Dessert · Indian ·

Sweet Indian Jalebi with Cardamom Syrup

Name: Sweet Indian Jalebi with Cardamom Syrup
Prep time: 80 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 320 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 tablespoons cornflour; 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; 3/4 cup lukewarm water; A pinch of orange food coloring, optional; Oil for deep frying; 1 cup sugar; 1/2 cup water; 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed; 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Jalebi is a beloved Indian dessert known for its cheerful spirals and sweet, crispy texture, enhanced with aromatic cardamom syrup.

4.8(207 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 10, 2025

Sweet Indian Jalebi with Cardamom Syrup — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 20 min

Cook

4 h

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Jalebi Batter

For the Cardamom Syrup

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 235 kcal
Protein: 1.9 g
Carbs: 44 g
Fat: 5.9 g
Fiber: 0.6 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1646 kcal
Protein: 13.2 g
Carbs: 308.4 g
Fat: 41.3 g
Fiber: 4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup all-purpose flour	455	13	95	1.2	3.4
2 tablespoons cornflour	50	0	12	0	0
1/4 teaspoon baking powder	1	0	0.1	0	0
3/4 cup lukewarm water	0	0	0	0	0
A pinch of orange food coloring optional	0	0	0	0	0
Oil for deep frying	360	0	0	40	0
1 cup sugar	774	0	200	0	0
1/2 cup water	0	0	0	0	0
4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed	5	0.2	1	0.1	0.6
1 teaspoon lemon juice	1	0	0.3	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Batter

1
Combine dry ingredients
In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour, cornflour, and baking powder.
2
Form the batter
Gradually add lukewarm water, stirring continuously to form a smooth, thick batter.
3
Ferment
Add orange food coloring if desired, and cover. Let it ferment for at least 3 hours at room temperature.
Tip: Let the batter rest for several hours to ferment well for better crispiness.

Making the Syrup

1
Combine ingredients
In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, and cardamom pods.
2
Cook down
Bring to a boil, then simmer until it reaches a single-thread consistency.
3
Finish syrup
Stir in lemon juice to prevent crystallization and set aside.
Tip: Ensure the sugar syrup is kept warm while frying jalebis. Add a few saffron strands to the syrup for a royal fragrance.

How to Make Sweet Indian Jalebi with Cardamom Syrup

Total time: 5 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Frying the Jalebi
Heat oil in a pan. Fill the batter into a piping bag or squeeze bottle. Squeeze the batter into the hot oil in spiral shapes. Fry until golden and crispy.
2
Soaking the Jalebi
Directly immerse the fried jalebis into the warm cardamom syrup for 30 seconds. Remove and let the excess syrup drain.
3
Crisping Up
Allow jalebis to cool; they will become crisper as they sit.