Gulab jamun features soft, golden milk-solid dumplings soaked in fragrant rose-cardamom sugar syrup. This beloved Indian dessert is a must-have at festivals, weddings, and family celebrations.
Combine khoya, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and ghee in a mixing bowl; gently mix with fingertips and gradually add milk to form a soft, pliable dough. Do not overwork the dough to prevent tough gulab jamun.
Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and roll each portion into a smooth ball, ensuring there are no cracks which may cause splitting during frying.
Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-low heat. Maintain oil temperature around 300°F to ensure even, golden frying without burning.
Carefully slide in the dough balls, frying in batches; gently turn and fry on low heat until they are uniformly golden brown, about 7–8 minutes per batch. Remove and drain excess oil.
In a separate saucepan, combine sugar and water; bring to a boil, add cardamom powder and lemon juice, then simmer for 8–10 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in rose water after turning off the heat.
While the syrup is hot (but not boiling), add the fried dumplings. Soak for at least 30 minutes for proper absorption and flavor infusion before serving warm or at room temperature.