This easy besan ladoo in air fryer is a convenient way to make the classic Indian sweet with much less time standing over the stove. Instead of continuously roasting and stirring gram flour in a pan, coarse besan is cooked in stages inside an oven-safe pan in the air fryer.
I use coarse besan for a slightly grainy ladoo texture, then add ghee, almond flour, cardamom and powdered sugar. The air fryer handles most of the roasting, which makes this method especially useful when you are preparing several sweets for Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi or another festival.
If you are looking for the classic stovetop version, including a jaggery option, see my traditional besan ladoo recipe. This recipe focuses specifically on roasting besan in the air fryer and is intentionally a separate method.
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Why Make Besan Ladoo in the Air Fryer?
The biggest advantage is convenience. Traditional besan ladoo requires slow roasting and frequent stirring over low heat. In the air fryer, the besan mixture can roast in stages, so there is much less hands-on work.
The purpose here is not to make a low-fat or crispy ladoo. Ghee is still an important ingredient for the traditional flavor and texture. The air fryer simply makes the roasting process easier and more hands-off.
Quick Summary: Dry roast coarse besan for 10 minutes, add ghee and roast for 25 minutes, add almond flour and cardamom and roast for another 5 minutes, then cool before adding powdered sugar.
If you like adapting traditional Indian desserts to this appliance, browse my air fryer Indian sweets and desserts collection for more ideas.
Ingredients
- Coarse besan or chickpea flour
- Ghee
- Saffron, optional
- Cardamom powder
- Almond flour or powdered almonds
- Powdered sugar
Coarse besan: I prefer coarse chickpea flour for this recipe because it gives the ladoos a slightly grainy texture. You can buy coarse ladoo besan or grind your own if you prefer controlling the texture.
Ghee: Ghee gives the roasted besan its characteristic aroma, richness and soft ladoo texture.
Almond flour: Almond flour adds a nutty flavor and also helps give the roasted mixture enough body for shaping.
Powdered sugar: Use finely powdered sugar so it mixes smoothly into the roasted besan. Add it only after the mixture has cooled down.
How to Make Besan Ladoo in Air Fryer
1. Add coarse besan to the pan
Add coarse besan to an air-fryer-safe metal pan, spread it into an even layer.
2. Dry roast the besan
Place a perforated air-fryer-safe tray over the pan, roast the besan at 170°C for 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: The perforated tray helps stop the light flour from blowing towards the heating element while still allowing hot air to circulate. Do not tightly seal the pan.
3. Add the ghee
Add melted ghee to the dry roasted besan, add saffron if using, mix until the ghee is evenly combined with the flour.
4. Roast besan with ghee
Return the pan to the air fryer, roast at 170°C for 25 minutes, mix well after roasting.
The mixture becomes softer as the ghee warms. Look for a deeper golden color and a pleasant roasted, nutty aroma rather than judging it only by thickness.
If your air fryer browns strongly from the top, check and mix the besan during cooking so it roasts evenly.
5. Add almond flour and cardamom
Add almond flour and cardamom powder to the roasted besan mixture, stir until evenly combined.
6. Roast for another 5 minutes
Return the pan to the air fryer, roast at 170°C for another 5 minutes, remove and mix well.
7. Cool and add powdered sugar
Allow the roasted mixture to cool until warm rather than hot, add powdered sugar.
Pro Tip: Do not add powdered sugar while the besan mixture is very hot. The sugar can melt and make the mixture sticky and difficult to shape.
8. Mix and shape the ladoos
Mix the powdered sugar thoroughly into the roasted besan, take small portions in your palm, press and roll into round ladoos.
Example: If the cooled mixture still feels too soft to hold its shape, add 1 tablespoon almond flour at a time. You can use around 2 to 3 tablespoons extra if required.
How Do You Know When Besan Is Properly Roasted?
Properly roasted besan should have a noticeably nutty aroma and a deeper golden color than the raw flour. The raw chickpea flour smell should disappear. Air fryers vary in strength, so use the timing as a guide and also watch the color and aroma of the mixture.
Avoid pushing the roasting too far simply to achieve a darker color. Over-roasted besan can develop a bitter taste.
Variations
Nutty ladoos: Garnish the shaped ladoos with chopped almonds or pistachios.
Saffron besan ladoo: Add a few saffron strands with the ghee for additional color and aroma.
Extra cardamom: Increase the cardamom slightly if you enjoy a stronger cardamom flavor.
Coarser texture: Use coarsely ground besan and freshly powdered almonds for a more noticeable grainy texture.
Substitutions
Regular besan: Fine gram flour can be used if coarse besan is unavailable, but the ladoos will be smoother. Fine flour may also roast differently, so start checking it earlier.
Almond flour: Finely powdered almonds can be used instead of packaged almond flour.
Saffron: Saffron is optional and can simply be omitted.
Ghee: I recommend keeping ghee in this recipe because it contributes significantly to the flavor and texture of traditional besan ladoos.
For a different style of homemade ladoo, try these oats ladoo. You can also browse the complete Indian sweets collection for more festive dessert ideas.
Recipe Card
Easy Air Fryer Besan Ladoo
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 3 cups coarse besan or chickpea flour
- 1 cup ghee melted
- 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1 cup almond flour or finely powdered almonds
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Add the coarse besan to an air-fryer-safe metal pan and spread it evenly.
- Place a perforated air-fryer-safe tray over the pan and roast at 170°C for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan and pour the melted ghee over the roasted besan. Add saffron, if using, and mix thoroughly.
- Return the pan to the air fryer and roast at 170°C for 25 minutes. Check and stir during cooking if your air fryer browns unevenly.
- Once the besan smells roasted and has developed a golden color, mix in the almond flour and cardamom powder.
- Air fry the mixture at 170°C for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the pan and allow the mixture to cool until it is warm rather than hot.
- Add the powdered sugar and mix until completely incorporated.
- If the mixture is too soft to shape after cooling, add additional almond flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Take small portions of the mixture, press between your palms and roll into round ladoos.
- Allow the ladoos to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container.
Notes
The besan should develop a golden color and nutty roasted aroma before you finish roasting.
Do not add powdered sugar while the mixture is very hot, as the sugar can melt and make the mixture sticky.
Air fryer models vary, so check the besan during roasting and stir if it is browning unevenly.
FAQs
Yes. Place the besan in an air-fryer-safe metal pan rather than directly in the basket. In this recipe, coarse besan is first dry roasted at 170°C for 10 minutes before ghee is added and the roasting continues.
The mixture becomes softer when the ghee is hot, so allow it to cool before deciding whether it needs adjustment. If the cooled mixture is still too soft to shape, add almond flour 1 tablespoon at a time, using up to 2 to 3 tablespoons extra if required.
Yes, but the texture will be smoother. Coarse besan gives these ladoos a more noticeable grainy texture. Fine besan may also roast slightly differently, so check the color and aroma earlier rather than relying only on the stated cooking time.
Conclusion
This easy besan ladoo in air fryer is a convenient option when you want the flavor of roasted besan without continuously stirring a pan on the stovetop. The coarse besan is roasted in stages, first on its own and then with ghee, before almond flour and cardamom are added.
For the classic stovetop method, visit my traditional besan ladoo recipe. For more festival recipes, browse the complete air fryer Indian sweets collection or the broader Indian sweets and desserts section.
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