Soan Papdi (Flaky Gram Flour Sweet)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Medium

A light, melt-in-the-mouth sweet of toasted gram flour, ghee and sugar, with a fine thread-like texture. This home version pulls the mixture by hand until flaky. Makes 16 cubes in about 1 hr 45 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 30 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 1 hr 45 min

Yield 16 cubes

Ingredients

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cubes

1 cup (120 g)chickpea flour (besan), sifted
1 cup (120 g)all-purpose flour, sifted
5 ½ oz (150 g)ghee
1 cup (200 g)granulated sugar
7 tbsp (100 ml)water
½ tsp (1 g)ground cardamom
2 tbsp (15 g)pistachios, finely chopped

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Instructions

Grease a 7-inch (18 cm) square pan or plate and a rimmed baking sheet with a little ghee.
Melt the ghee in a heavy pan over low heat, add both flours and stir constantly 12 to 15 minutes until fragrant and light golden. Remove from the heat and spread on the baking sheet to cool slightly.
Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook without stirring until a candy thermometer reads 250 F (121 C), the firm-ball stage. Stir in the cardamom.
Pour the hot syrup onto the warm flour mixture and, wearing clean kitchen gloves or using two forks, quickly fold and pull the mixture together. It will be crumbly at first; keep folding and pulling for 3 to 5 minutes until it forms flaky strands.
Press the mixture into the greased pan, sprinkle with pistachios and press lightly.
Cool at room temperature 1 hour, then cut into squares.

Tips

Roast the flour slowly; browning too fast leaves a raw flavor.
Hot syrup causes serious burns: work with kitchen gloves and a long spoon.
Work the mixture while it is still hot or it will not become flaky.
Sugar syrup at 250 F (121 C) causes severe burns; do not touch or taste until cooled, and keep children away.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make soan papdi (flaky gram flour sweet)?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes 16 cubes.

How should I store soan papdi (flaky gram flour sweet)?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Can I make soan papdi (flaky gram flour sweet) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

A flaky North Indian sweet of gram flour and ghee bound with sugar syrup pulled into fine threads, cut into cubes at festivals such as Diwali. Serve it with masala chai.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 16 servings this recipe makes.

193 Calories / serving

10.0g Fat

24.2g Carbs

1.7g Protein

12.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (16 servings): ~3088 cal · 160g fat · 387g carbs · 27g protein · 202g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

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