Pumpkin halwa, also called kaddu ka halwa, is a simple Indian dessert made by cooking pumpkin until soft and concentrated, then adding sweetness and warm spices.
For this version, I use the air fryer instead of cooking the pumpkin continuously on the stovetop. The pumpkin is chopped finely in a food processor, mixed with ghee and cooked in an oven-safe pan. Once it softens, cardamom, cinnamon, saffron and sweetener are mixed in before the final cook.
It is a simple way to make pumpkin halwa with less hands-on cooking. If you enjoy making Indian sweets this way, see my Air Fryer Indian Sweets and Desserts collection.
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Why Make This in the Air Fryer?
Traditional pumpkin halwa is usually cooked on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker and then reduced until thick. For this updated version, the air fryer handles most of the cooking inside the pan.
The method is simple: chop the pumpkin → mix with ghee → air fry → add spices and sweetener → air fry again. There is no pressure cooking, no added water and no separate straining step in this version.
You can also browse more Indian Air Fryer Recipes.
Ingredients
- Pumpkin
- Ghee/oil
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Saffron
- Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener
About the sweetener
I used Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener in this recipe. It works well if you want to reduce the amount of added sugar in the halwa. Regular sugar can also be used instead.
Stevia blends and sugar do not always have the same sweetness by volume, so if using sugar, add it according to your preferred sweetness rather than assuming the same quantity.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut the pumpkin
Cut the pumpkin into pieces that will fit easily into the food processor.
Step 2: Finely chop the pumpkin
Process the pumpkin into small pieces. Transfer it to an oven-safe pan and mix with the ghee.
Step 3: Air fry the pumpkin
Place the pan in the air fryer and cook at 160°C / 320°F for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Cook until softened
After the first cooking stage, the pumpkin should be soft and starting to come together.
Step 5: Add sweetener and spices
Add the cardamom, cinnamon, saffron and Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener. Mix them into the cooked pumpkin.
Step 6: Finish in the air fryer
Return the pan to the air fryer and cook for another 15 minutes. The halwa should become thick and soft, with the pumpkin fully cooked down.
Variations
Make it with regular sugar
You can use regular sugar instead of the Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener. Add sugar according to your preferred sweetness rather than replacing the stevia blend tablespoon-for-tablespoon.
Make it sweeter or less sweet
The amount of sweetener can be adjusted according to the sweetness of the pumpkin and your preference. I would keep the tested quantity as the starting point and only adjust after tasting.
Substitutions
Sweetener: Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener can be replaced with regular sugar. Because different stevia blends vary in sweetness, there is no reliable universal 1:1 conversion.
Ghee: This recipe was tested with ghee, so I keep ghee as the recommended fat for this version.
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Air Fryer Pumpkin Halwa Recipe
Equipment
- Air fryer
- perforated steel tray
Ingredients
- 3 cups pumpkin
- 3 tbsp. ghee / oil if vegan
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of saffron threads
- 3 tablespoon Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener
Instructions
- Cut the pumpkin into pieces and finely chop it in a food processor.
- Transfer the chopped pumpkin to an oven-safe pan and mix with 3 tablespoons ghee.
- Air fry at 160°C / 320°F for 20 minutes.
- Add the cardamom, cinnamon, saffron and Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener. Mix well.
- Return the pan to the air fryer and cook for another 15 minutes.
- Cook until the pumpkin is soft and the halwa has thickened.
- Remove the pan from the air fryer and mash the softened pumpkin with a spoon or potato masher until mostly smooth.
Notes
FAQs
Yes. In this recipe, finely chopped pumpkin is cooked with ghee in an oven-safe pan in the air fryer. Once it softens, the sweetener and spices are added before the final cooking stage.
No. The pumpkin goes into the air fryer raw after it has been finely chopped in the food processor and mixed with ghee.
Yes. Regular sugar can be used instead of the Whole Earth stevia-based sweetener. Add it according to your preferred sweetness rather than using the same quantity automatically.
Conclusion
This air fryer pumpkin halwa is a simple way to turn pumpkin into a warm Indian dessert without cooking and stirring it continuously on the stovetop. Finely chopping the pumpkin first helps it cook down easily, while ghee, cardamom, cinnamon and saffron give the halwa its flavour.
Using a stevia-based sweetener also gives you the option to make the recipe with less added sugar, while regular sugar can still be used if preferred. For more festive ideas, browse my Air Fryer Indian Sweets and Desserts collection.
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