Mysore Pak: The Rich, Buttery Indian Sweet You Need to Try
Mysore pak, a dense, golden-yellow Indian sweet made from gram flour, sugar, and ghee. Also known as Mysore paak, it’s a classic dessert from Karnataka that melts in your mouth and sticks to your memory. Unlike cakes or cookies, Mysore pak doesn’t need baking—it’s cooked on the stove, poured into a tray, and left to set. The magic happens when the sugar syrup reaches the right consistency, and the gram flour soaks it up without turning grainy. Get it right, and you’ve got a sweet that’s fudgy, glossy, and deeply fragrant with ghee.
What makes Mysore pak special isn’t just the ingredients—it’s the technique. The gram flour, also called besan, made from ground chickpeas has to be roasted just enough to remove the raw taste but not burnt. The sugar syrup, boiled until it hits the "thread" or "soft ball" stage needs patience. Too little, and it’s sticky and wet. Too much, and it turns hard and crumbly. And then there’s the ghee, clarified butter that gives Mysore pak its rich, buttery aroma. You can’t skimp on it. This isn’t a dessert for health-conscious snacking—it’s a celebration in every bite.
People in South India eat Mysore pak during Diwali, weddings, and temple festivals. It’s often served in small squares, sometimes dusted with a little powdered sugar or cardamom. But it’s not just a regional treat anymore. You’ll find it in sweet shops across India, and even in Indian households abroad. The reason? It’s simple, it’s indulgent, and it doesn’t need fancy tools. All you need is a heavy pan, a wooden spoon, and a little patience.
Some try to shortcut it with milk or cream, but that’s not Mysore pak—that’s something else. True Mysore pak is made with just three things: besan, sugar, and ghee. That’s it. No eggs, no baking powder, no flour. Just pure, slow-cooked sweetness. If you’ve ever had a piece and wondered why it felt so different from other sweets, now you know.
Below, you’ll find real stories, tips, and recipes from people who’ve mastered this sweet. Whether you’re trying to fix a batch that turned out too hard, or you want to know why some versions are darker than others, the posts here cut through the noise. No fluff. Just what works.