Chikki is an Indian sweet snack

 

Chikki is an Indian sweet snack that originated in the area of Maharashtra.  Chikki is a traditional ready-to-eat Indian sweet made usually from groundnuts and jaggery. Each chikki is named depending upon the ingredients used. Usually, ingredients such as puffed/roasted bengal gram, sesame, puffed rice, beaten rice, and Khobara(desiccated coconut) are used.
Special chikkis are made out of cashews, almonds, and pistachios.
The process of chikki making is a simple process. It involves creating syrup from jaggery by mixing it with water and heating it, then adding the ghee or butter. The nuts are skinned, if necessary, and added to the syrup to be coated. The entire mixture is poured onto a surface, where it is rolled out into a sheet and cut into squares.
‘Chikki’ refers to a sugary sweet, hardened and nut-laden jaggery preparation. Originally named ‘Guddani’, Chikki was the brainchild of a man named Bhimraj Agarwal. The story dates back over 100 years, when the railway lines were being laid across Lonavala’s mountainous terrain. Agarwal began selling this jaggery mixture to the labourers as a source of energy. In this manner, Maganlal Chikki, Lonavala’s oldest chikki manufacturer, was established. Lonavala is best known as the Mecca of chikki lovers.
Try to use the special variety of jaggery which is available at some grocery stores that is used in the making of chikkis, it is dark brown in color.
Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rashi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. Makar Sankranti is the day when the glorious Sun-God begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern Hemisphere. Uttarayana is festival is celebrated on January the 14 or the 15. People fly kites from their rooftops in celebration of the festival.
On the day of Makar sankranti, people enjoy Uttarayan by making n having Undhiyu (mixed winter vegetable) and chikkis made from til (sesame), peanuts and jaggery) are the special festival recipes had on this day.