6 Innovative Ways To Repurpose Barfis In Indian Kitchens

Indian desserts, from jalebis to gulab jamuns, are now popular around the world for their sweet, sweet taste and subtle use of spices like cardamom. One of these popular desserts to come out of Indian kitchens is the barfi, which is basically a milk-based sweet dish shaped usually in squares and diamonds. The milk used for barfi is traditionally reduced for hours to create mawa or khoya, which is then infused with a variety of flavors ranging from saffron and other spices to even fruits and vegetables.

What makes the barfi such an outstanding Indian dessert is the fact that nowadays it is quite easy to make with modern innovations like condensed milk, which reduce the cooking time by hours. What’s more, the infusion of ingredients like chocolates also add another layer and a whole range of variety to barfis in India and beyond.

But often, during the festive season especially, Indian homes get flooded with parcels and gift packs of barfis which are not always easy to polish off in the form they are. Like most Indian desserts, thankfully, barfis can also be easily repurposed or tweaked to create a whole range of new dishes which are sweet, carry the essence of barfi and still manage to please the crowds.

If you have an excess of barfi at home, be it any flavor, you can easily repurpose the sweet treats to create a number of other dishes for your own consumption or to serve at parties. Here are some such innovative ways to repurpose barfis in Indian kitchens.

1. Barfi Kulfi

Since both barfis and kulfis are milk-based desserts, you can easily repurpose barfi of any flavor into delicious kulfis. All you need to do is add warm milk and grind the barfis into a fine paste, add any other flavoring agents you like, pour the concoction into kulfi molds and freeze them until done. In fact, repurposing barfi into kulfis is a sure-shot way to ensure you have the creamiest kulfi experience.

2. Barfi Crumble

The use of barfi need not only be limited to other Indian desserts. In fact, you can just as easily crumble up barfi, especially those that crumb really well like kalakand and milk cake, and use them as a crumble base or topping for desserts like ice creams, frozen yoghurt, fruit salads, parfaits and even fruit tarts. The sweet and nutty flavor of barfis will add just another layer of texture and taste to your desserts.

3. Barfi Milkshake

Perhaps the easiest way to repurpose barfis is to simply turn them into thick, flavor-packed and delicious milkshakes. Just place the leftover barfis in a blender with milk, cardamom or saffron and blend it up to make a delicious barfi milkshake on any given day. In fact, you can also go for incredible flavor pairings, like making a saffron milkshake that is topped with pistachio ice cream, or a chocolate-flavored barfi milkshake paired with plain vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup on top.

4. Barfi Laddoo

Making laddoos or even truffles infused with more ingredients is also a very easy way to repurpose excess barfis. All you need to do is blend or mash the barfis with a little condensed milk to make them softer and more pliable in texture. Add in chopped dry fruits, nuts and seeds and turn them into equal-sized laddoos. To turn these laddoos into truffles, you simply need to roll them in cocoa powder or desiccated coconut to get that perfect look.

5. Barfi Pancakes

Love a plateful of sweet pancakes for breakfast? Your process of whipping up fresh pancakes can be made much easier with leftover barfis. All you need to do is blend the barfi with some milk, flour and any other flavoring agents you want to add along with baking powder. Make the sweet pancakes with this batter and enjoy the most unique pancakes in the world. You can also explore toppings like syrup, caramel and fresh or dry fruits.

6. Fusion Desserts

As mentioned before, barfis can form the base for many fusion desserts like barfi cheesecake, barfi pudding and even barfi-infused cookies. In fact, if you are a fan of luscious custards, then you can simply blend barfi with milk and custard powder to make a thick, creamy custard base and top it up with any toppings you want. Infusing barfis in all types of sweet treats of Western origin is just as easy.

Repurposing barfis in the Indian kitchen allows for a delightful exploration of flavors and textures, infusing traditional sweets into a range of creative dishes that are not only delicious but also easy to make. This innovative approach not only minimizes food waste but also celebrates the versatility and richness of Indian cuisine, offering a fresh perspective on beloved sweets beyond their original form.