Mawa cake recipe is a traditional Pakistani dessert made of milk and sugar. The milk and sugar are boiled, then thickened into a semi-solid mass with an addition of flour.
When the dough has cooled, it is rolled out and layered with pistachios. The dough is then baked in a low-temperature oven until the pistachios are golden brown.
The taste of mawa cake is described as very sweet with a distinct sourish aftertaste.

Contents
Why Is It Called Mawa Cake?
The dish’s name is derived from two words Mawa (pistachios) and Awaar (cake). The word mala is also used to mean a paste of pistachio powder or ground roasted pistachios, which is eaten as a flavoring for various dishes.
The word mawa can also be translated as the seed of a tree that grows in Pakistan and Afghanistan but is not found nor cultivated in India.
How To Prepare Mawa Cake Recipe?
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 12 people
Equipment:
- A large bowl,
- an electric whisk
- a baking tray.
Ingredients For Mawa Cake Recipe:
- 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 cups of masa (grated)
- 1 cup of unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- ½ cup of powdered sugar
- 12-15 Pistachios (optional)
For the Glaze:
- 2 ½ cups of powdered sugar
- ½ tsp of baking powder
- ¾ cup of heavy cream
Instructions For Mawa Cake Recipe:
Step 1: Start by preheating the oven to 350. Then grease a baking tray and set it aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, with an electric whisk, beat together sugar and butter until they are smooth and creamy (about 4 minutes).
Add the flour, baking powder, and cardamom powder to the butter/sugar mixture. Beat this together until they are well combined (about 30 seconds).
Step 3: Add milk to the batter and mix until they are nice and smooth (about 15 seconds).
Step 4: Pour the batter into the baking tray. Stick a few pistachios on top of the batter. Bake them in the oven for 30 minutes until they are light golden brown.
When done, remove them from the oven, set them aside at cool room temperature, and let them cool down completely.
Step 5: Make your glaze by combining sugar, cream, and baking powder in a bowl or pot. Spread the glaze generously on the mawa cake.
Step 6: When the glaze is set up, you can cut it into slices and enjoy it with coffee.
Nutrition Facts Of Mawa Cake Recipe
- Calories: 234
- Total Fat: 12.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 9.7 g
- Cholesterol: 19 mg
- Sodium: 539 mg
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Sugar: 23.5 g
- Protein: 2.4 g
Attractive 7 Healthy Nutrition Benefits Of Mawa Cake Recipe
1. High In Fiber
Mawa cake is high in fiber, mainly if you use pistachios. Pistachios have the highest level of fiber of any nut, and their benefits include lowering LDL cholesterol levels and improving heart health.
They also help to regulate metabolism, improve digestion and reduce the risk of colon cancer.
2. High In Protein
The mawa cake recipe is also high in protein due to the increased amount of butter used when preparing it. Protein is essential for the development of muscles
and has been found to increase energy levels and promote weight loss. It can help to balance blood sugar levels and soothe the body.
3. Helps To Lose Weight
Mawa cake is a low-calorie food as it contains very little fat compared to other cakes, which makes it an excellent food for those on a diet.
In addition to promoting weight loss, mawa cake is also very filling and has been found to reduce hunger levels and aid in the feeling of fullness.
4. Lowers Bad Cholesterol
Mawa cake is high in unsaturated fats, which are proven to lower LDL cholesterol levels, thus reducing your risk of developing heart disease in later life.
5. Helps To Balance Blood Sugar Levels
Cholesterol in mawa cake is found to help to balance blood sugar levels. Eating foods high in cholesterol has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
6. Fights Against Cancer
Mawa cake is high in flavonoids, an antioxidant that is proven to help fight cancer.
Studies have shown that people who consume flavonoids regularly have a reduced risk of developing various types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, and skin cancers.
7. Helps To Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Both male cake and its variations are high in flavonoids and low in sugar content. People who consume flavonoids regularly are at a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Is Mawa And Khoya Same?
Mawa and khoya are not the same, but they have similar products. Khoya is prepared by boiling milk like Dal or Condensed milk And then solidifying it.
Mawa is a semi-solid preparation of whole milk. In this preparation, the whole milk is boiled for a long time(6-8 hrs), which makes the milk semi-solid mass and not solid like Khoya.
Is Mawa Good For Health?
Mawa is very good for health as it contains more butterfat than whole milk so it can be used as a substitute for whole milk. It contains vitamins A, D, and E, along with minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and even iron,
which is why it is also suitable for people with anemia. Mawa can make various sweets and other mouth-watering delicacies like the Mawa cake recipe, Mawa kheer recipe, Khoya kheer, etc.
Is Mawa Sweet In Taste?
Mawa has a delightful taste. It is also made of sugar syrup, which makes it sweeter. Since there is so much sugar in the mawa cake, its taste can be altered by increasing or reducing the amount of sugar used.
But even after using a lot of sugar, it remains sweet and not too sweet like in khoya, where you have to add an ever-increasing amount of sugar to get it sweet enough.
How Can We Identify Pure Mawa?
Pure males can be distinguished from the impure male by their color. Pure mawa is a creamy yellow. The presence of white spots in the male indicates it is impure.
Also, impure mawa feels heavier than the pure one. Mawa, with a milk-like smell, is also pure compared to a butter-like smell, which indicates that it is impure and spoiled.
Conclusion
The Mawa cake recipe is an excellent dessert valuable item for health and weight loss. Mawa cake is delicious and sweet. It is a mouth-watering dish.
It can be served for any special occasion, be it a birthday party or anniversary, or just when you want to spoil your loved ones by making them happy with this mouth-watering delicacy.
FAQ
Can I use oil instead of butter?
Yes, you may use oil instead of butter, but if you do so, the cake taste will no longer remain the same.
Can I use low-fat yogurt and milk?
Yes, you can use low-fat yogurt and milk instead of full-fat yogurt and milk. But you may have to add more sugar than what is mentioned in the recipe.
Can we store mawa cake in the fridge?
Yes, you may store mawa cake in the fridge. But it is preferable to store it at room temperature and then cut it into pieces before serving.