Barfi Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Barfi (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Barfi
Assortment of barfis
Alternative names	Burfi, burfee, borfee, borfi
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Indian subcontinent
Region or state	Indian subcontinent, Mauritius, Fiji, southern and eastern Africa, the Caribbean, the Malay Peninsula
Serving temperature	Room temperature
Main ingredients	Condensed milk, sugar
Variations	Kesri Pedha, Kaju Katli, Pista Barfi

Barfi, barfee, borfi or burfi is a dense milk-based sweet from the Indian subcontinent. The name comes from the Hindustani (originally Persian) word barf, which means snow. Common types of barfi include besan barfi (made with gram flour), kaju barfi (made with cashews), pista barfi (made with ground pistachios), and sing barfi (made with peanuts). Milk powder and sugar are the main ingredients of barfi. The ingredients are cooked in a vessel until the mixture solidifies. The mixture is then transferred to a shallow pan and cooled. Finally, it is cut into squares, diamonds, or circular shapes and served.

In addition to nuts, barfi is often flavoured with fruits such as mango or coconut and spices such as cardamom or rose water. It comes in various colours and textures. Barfi is sometimes coated with a thin layer of edible metallic leaf known as vark. It is served at both informal and formal events.

Types

Kesri pedha: saffron, flattened yellow round
Kaju barfi or kaju katli: cashew, light tan diamond
Pista barfi: pistachio, forest green diamond
Doodh peda: kewra oil and pistachio, flattened dark tan round
Chocolate barfi
Badam pak: rose water and almond, brown diamond
Walnut barfi
Barfi fon or barfifon: fig, pink and yellow colored
Gajar barfi: carrot, square and orange colored
Coconut barfi: coconut, sugar, and milk, square and yellow colored
Sing barfi: peanuts, square and brown colored
Besan barfi: gram flour light yellow diamond
Dodha barfi: peanut
Ice cream barfi: rich vanilla flavored, rectangular

Cardamom is the most common spice used to flavour barfi. Barfi is often coated with edible silver leaf (vark). To add flavour and colour, it is sometimes rolled in crushed nuts before serving.

Barfi is served year round in the Indian subcontinent. It is especially consumed during holidays such as Diwali and Eid and at weddings.