Happy's Cook

Monday, December 19, 2016

Sweet Diamond Cuts Recipe | Sugar Coated Maida Biscuits | Maida Biscuits | Christmas Special Recipe

Yet another interesting snack mum makes for Christmas and school vacation is diamond cuts. After I moved to Chennai for studies and work, she stopped making it since I didn't have a long vacation as in school. I can remember and feel the taste even after these many years.  I tried it for last Christmas and it didn't come out well. The sugar syrup I made went wrong and it made my diamonds soggy. 
Now, I am a little more experienced in making the sweets after trying many Diwali Sweets. This time it came out super crispy and Jany loves it to the core. I made it in very less quantity and everything vanishes in a day😆. I reserved a small pack for my friend's son and he too liked it. I have seen people mixing the sugar with maida while making sweet diamonds. However, mum makes the diamonds plain and sugarcoats it at the end. I have followed mum's method here and please do try it for this vacation.
Ingredients:
Maida/Plain Flour - 1 Cup 
Ghee or Butter - 1 tbsp
Salt - a pinch
Water - as needed 
Oil - to deep fry
For the Sugar Syrup: 
Sugar - 1/2 Cup 
Water - 1/4 Cup
Method:
1. In a mixing bowl, take the maida, salt and butter. Mix it with your hands to incorporate the ghee/butter until the flour resembles a coarse crumb. Slowly add water and form a non-sticky dough. Knead the dough until it is smooth and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.
2. Divide the dough into four equal portions. Take one ball and spread it a little thin(like our chapathi).
3. Using a small pizza cutter or knife, cut the diamonds as shown below. I used a small tool, that I got in Chennai for cutting the diamonds. I had cut the entire diamonds before frying and I spreaded it in few plates.
4. Heat oil in a kadai, then carefully take the diamonds in spatula and deep fry it in batches. Remove it from oil and drain it in a tissue paper.
4. Meanwhile, start making the sugar syrup. Heat the sugar and water in a pan.
5. When the sugar dissolves completely, allow the syrup to thicken in medium flame. After the sugar thickens and looks like honey, reduce the flame to very low. To check the correct consistency, take a small bowl with water. Pour few drops of thickened syrup in the water and if it dissolves in water(tile 2 in the below image) then heat the syrup a little more. 
6. The syrup should not get dissolved, when the drops of syrup are poured in water.(see tile 3 in the above image). Try to make a small ball out of it and if you are able to form then it is the correct stage. Switch off the flame. Add the fried diamonds and mix it well. Make sure all the diamonds are coated well. Allow it to cool completely and the sugar hardens up after a while. 
Store it in an airtight container and enjoy the sweet crispy diamonds.
Points to remember:
  • If you feel making the sugar syrup is a bit tricky, then you can powder the sugar and add it to the flour before making the dough. Fry it carefully since it browns faster because of the added sugar.
  • The consistency is almost a two string concistency for the perfect syrup. When the sugar syrup is taken between your thumb and index fingers, two strings should be formed. (Check the Boondhi Ladoo post to learn about one string consistency)
  • You can use half maida and half wheat flour. In that case, add a pinch of baking soda. Otherwise the diamond cuts will be very hard.
Warm Regards,
Happy's Cook - Divya

2 comments :

  1. Good post, your article is really nice, love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. wow... I remember my mom making it for christmas... it looks good..

    ReplyDelete

Recent Videos

Recipes from the Kitchen

Sakkarai Pongal
Poosanikai Halwa (white Pumpkin)/Ash Gourd Halwa
Rava Kesari
Aval Urundai with Jaggery/Poha Balls
Aval Payasam(with Jaggery)/Poha Payasam
Paal Kozhukattai(with Sugar)
Ellu Urundai/ Sesame Seed balls
Vella Kozhukattai / Modhagam (Modak)
Pasi Paruppu Payasam/ Moong Dal Payasam (Kheer)
Unniyappam/Neyyappam
Semiya Payasam/Vermicelli Kheer
Suzhiyam/Susiyan
Motichoor ladoo
Paruppu Poli/ Puran Poli
Corn Flour Halwa
Adhirasam
Carrot Halwa/Gajar Ka Halwa
Mysore Pak(Krishna Sweets style)
Gulab Jamun(with Khoya)
Paal Payasam
Maa Ladoo/Pottukadalai Urundai
Sakkarai Pongal(without milk)/Sweet pongal
Sweet Pidi Kozhukattai
Thengai Poorna Kozhukattai
Chakka Pradhaman
Sarkara Varatti(Sweet Banana Chips)
Ada Pradhaman
Chakka Varatti(Jackfruit Jam)
Rasgulla
Thirattipal(Palkova)
Rasamalai
Vattayeppam
Kalkandu Pongal
Akkaravadisal
Pazham Pori
Banana Dosa(Chef Venkatesh Bhat Recipe)
Rava Ladoo
Ellu Poorna Kozhukattai
Ragi Kozhukattai
Badam Halwa
Aval Kesari
Besan Ladoo
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Fudge
Khajoor Ka Halwa(Chef Venkatesh Bhat Recipe)
Semiya Kesari
Poha Ghee Ladoo(Aval)
Palada Pradhaman
Milk Kesari
Pachaipayaru(Green Gram) Suzhiyam
Pachaipayaru(Green Gram) Ladoo
Malai(Paneer) Ladoo
Boondi Ladoo
Bread Gulab Jamun
Tirunelveli Wheat Halwa
Coconut Burfi
Sweet Bonda(Wheat Flour Unniyappam)
Munthiri Kothu
Achu Murukku(Achhappam)
Sweet Diamond Cuts
Wheat Rava Sweet Pongal
Makkan Peda
Wheat Flour Kesari
Green Gram Poli
Paneer Kheer
Green Gram Sago Payasam
Pineapple Kesari
Vella Seedai
Jackfruit Ela Ada
Therali Kozhukattai
Jackfruit Appam
Kaju Kathli
Vettu Cake(MuttaiKose)
Ashoka Halwa
Samai Sweet pongal
Health Mix Ladoo
Mango Kesari