Halva is a delicious confection from the Middle East and can be found in large colorful slabs at most local markets. It’s made from a base of tahini (sesame seed paste) and can be infinitely flavored. It’s soft and fudge-like and melts in your mouth, but is also wonderfully flakey – it’s a seeming contradiction of textures that you just need to taste to fully comprehend. It’s incredibly easy to make and you’ll only need 5 ingredients! This healthy halva recipe is paleo-friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), refined sugar free, vegan, and nut free!
What Does Halva Taste Like?
What makes halva so unique is its incredible texture. It’s soft and chewy, like a pecan or peanut butter fudge, while at the same time flakey and crispy. It’s really a candy unlike any other. Because halva is made from sesame seed paste (tahini) it has very distinct sesame flavor. Halva can be found in Middle Eastern markets in seemingly endless varieties and flavors from, the most common, chocolate, vanilla, or chocolate vanilla swirl, to nuts like pistachio or pecan, to coffee or rose hip. If you enjoy tahini in all ways sweet or savory, you’re bound to love this recipe too, because halva is epitome of a sweet tahini treat.
What Ingredients Are Used to Make This Healthier Homemade Halva?
This Healthy Halva recipe requires only 5 ingredients for the base and then any other flavor(s) you’d like to add. This recipe is better-for-you as it contains no refined sugars, flours, oils, or preservatives (like some store or market bought halvas). This halva is also paleo-friendly meaning it’s gluten free, grain free, and dairy free. It also happens to be nut-free AND vegan! If you’ve had halva before you’ll notice that this healthier halva is darker than most conventional ones, this is due to the coconut sugar which I use instead of a refined sugar.
Here’s a list of ingredients you’ll need to make this halva!
- Coconut Sugar – Instead of a highly processed sugar or syrup, I use coconut sugar to make this halva healthier. The coconut sugar gives the tahini a slight caramel note.
- Tahini – The base of halva! Use your favorite brand of tahini. I use and love the tahini from Whole Foods’ 365 brand. It’s organic and great quality.
- Maple Syrup – The addition of maple syrup gives the halva a more well rounded sweetness.
- Vanilla – For flavor. I like to add vanilla to the halva no matter what other elements I add in. I feel like it gives the halva base the perfect flavor.
- Salt – Enhances all the flavors.
- Flavor(s) of Choice – Add any flavor(s) you like! Like chopped nuts (pistachio is a common one), chopped dried fruit, freeze dried fruit blended into a powder, sesame seeds (black, white, or both), cacao nibs, chocolate chips, coffee powder, pumpkin pie spice (!!!), the sky’s the limit!
How Do You Make Paleo & Vegan Halva?
Making halva at home is actually really easy! It’s made with only 5(ish) ingredients and takes only 15 minutes to make! And about 2 hours to set. You will need a candy thermometer to make sure the coconut sugar syrup reaches the correct temperature to create the candy. This one is a good option.
Here’s an overview of how to make homemade halva:
- Make the coconut sugar syrup. In a small pot heat the coconut sugar, maple syrup, and water together until it reaches 257 degrees. This will take anywhere from 6-10 minutes so be sure not to stray too far from the stove. There’s truly nothing more annoying than cleaning burnt sugar from a pot.
- Remove from heat as soon as it reaches 257 degrees. Stir in vanilla and a dash of salt.
- Add your mixins of choice.
- Pour the sugar mixture into the tahini and, working quickly, whisk everything together. The mixture will become thick and you will see strings start to form. This is perfect. Continue to whisk until syrup is fully incorporated. Transfer halva into a loaf tin.
- Let set in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. I find that the longer it sits the better the texture becomes.
- Cut off a piece & enjoy!
Halva will keep, covered, in the fridge for a few weeks or so!
What’s The Best Way To Eat Halva?
You can eat halva on it’s own as a snack or dessert. But really, there are endless ways you can use halva. Crumble it over your yogurt, smoothie, or ice cream. Bake with it by adding halva cubes to cookies, brownies, or blondies. Or use it as a crumble over your favorite baked fruit!
This homemade halva recipe is so fun and easy to make! It’s really the ultimate way to use tahini in a dessert – it has a unique and addicting texture and is the perfect candy palette for any flavor you like! If you love tahini you must give this healthier halva recipe a try. And please let me know what flavors you make!
paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), naturally sweetened, vegan, nut free, oil free
More Healthier Candy Recipes!
- Chocolate Covered S’mores Bites (gluten free & dairy free)
- Healthy Pecan Pie Truffles (paleo & vegan)
- Tahini Rice Crispy Treats (vegan, no bake)
SHARE THE LOVE!
If you make this recipe, please spread the love and leave a review or rating down below. And I’d LOVE to see and share your creation! Take a picture and tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna in your feed or stories and I will share on my account!
Healthy Homemade Halva
Halva is a soft and fudge-like candy that melts in your mouth, but is also wonderfully flakey and just delicious. It’s incredibly easy to make, you only need 5(ish) ingredients, and the flavor options are endless!
paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), naturally sweetened, vegan, nut free, oil free
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (216 grams) coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup (145 grams) maple syrup
- 1/2 cup (122 grams) water
- 2 cups (525 grams) tahini well stirred before measuring
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- dash salt
- 1/2 - 1 cup flavor addition of choice*
Instructions
Prepare a loaf pan by lining with parchment paper leaving a 1 inch overhang off the sides.
Place tahini in a large bowl and set aside.
Adjust candy thermometer in a small pot so the bottom of the thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pot.
Make the coconut sugar syrup. Add coconut sugar, maple syrup, and water together in the pot and heat over a medium flame. Let mixture cook just until the thermometer reaches 257 degrees F (125 C). This can take anywhere from 6-10 minutes so be sure not to stray too far from the stove. It can go from just right to a burnt mess in a flash.
Promptly remove from heat, add vanilla and salt and, using a silicone spatula, quickly stir together.
Carefully pour coconut sugar syrup into the tahini and, working quickly so the syrup does not start to firm, whisk everything together. The mixture will become thick and strings will start to form. This is perfect. Continue to whisk until all the syrup is fully incorporated.
Stir in flavor addition(s) of choice. Then transfer halva into the prepared loaf pan and use a piece of parchment paper or a spatula to flatten the halva down into the dish.
Let set in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. The longer the halva sits the better the texture becomes.
Once cool and firm, cut off a chunk as you're ready to enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Helpful Kitchen Tools (affiliate links): candy thermometer, silicone spatula, kitchen scale
Storage: Halva will keep, covered, in the fridge for a few weeks or so!
Ingredient Notes:
Tahini - Be sure to thoroughly mix any oil on top back into the paste.
Flavor Recommendations:
Chopped Nuts or Dried Fruit - Add up to 1 whole cup of chopped nuts or dried fruit of your choosing. Pistachio is a very common flavor. Some other good options are roasted and skinned hazelnuts, roasted almonds, walnuts, pecans, or (not a nut, but) cacao nibs. For fruit, cranberries or cherries would be delicious.
Freeze Dried Berries - You can blend freeze dried berries and use the powder to create a colorful and fruity halva. Probably about 1 cup fruit powder.
Chocolate Chips - Throw in 1/2 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chips! Fold the chocolate into the halva once the sugar mixture has been completely whisked into the halva.
Spices - Simple spices are also a great idea, like cardamom, cinnamon, coffee powder, or a chai blend. Start with a little, taste, and add more as desired.
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