With Diwali around the corner, many of us are looking for healthy and easy Diwali sweets to make for the family. Traditional Diwali sweets are made using khoya, milk, and lots of sugar. And while there is no harm in enjoying some of these sweets as a part of our celebration, adding some healthy Diwali sweets to the celebration table can help cater to everyone’s needs.
These easy Diwali sweets recipes are designed to be wholesome, nutritious, and delicious at the same time. Many of these have been part of the Diwali celebration in our home and I am glad I finally get to compile this list and share these yummy treats with you.
There is something about festivals and the traditions around them that promote a sense of belonging and joy. These traditional family rituals remind us of family values and our family history bringing everyone together.
HEALTHY AND EASY DIWALI SWEETS RECIPES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Rice Kheer Halwa
Starting with one of my personal childhood favorites, this kheer recipe my mom used to make for us during our Diwali holidays.
It is a simple recipe but full of nostalgia for me. Made using readily available ingredients rice, coconut milk, and jaggery. This kheer is sweet and creamy and bound to be enjoyed by children of all ages.
Rice Kheer Halwa
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 2/3 cup jaggery
- 1/4 cup crushed almonds
- 3 cardamom pods crushed to powder
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash and soak rice overnight. Next day grind the rice and make a fine paste. (Use little water to make the paste.)
- In a thick bottom vessel add the rice paste, coconut milk, and jaggery along with salt to taste. Stir well.
- Continue stirring without letting the liquid stick to the bottom or form any lumps for about 30-40 mins.
- When it starts to thicken it will start coming together in a sheera like consistency.
- Once the kheer has started to thicken add the cardamom powder and nutmeg powder. Mix well.
- Plate it on a greased plate, press it down and even it out on all sides with a spoon.
- Add toppings of your choice. (Crushed almonds or pistachios). Let this cool for 2-3 hours.
- Once cooled cut into diamond shapes and serve.
Do give this simple, wholesome, and no-fuss recipe a try as you celebrate Diwali this year.
Rose Chia Pudding
Chia puddings are so easy to make and jazz up as you like.
This recipe lends itself perfectly for dinner parties and other such family festivities when you don’t want to fuss for a long time in the kitchen and instead want to prepare beforehand.
I always stuck to chocolate-flavored pudding for festivities but this rose chia pudding is perfectly suited to Indian celebrations.
If you are looking for a chocolate chia pudding recipe though, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered on that too. Click on the link to get the recipe.
Rose Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 tbsp rose water
- 1 drop red color
- 1/3 cup chia seeds
- 1 tbsp honey
- toppings chopped pistachios and dried rose petals
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl add the coconut milk and a drop of red color, and mix to get the pink shade. (You can skip this step if you like)
- Now add the rose water and honey to the coconut milk and mix again.
- Once all the liquid ingredients are combined add the chia seeds and mix.
- Pour into tiny containers and chill for about 4-5 hours.
- Add chopped pistachios and dried rose petals before serving.
Pistachio and Apricot Bliss Balls
These energy balls are so easy to make and fit into Diwali celebrations. The combination of ingredients lets the pistachio flavor shine.
Here is an older post of mine with more energy ball recipes. All of these recipes are suited for kids and adults alike. We store them in a cool dark cupboard or in the fridge if the weather is too hot.
Pistachio and Apricot Bliss Balls for kids
Ingredients
- 1 cup pistachios
- 6 dried apricots
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 drops vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Grind the pistachios to a fine powder. Remove a little on a plate for coating the balls later.
- To the rest add the chopped apricots, coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and grind.
- Make small round balls and coat them in pistachio powder.
- Makes about 9-10 bliss balls depending on the size.
Diwali Inspired Yogurt Bark
A sweet and healthy snack for kids to get them excited about Diwali.
You can even make a family activity out of it. If you have a yogurt lover in your house this one is a must-try.
The best part about making yogurt bark is that it’s a fail-proof recipe and you can experiment with the flavor combinations. One of our all-time favorite yogurt bark recipe is strawberry flavored.
Diwali Inspired Yogurt Bark For Kids
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2-3 tbsp chopped pistachios
- 2 tbsp dried rose petals
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl add the Greek yogurt and honey and mix until well combined.
- Now add the chopped pistachios and 1/2 tbsp of rose petals. Mix and spread on a baking sheet. Do not add too many rose petals when mixing, keep most to use as the topping.
- Top with more rose petals and freeze for 4 hours.
- Once set, bring the sheet out, cut it into pieces and serve immediately.
- You can store the remaining pieces in a ziplock bag in the freezer.
Shrikhand Cups
Shrikhand is a popular Indian dessert and here I decided to add a fun little twist and dress it up similar to cheesecake cups.
Shrikhand cups can be a beautiful-looking addition to your festive party table. This dessert will surely be a hit with children and adults alike
Ready to try it?
Here is what we need.
Shrikhand Cups
Ingredients
- Base
- 1/3 cup pistachios
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1 tbsp roasted flaxseed powder
- 2 chopped dates
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- salt to taste
- Shrikhand Topping
- 3 cups fresh curd
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 50 ml milk
- 2 tbsps honey
- few strand of saffron
Instructions
- Hang the curd in a muslin cloth for 2-4 hours, until all the whey is drained off.
- While the curd is hanging start work on the base of the shrikhand cups. In a mixer grinder add the pistachios, walnuts, flax powder, dates, coconut oil, cardamom powder and salt. Grind.
- Use this mixture as a base and line your cupcake liners. Depending on the size of your cupcake liner you may need 1/2 tbsp-1 tbsp of mixture for each. Press down on all sides until the base is tightly packed. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Once the hung curd is ready, continue with the shrikhand procedure by adding saffron strands to some milk in a cup. 5. Now in a mixing bowl add the hung curd, saffron milk, cardamom powder and honey and give a good mix until all the ingredients are well combined. (You can add chopped nuts too if you like.)
- Top this shrikhand on the pistachio and walnut base and chill in the fridge for another 2-3 hours.
- When serving top with some pistachio powder and rose petals for decoration.
Notes
Ragi Ladoos
What is a Diwali celebration with no ladoos on the menu?
Growing up besan ladoo was my favorite and honestly the only type of ladoo I ate. (By the way, I figured out a way to make yummy besan ladoos for kids without sugar, using jaggery. You can check the recipe in my toddler snacks ebook.)
But since becoming a mom, I wanted to try different flours and add more variety to our diet.
One of the first flours I tried making ladoo with was ragi.
Alongside, ragi porridge and pancakes, ragi ladoos are a great way to incorporate this super healthy millet into our diet.
So here goes, a Diwali special Ragi ladoo recipe for you. For more ragi recipes for babies and toddlers check this older post of mine.
Ragi Ladoos
Ingredients
- 1 cup ragi flour
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 1/3 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup crushed jaggery
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- 2 tbsp ghee
Instructions
- Dry roast the sesame seeds followed by the nuts and keep aside.
- Add a tablespoon of ghee to a pan and roast the ragi flour until it releases an aromatic fragrance and turns dark in color. Takes about 20 minutes on a medium flame.
- In a mixer grinder, grind the nuts and sesame seeds.
- Now add the flour, jaggery powder and cardamom powder and grind again. The nuts and seeds release the oil that helps make a mixture that easily binds into ladoos.
- When making ladoos add more ghee to the mix if you like and apply ghee on your palms and shape into ladoos.
Healthy Chocolate Muffins
My chocolate muffins recipe is not only nutritious and protein-packed it is so yummy little children won’t be able to resist. Get this super easy chocolate muffins recipe for kids here.
Chocolate Peda
This quick recipe is no-fuss to make and so yummy, something unique and beautiful looking for your Diwali party table.
Date Barfi
This is a sugar-free recipe that is filled with nuts and the goodness of dates.
Apple Halwa
This is a delicious halwa recipe that is made in minutes and can be a quick option to serve up when you have visitors this Diwali.
Pin this for easy reference.
I hope you got lots of unique Diwali sweets recipe ideas in this post. If you make any of these yummy treats for your family this festive season, don’t forget to share with me how it went.
Until next time!