Diwali Quick Sweets Recipes
Ladoos, barfis, and jalebis, Gulab jamun each with its unique flavors and textures.Exchanging sweets during Diwali is a cherished tradition, embodying the essence of goodwill and festive cheer. Whether homemade or store-bought, these confections play a vital role in the festivities, making them an integral part of the Diwali experience.
Here are some simple and time-saving Diwali recipes you can easily make at home.
1. Jalebi –
Jalebi is a popular Indian sweet made from batter that is deep-fried into a spiral shape and soaked in a sweet sugar syrup.
For the batter:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup gram flour
- 1/2 teaspoon yogurt
- 1/4 teaspoon food color (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron strands (optional)
- 1/4 cup water
- Oil for deep frying
For the sugar syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions:
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Prepare the batter:
- In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, gram flour, yogurt, food color (if using), cardamom powder, and saffron strands (if using).
- Add water gradually, mixing until a smooth batter forms.
- Let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes.
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Make the sugar syrup:
- In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer until the sugar dissolves and the syrup thickens slightly.
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Fry the jalebis:
- Heat oil in a deep pan.
- Pour the batter into a piping bag with a small nozzle.
- Make spiral patterns in the hot oil, creating the jalebi shape.
- Fry until golden brown.
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Soak in syrup:
- Remove the fried jalebis and immediately soak them in the sugar syrup.
- Let them soak for a few minutes until they absorb the syrup.
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Serve:
- Serve the jalebis warm or cold.
Enjoy your homemade jalebis!
Tips:
- For a more intense flavor, add a pinch of saffron to the batter.
- You can use a squeeze bottle instead of a piping bag to create the spiral shape.
- Serve the jalebis with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious dessert.
Now moving to our next mouth watering sweet all time favorite
2. Gulab jamun –
Gulab jamun is a popular Indian sweet made from milk solids, deep-fried into a spherical shape, and soaked in a fragrant sugar syrup.
Here’s a recipe:
Ingredients:
For the dough:
- 1 cup khoya (thickened milk)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron strands (optional)
For the sugar syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions:
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Prepare the dough:
- In a bowl, combine the khoya, flour, baking powder, cardamom powder, and saffron strands (if using).
- Knead until a smooth dough forms.
- Divide the dough into small balls.
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Fry the gulab jamuns:
- Heat oil in a deep pan.
- Fry the dough balls until golden brown and puffed up.
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Make the sugar syrup:
- In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer until the sugar dissolves and the syrup thickens slightly.
-
Soak in syrup:
- Remove the fried gulab jamuns and immediately soak them in the sugar syrup.
- Let them soak for at least 30 minutes, or until they are fully soaked.
Enjoy your homemade gulab jamuns!
Tips:
- For a more intense flavor, add a pinch of saffron to the dough.
- You can use a piping bag to shape the dough balls into a more uniform size.
- Serve the gulab jamuns warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Here comes our 3rd sweet ladoooooos
3.Laddoos –
Laddoos are a popular Indian sweet made from various ingredients like flour, ghee, and sugar. They come in many varieties, each with its unique flavor and texture. Here’s a basic recipe for besan laddus (made with gram flour):
Ingredients:
- 1 cup besan (gram flour)
- 1/2 cup ghee (clarified butter)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron strands (optional)
Instructions:
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Roast the besan:
- Heat the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.
- Add the besan and roast, stirring constantly, until it turns golden brown and fragrant. Be careful not to burn it.
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Add the dry ingredients:
- Remove the pan from heat and add the powdered sugar, cardamom powder, and saffron strands (if using).
- Mix well until combined.
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Shape the laddoos:
- While the mixture is still warm, use your hands to shape it into small balls.
- Roll the balls in your palms to make them smooth and round.
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Cool and store:
- Let the laddoos cool completely before storing.
- Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Enjoy your homemade besan laddoos!
Variations:
- Motichoor laddoos: Made with boondi (tiny, deep-fried dough balls) and sugar syrup.
- Coconut laddoos: Made with grated coconut, condensed milk, and cardamom powder.
- Barfi: A fudge-like sweet made with milk, sugar, and nuts.
4. Shakarpara-
Shakarpara(pronounce as shakkarpada) is a popular Indian sweet made with flour, ghee, and sugar. It’s crispy, flaky, and has a delightful sweet and salty flavor.
Here’s a recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup ghee (clarified butter)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
Instructions:
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Prepare the dough:
- In a bowl, combine the flour, ghee, and salt.
- Rub the ghee into the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Add water gradually, kneading until a dough forms.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
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Roll and cut:
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a thin sheet.
- Cut the dough into small diamond or square shapes.
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Fry:
- Heat oil in a deep pan.
- Fry the dough pieces until golden brown on both sides.
- Drain the excess oil on paper towels.
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Make the sugar syrup:
- In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cardamom powder, and 1/4 cup water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer until the sugar dissolves and the syrup thickens slightly.
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Coat the shakarpara:
- Toss the fried dough pieces in the sugar syrup until evenly coated.
- Let the shakarpara cool completely before storing.
Enjoy your homemade shakarpara!
Tips:
- For a more intense flavor, add a pinch of saffron to the sugar syrup.
- You can also add chopped nuts like almonds or pistachios to the dough for added texture.
- Store the shakarpara in an airtight container at room temperature.
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5.Kaju Katri –
Kaju Katri is a popular Indian sweet made primarily from cashews. It’s known for its rich, nutty flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The name “Kaju Katri” literally means “cashew slice” in Hindi.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cashews, soaked overnight
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1/4 teaspoon saffron strands (optional)
- Ghee (clarified butter) for greasing
Instructions:
- Grind the cashews: Drain the soaked cashews and grind them into a fine paste.
- Make the syrup: In a saucepan, combine the powdered sugar, milk, cardamom powder, and saffron strands. Heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens.
- Combine: Add the cashew paste to the syrup and mix well until combined.
- Spread and cut: Grease a tray with ghee. Pour the mixture onto the tray and spread it evenly. Let it cool completely.
- Cut: Once cooled, cut the mixture into diamond-shaped pieces.
Kaju Katri is often decorated with edible silver foil or saffron strands.
Note: You can also use mawa (dry milk) instead of khoya for the filling.
Kaju Barfi: Similar to Kaju Katri but often shaped into squares or rectangles.