoon at a time.
- Add ghee and keep cooking,stop adding ghee when it starts to come together as a whole mass and ghee starts to ooze out the edges. It will leave the sides of the pan easily.
- Now add fried cashews, give a quick stir and switch off. You can add 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder if you like.
Serve warm!
Expert Tips
- You can use either brown or white bread as per your choice and availability. But white bread is best.
- I used regular milk bread, but you can use any bread. If using sweet bread adjust sugar quantity accordingly.
- I added just cashews, you can add raisins if you prefer.
- Add ghee little by little, once the stickiness is reduced you can stop adding.
- Fry the bread pieces till golden brown.
- Don’t compromise on ghee, then you will not get the desired halwa texture and consistency.
- When it turns into a mass, ghee will start to ooze out at the sides that is the correct stage to switch off.
- The final consistency should be goey not thick and should leave the sides of the pan.
- Keeps well for 2 days if refrigerated. While serving just heat it and serve.
- The version without milk keeps well for more time also needs less sugar and ghee when compared to milk version.
Serving & Storage Suggestion
Bread Halwa can be served as such warm or at room temperature. This halwa keeps well in room temperature for one day. If refrigerated you can extend shelf life up to 2 days.
If you have any more questions about this Bread Halwa Recipe do mail me at [email protected]. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
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📖 Recipe Card
Bread Halwa Recipe
Ingredients
Bread Halwa with milk
- 4 bread slices
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup ghee
- 1 and 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 2 tablespoon cashews
Instructions
Bread Halwa with milk
- Take 4 bread slices cut them into small cubes and set it aside. You can add with edges or remove them. I add it these days as it makes no major difference in taste.
- To a pan add 2 tablespoon ghee then 3 tablespoon cashews broken. Fry until golden brown, remove and set aside. In total we need 1/3 cup ghee but we add it little by little.
- Now add the bread cubes.
- Fry the bread cubes until golden brown.
- Add 1 and 1/2 cups boiled milk.
- Mash and cook for 2-3 minutes. Bread does not take much time to cook.
- Once cooked add 1/3 cup sugar.
- Mix well and the mixture turns goey like this. Keep stirring and cooking for 2 minutes.
- Add little more ghee along with 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- Cook until the halwa starts to leave the sides of the pan.
- Now add remaining ghee.
- Give a quick mix.
- Add ghee fried cashews.
- Bread halwa is ready.
- When you take the bread halwa with a spoon or ladle it should fall off easily without sticking – this is the perfect consistency.Enjoy bread halwa hot or warm!
Bread Halwa without milk
- Trim the edges of the bread slices, set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of ghee and fry cashews until golden brown, remove the fried cashews and set aside. Now add the bread slices and toast.
- Toast until golden brown and crisp on both the sides, similarly toast the other 2 slices too.Set aside.
- Now in the same pan add sugar. Add water and let it boil.
- When it starts to bubble rigorously, roughly tear the bread slices and add it. Let it soak for few seconds.
- Then mash it up with a ladle. Measure ghee and keep it ready.
- Keep cooking in low flame and start adding ghee a teaspoon at a time.
- Add ghee and keep cooking, stop adding ghee when it starts to come together and ghee starts to ooze out the edges as shown in the picture. It will take at least 10 mins.
- Now add fried cashews, give a quick stir and switch off. Enjoy Bread Halwa!
Video
Notes
- You can use either brown or white bread as per your choice and availability. But white bread is best.
- I used regular milk bread, but you can use any bread. If using sweet bread adjust sugar quantity accordingly.
- I added just cashews, you can add raisins if you prefer.
- Add ghee little by little, once the stickiness is reduced you can stop adding.
- Fry the bread pieces till golden brown.
- Don’t compromise on ghee, then you will not get the desired halwa texture and consistency.
- When it turns into a mass, ghee will start to ooze out at the sides that is the correct stage to switch off.
- The final consistency should be goey not thick and should leave the sides of the pan.
- Keeps well for 2 days if refrigerated. While serving just heat it and serve.
- The version without milk keeps well for more time also needs less sugar and ghee when compared to milk version.
chennaijo
Looks delicious, a sure try soon, thanks for sharing.
KM
Again, you have it as ‘Enjoy these soft kozhukattais’ for bread halwa. 🙂
Sharmilee J
Typo 🙂 updated it now 🙂
Anu
Hi, it’s very nice…. Why we shud trim the edges of the bread, is there any specific reason?
Sharmilee J
The edges are slightly hard which makes the halwa hard too so its better to trim the edges.
Merlyn
Hi sharmie…I made this recipe. 20 servings! Thanks to you. Came out really good.
Anita Rajbarath
Hi what is the shelf life of this recipe.. you have mentioned that if u add milk it stays good for 2 days refrigerated, so does this one last longer without milk
Sharmilee J
Yes without milk it can stay good upto a week
Selvi Arun
Hi… What vessel you have used? Is it a normal stainless steel pan?
Sharmilee J
Its normal steel pan only
Rajitha Gopal
Came out very nice… Everyone loved it..Thank you
Jeba
It came out like crispy crumbs. didn’t come out like Halwa. Where am I going wrong
Sharmilee J
If the sugar syrup goes to next stage then this may happen
Priscilla
It came out very well , thank you for the recipe
Smrithi
which recipe tastes better, with or without milk?
Sharmilee J
I prefer the one without milk 🙂
Sam
Hey Sharmi,
the dessert turned out perfect! Thank you!
Also the spoon and measuring cup you used in the video look great. Can you let me know where you got it form?
Sharmilee J
Thank you so much! Its from US crate and barrel brand.