Orange bars on a white stone board with a slice on a plate next to it, on a marble background

Carrot-halwa millionaire bars

Name: Carrot-halwa millionaire bars
Total time: 1 h 55 min
Yield: Makes 14-16 bars
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 250g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the tin; 125g caster sugar; 1 large lemon, zested; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 400g plain flour; 2 tbsp cornflour; 100g pistachio nibs, plus 25g to garnish (and dried rose petals, if you like); 100g unsalted butter; 1 tsp kewra water (available in Indian shops and online, optional); 50g golden syrup; 50g soft light brown sugar; 397g tin condensed milk; 900g carrots, grated; 2 tbsp ghee; 100g caster sugar; 1½ tsp ground cardamom; 125ml whole milk; 100g whole milk powder; 1 lemon, juiced to make 1 tbsp

Preparation and cooking time
- Total time1 hr and 55 mins
- + cooling + setting
Easy
Makes 14-16 bars

Ingredients

PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD

250g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the tin
125g caster sugar
1 large lemon, zested
1 tsp vanilla extract
400g plain flour
2 tbsp cornflour
100g pistachio nibs, plus 25g to garnish (and dried rose petals, if you like)

CARAMEL FILLING

100g unsalted butter
1 tsp kewra water (available in Indian shops and online, optional)
50g golden syrup
50g soft light brown sugar
397g tin condensed milk

CARROT HALWA TOPPING

900g carrots, grated
2 tbsp ghee
100g caster sugar
1½ tsp ground cardamom
125ml whole milk
100g whole milk powder
1 lemon, juiced to make 1 tbsp

Method

STEP 1
Heat the oven to 170C/fan 150C/gas 3. Butter and line a deep 23cm x 30cm tin with baking paper.
STEP 2
Pour the sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer along with the lemon zest. Using your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar to extract the lemony oils. Add the butter, vanilla extract and ¾ tsp of fine sea salt, and beat with a paddle attachment for 2-3 minutes or until the sugar dissolves and it’s light and creamy.
STEP 3
In a separate bowl, mix together the plain flour, cornflour and pistachio nibs, then tip the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. With the speed low, mix for 1-2 minutes or until you have even sandy breadcrumbs.
STEP 4
Tip the mixture into the tin and press down gently to an even layer. Bake for 45-50 minutes, turning in the oven halfway, until lightly golden on top. Remove from the oven and cool.
STEP 5
For the caramel filling, put the butter, kewra water, golden syrup and sugar in a pan and heat gently, whisking, until the sugar has dissolved. Add the condensed milk and quickly bring to a boil, whisking the entire time. Let it bubble for 45-60 seconds or until it has tinted slightly in colour, then remove from the heat and thoroughly whisk again. Pour over the top of the shortbread base and leave to cool.
STEP 6
Tip the grated carrots onto a clean tea towel, then cover with another tea towel, press down and leave for 15 minutes to remove as much water as possible.
STEP 7
Heat the ghee in a large non-stick wok, then cook the carrots over a high heat for 10 minutes, stirring and scraping continuously so they don’t catch. Add the sugar and ground cardamom, and cook for 5 minutes over a medium heat, again stirring so it doesn’t catch. Add the milk, cooking down again for another 5 minutes. Finally, add the milk powder, cooking and stirring for 5-7 minutes or until it starts to come together. Stir through the lemon juice to finish, mix well, then spoon out and spread on top of the shortbread-caramel base.
STEP 8
Sprinkle with more pistachio nibs and dried rose petals, if you like, then leave to set in the fridge for 1-2 hours. Carefully cut into bar shapes (each about 5cm x 6cm) and enjoy with a cup of chai.