By Aditi Saraswat
October 15, 2026
This Navratri, try coconut apple kheer to make a creamy vrat-friendly dessert prepared with milk, fresh fruit and nuts. Grated apple adds natural sweetness and fibre to kheer, whereas coconut gives texture and a light nuttiness. Slow-simmering the milk gives the kheer a rich texture, so you can skip refined sugar and let the fruit's sweetness come through.
2 cups full-fat milk 1 medium apple, peeled and grated ¼ cup fresh grated coconut 2 tbsp chopped almonds 1 tbsp chopped cashews ¼ tsp cardamom powder 1 tsp ghee 1–2 dates, finely chopped (optional, for extra sweetness) A few saffron strands (optional)
Peel and grate the apple just before cooking so that they do not brown much. Keep it separate, as adding it directly to the milk can make the milk curdle.
Boil the milk gently, then simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, while mixing constantly. Let it reduce a bit to get a naturally creamy texture.
In a pan, heat ghee and add the grated coconut and sauté for a short span. This brings out its fragrance without overpowering the taste of apple.
Let the milk cool down a bit before mixing in the grated apple, coconut and cardamom. Warm gently, and do not bring it to a strong boil to prevent curdling.
To this, now add chopped almonds, cashews, optional dates and saffron. Keep in the refrigerator for a short span before serving if preferred.