Tilgul Gajak Recipe – Special for Makar Sankranti

This Makar Sankranti, celebrate the festival with a special homemade Gajak made using tilgul chikki as the base. Unlike the traditional khasta gajak, this version is soft, easy to prepare, and melts in the mouth instantly. It is the perfect sweet to share with family and friends during the winter season.

Traditional Gajak – A Labor of Love

Gajak is a popular Indian sweet prepared mainly with sesame seeds (til) and jaggery (gur). Traditionally, making gajak requires a lot of patience and physical effort. First, jaggery syrup is cooked until it reaches a thick, stringy consistency. This dough is then hand-pulled and folded repeatedly while sesame seeds are added in batches. The final step involves beating the jaggery–sesame mixture with a wooden hammer and shaping it into pieces. While delicious, this method demands strength, time, and skill.

Instant Gajak with Mixer Grinder

To make things simpler, I am sharing an easier version of gajak that requires no hand-pulling or hammering. Instead, we use the power of a mixer grinder to create the same rich taste with much less effort.

Significance of Tilgul and Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti, also called Uttarayan, is a harvest and winter festival celebrated across India under different names such as Pongal, Lohri, Magh Bihu, and Khichdi. Eating sesame and jaggery during this season is considered highly beneficial. Both ingredients generate warmth in the body, making them perfect winter foods. Along with kites, bonfires, and festive meals, tilgul gajak is one of the highlights of the celebration.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and easy version of traditional gajak.
Requires no hand-pulling or heavy beating.
Made with only two main ingredients – sesame and jaggery.
Soft, melt-in-mouth texture that everyone will enjoy.
Perfect festive sweet to make at home for Makar Sankranti.

Serving and Storage Tips

Cut the gajak into bite-sized pieces and serve it fresh during Sankranti celebrations. Store the pieces in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay good for up to 10–12 days and make a thoughtful homemade festive gift.

Try out some more sweets recipes

Also visit my YouTube channel Shriyog Kitchen by Yogita for more recipe videos.

Yogita

Tilgul Chikki and Gajak

Soft tilgul gajak recipe made with sesame and jaggery. Simple, tasty, and a must-try festive sweet for Sankranti, Lohri, and Pongal.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Total Time 45

Course: Snack, sweets

Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

2 cup Sesame seeds
2 cup Jaggery
1/2 cup Water
1/4 cup Ghee
1/2 tbsp Cardamom powder
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
Chopped Pistachio

Method

Heat up a pan and add 2 cups of sesame seeds, roast them until light brown in color. When the seeds starts crackling, switch off the flame and transfer them into a bowl.
Add two cups of jaggary into pan, add 1/2 cup of water(do not add too much water). Stir continuously on medium flame until jaggary melts and starts bubbling.
Boil the jaggary syrup on medium flame until it thickens and turns glossy.
To check the jaggary syrup, drop few drops of syrup in cold water, let it cool for a minute. If the drop turn into hard candy and easily break into pieces that means syrup is done. Immediately turn off the flame. If the syrup drop is look like rubbery(forming strings when stretched) and chewy that means syrup needs to cook for few more minutes.
Now, add 1/4 tsp of baking powder into syrup and mix it well.
Finally, add roasted sesame seeds and 1/4 cup of ghee and mix it quickly.
Pour the mixture over butter paper or a greased steel plate. Quickly roll it into 1/4 inch of thickness. Let it cool completely. Til Chikki is ready. If you want cut it into desired shape.

To make Til Gajak:

When the chikki is cooled completely, remove it from butter paper and make pieces and put them into grinding jar. Grind it in a coarse powder.
Take out into bowl and add 1/2 tbsp of cardamom powder. Mix everything well.
Put the mixture into greased tray(Use butter paper to make it more easy), spread it evenly. Add some chopped pistachio (or almonds) on it.
Now, take a flat surface bowl and press it hard, level it. Cut into pieces. Let them set for an hour. Til Gajak is ready. Enjoy with friends and family.

Notes

To check the jaggary syrup, drop few drops of syrup in cold water, let it cool for a minute. If the drop turn into hard candy and easily break into pieces that means syrup is done. Immediately turn off the flame. If the syrup drop is look like rubbery(forming strings when stretched) and chewy that means syrup needs to cook for few more minutes.
Use good quality jaggary.
If your gajak powder look like too dry, add some ghee.

TILGUL CHIKKI AND GAJAK WITH DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND STEP BY STEP PHOTOS

Heat up a pan and add 2 cups of sesame seeds, roast them until light brown in color. When the seeds starts crackling, switch off the flame and transfer them into a bowl.

Add two cups of jaggary into pan, add 1/2 cup of water(do not add too much water). Stir continuously on medium flame until jaggary melts and starts bubbling.

Boil the jaggary syrup on medium flame until it thickens and turns glossy.

To check the jaggary syrup, drop few drops of syrup in cold water, let it cool for a minute. If the drop turn into hard candy and easily break into pieces that means syrup is done.