Barfi is a traditional sweet made around Diwali time or during the year for poojas and prayers. It is made using full cream milk powder, nestle cream, ground cardamom and ginger.
Grease tray and set aside. Grate ginger and assemble ingredients.
In a large bowl add powdered milk, cream and cardamom. Mix to combine. Using your fingers, rub in cream until large lumps become smaller. The goal is to allow the cream to dry and return to a powder state.
Once dry, pass through a sieve to make even finer or pulse in a food processor, small amounts at a time.
Add ginger. Mix again to combine, continuing to break up any lumps.
Make Syrup: In a saucepan, over medium flame, add water and sugar and stir to dissolve sugar. Let it boil (do not stir) on medium heat for 15-30 minutes (OR just until syrup is thick, bubbly, frothy and there is a white sugar coating on the sides of the pot above the syrup(about 230 degrees F). Once I used a non stick pot and boiled it for 15 minutes (ignoring the sugar crystals that were forming on the side) and the barfi did not turn out right. If it over cooks the liquid will not be enough to bind the barfi and the result will be grainy.
Once syrup is ready, leave on low flame, and gradually but quickly add syrup, one ladle at a time, to powdered milk mixture, mixing until just moist. Stir mixture vigorously to combine. It should be moist enough to be able to flatten with some help. (You may have leftover syrup).
Pour immediately onto greased tray. Wet hands with a very little water and spread mixture evenly in a swift patting motion with the palm of your hand to shape, flatten and smoothen.
Immediately pour sprinkles and press gently to allow them to set.
After 10 minutes, when it’s firm but still hot, cut into squares or diamond shapes. Wait until it’s completely cool, firm and has pulled away from tray before eating and sharing. If it doesn’t harden within a few hours, do not panic or be discouraged, it means that the syrup could have cooked a little longer. It will take longer to harden, in this case up to a day.