Find 121 Diwali sweets recipes like ladoo, halwa, kheer and popular Diwali sweets like gulab jamun, kaju katli, boondi ladoo, suji halwa etc. I hope this collection of Diwali recipes is helpful to you.
Diwali or deepavali is the festival of light, festivity and celebration. No celebration or festival is complete without sweets.
During this auspicious occasion make sweets at home rather buying from outside and share it with your family, friends and loved ones. This year Diwali is on 14 November, 2020. Wishing all our blog readers a Happy Diwali.
In many parts of India, during Diwali night sweets are given to the neighbors and friends. In old days, ladies used to make everything at home. But now the times are changing.
I specially remember those funny occasions when at times, the sweet box which you have given to your neighbour has come back to you after moving in a circle.
Mostly, so much sweets and snacks are made during Diwali that it is difficult to eat everything. So mostly people keep on passing the sweet boxes further.
It is a good time to start anything new or positive in life, donate your old clothes to poor people or make any kind of donation. On this note, let us start the day with some sweets.
For snacks that can be made during Diwali, check this Diwali Snacks. Get all the Indian sweets in one place in this category of Indian Sweets Recipes.
For easy of reading, I have divided this Diwali sweets recipes post into 7 parts.
Table of Contents
Popular Diwali Sweets
Find the most popular diwali sweets in this section from all over India. I have also included some Bengali sweets in this list.
Kaju Katli
These kaju katli are the way they are actually meant to be – thin, smooth, melt in the mouth slices of cashew goodness.
Besan Ladoo
Besan Ladoo is a popular ladoo made from gram flour, powdered sugar and clarified butter (ghee).
Rava Laddu
An easy method to make rava laddu recipe for Diwali or any festival. This rava ladoo recipe is made with rava (sooji or semolina), coconut, powdered sugar, dry fruits and ghee.
Gulab Jamun
Delicious gulab jamun recipe made with khoya (mawa) and paneer in the traditional way.
Jalebi
This is a crisp, crunchy, syrupy jalebi recipe. The traditional method to make jalebi at home.
Kala Jamun
This is an easy and delicious recipe of kala jamun made with khoya (mawa) and cottage cheese.
Mysore Pak
Mysore pak is a popular and super delicious Indian sweet from the city of mysore. Mysore pak is made with gram flour, ghee and sugar.
Cham Cham Sweet
Cham cham is a popular sweet from bengal made by curdling milk. Cham is also called as chum chum. This recipe will help you in making spongy & soft cham cham since a lot of tips and suggestions are included in the recipe post.
rasgulla recipe
Rasgulla is a popular Bengali sweet and is also called as rosogolla. This Bengali rasgulla recipe will guide you in making soft and spongy rasgulla.
Suji ka Halwa | Sheera Recipe
Suji ka halwa or Sheera is a classic Indian semolina pudding made with sugar, ghee and dry fruits. The recipe I have shared is a family heirloom recipe. We have been making this suji halwa recipe for decades during family get togethers, special occasions & festivals. The sooji halwa recipe can be easily halved, doubled or tripled.
kalakand recipe
Indian milk cake recipe – moist, granular two ingredient kalakand recipe in 15 minutes. Made with paneer and sweetened condensed milk.
Malpua Recipe
Malpua is a popular Indian sweet of fried fluffy pancakes dipped in sugar syrup and served with rabdi or sweetened thickened milk.
rabri recipe
Rabri or rabdi is a traditional Indian sweet of thickened sweetened milk with layers of cream. Also known as lachha rabri in hindi.
Balushahi
Balushahi is a famous North Indian sweet. In south India, the same sweet is called as badusha.
Basundi
This basundi recipe is a quick and easy recipe of sweet thickened milk flavored with cardamom and dry fruits.
Rasmalai
Rasmalai is a popular Indian sweet of cottage cheese balls soaked in thickened, sweetened and flavored milk.
7 Cup Burfi
7 cup burfi is a easy and delicious South Indian sweet made with gram flour, ghee, fresh coconut, milk and sugar.
Doodh Peda Recipe
This doodh peda recipe is made with khoya and taste too good. Peda is one of the popular Indian sweets.
shankarpali recipe
Sweet shankarpali recipe – crisp, flaky, melt in the mouth fried and baked biscuits. Shankarpali is a popular festive snack from maharashtra.
Shakkarpara Recipe
Shakkarpara is North Indian sweet of crisp, flaky fried flour cookies coated with sugar syrup.
Nankhatai Recipe
Nankhatai are Indian shortbread cookies that are made with all-purpose flour, sugar and ghee (clarified butter) or butter.
Kheer Recipe | Rice Kheer
Rice kheer is a popular Indian sweet dessert made with basmati rice, milk, nuts and saffron. Rice kheer is easy to make and is made with a one pan or one pot method. Rice kheer is basically Indian rice pudding and makes for a creamy delicious pudding.
Vermicelli Kheer
Vermicelli kheer also known as seviyan kheer or semiya kheer is often served during festival or any occasion of celebration.
shahi tukda
Shahi tukda is a rich, royal Mughlai dessert of fried sugar syrup coated bread topped and soaked with fragrant creamy sweet thickened milk or rabri and garnished with dry fruits.
sandesh recipe
Sandesh is a very popular cottage cheese sweet fudge from bengal.
Gujiya Recipe (Fried and Baked)
Gujiya is a popular and traditional North Indian sweet of a crisp, flaky pastry filled with a sweet khoya (evaporated milk solids) and dry fruits stuffing. They can be fried as well as baked. Get both the fried and baked versions in this recipe.
Karanji Recipe (Authentic)
Karanji is a crisp flaky fried pastry stuffed with desiccated coconut and dry fruits. it is also one of the sweet snack that is a part of Diwali faral.
Boondi Ladoo
Boondi ladoo is a popular Indian sweet made from gram flour batter.
motichoor ladoo
Motichoor ke ladoo are melt in the mouth ladoos made from gram flour. One of the most popular Indian sweet.
Rava Kesari Recipe
Rava kesari is a delicious melt in the mouth sweet made with rava or suji (semolina), ghee, dry fruits and saffron. It is a popular South Indian sweet and can be easily made in less time.
Chhena Poda
Chenna poda is a popular sweet from odisha. Its made with chenna or fresh paneer. The entire dish is baked and can also be called as paneer cake.
Besan Ka Halwa
Besan halwa is a delicious sweet made from gram flour, ghee, sugar and cardamom powder.
poornam boorelu recipe
Poornam boorelu – deep fried snack made with a stuffing of chana dal+jaggery and coated with rice+urad dal batter.
Ladoo Recipes
Find some more ladoo variations in this listing. A variety of ladoo is made during Diwali and this list includes ladoo made from various cereal and lentil flours, paneer, nuts and dry fruits.
Atta Ladoo
These wheat ladoo make for a good sweet snack for kids as well as for the whole family. easy and quick to prepare delicious ladoo made with whole wheat flour, sugar and ghee.
Coconut Ladoo (2 Ways)
This recipe post two easy coconut ladoo recipes. The first coconut ladoo is a quick 3 ingredient recipe made with fresh coconut, condensed milk and cardamom powder. The second recipe is made with desiccated coconut powder and sugar.
Dry fruits Laddu
Easy Dry fruits laddu recipe without any added sugar or fats like ghee or oil. Packed with nutrients, good fats and fibre, these energy balls are made with dates, figs and various nuts. Dry fruit laddu recipe gets done quickly and comes together under 20 minutes.
badam ladoo
Badam laddu are quick, easy and tasty ladoos made with almonds, jaggery and raisins.
ragi ladoo
This is a quick, easy and tasty ragi ladoo made with three ingredients – ragi, jaggery and ghee.
Peanut Ladoo
This is easy 2 ingredient recipe of delicious ladoos made with roasted peanuts and jaggery.
sattu ke ladoo recipe
Sattu ladoo recipe – quick and easy sattu ladoo made from roasted chana flour, jaggery and ghee.
Til ke Laddu
Til ke laddu is a healthy, delicious, and nutty ladoo prepared with sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts, and desiccated coconut. A vegan recipe and also a Makar Sankranti festival special sweet.
moong dal ladoo recipe
Moong dal ladoo recipe – easy recipe of delicious ladoos made with moong lentils, ghee and sugar.
urad dal laddu
Urad dal ladoo recipe – tasty ladoos made with urad dal, ghee and sugar
Maladu Recipe
Maladu or maa laddu (pottukadalai ladoo) is quick South Indian recipe of ladoo made from roasted gram or roasted chana dal. Maladu is made with just 3 main ingredients – roasted gram flour, ghee and sugar.
malai laddu
Two ingredients easy malai ladoo recipe.
Narkel Naru
Narkel naru are delicious coconut ladoos from the Bengali cuisine. These narkel naru are made with fresh grated coconut and jaggery.
aval laddu
Aval laddu are delicious ladoo made with thick poha (flattened rice or parched rice), jaggery and ghee.
pori urundai
Pori urundai is a crunchy, crisp, light, delicious, easy ladoo recipe which gets ready in minutes made with puffed rice. Also known as murmura laddu and puri unde.
Kheer & Payasam
Kheer is one of the easiest sweet that you can make during any festival occasion. What is known as Kheer in North India is called as Payasam in South India. I have listed both kheer and payasam recipes in this section.
The method of making payasam is slightly different than that of making kheer. Usually nuts and dry fruits are fried in ghee and added towards the end once the kheer is cooked through.
Kheer Recipes
Badam Kheer
Badam kheer or almond payasam is a delicious creamy kheer made with blanched almond paste, milk and saffron.
Phirni Recipe | Firni
Phirni is a classic creamy sweet pudding made with ground rice, sugar, milk, almonds, saffron and cardamom.
Sooji Kheer | Semolina Pudding
Sooji ki kheer is a quick, tasty and easy to prepare pudding made with semolina, milk, nuts and flavored with cardamom powder.
Nolen Gurer Payesh
Nolen gurer payesh is rice kheer or rice pudding made with date palm jaggery.
Sheer Khurma
Sheer khurma is a rich sweet pudding made with vermicelli, milk, dates, dry fruits and ghee. 'Sheer' means milk and 'khurma' is dates in Persian language.
lauki ki kheer
Delicious kheer made with bottle gourd or opo squash.
Makhane ki Kheer
Phool makhana kheer is a dessert that is often made during Navratri fasting or vrat
Oats Kheer
Oats kheer is a delicious kheer variety made with quick cooking oats or rolled oats, milk, ghee and dry fruits.
Ragi Kheer
Ragi kheer is a sweet dessert made with ragi flour (finger millet flour), milk, sugar, cardamom powder and ghee.
Payasam Recipes
Paal Payasam
Paal payasam is a simple South Indian kheer made with rice and milk.
Semiya Payasam Recipe
Semiya payasam is a creamy, sweet vermicelli pudding from the South Indian cuisine. This cardamom scented vermicelli payasam recipe comes together in 20 minutes and can be made by beginners too.
Aval Payasam
Delicious poha kheer or payasam made with flattened rice, ghee and milk.
pasi paruppu payasam
Delicious creamy moong dal payasam made with yellow moong lentils, jaggery and coconut milk.
Chana Dal Payasam
Chana dal payasam is a delicious sweet dessert made with coconut milk, chana dal and jaggery.
Semiya Payasam Recipe
Semiya payasam is a creamy, sweet vermicelli pudding from the South Indian cuisine. This cardamom scented vermicelli payasam recipe comes together in 20 minutes and can be made by beginners too.
Halwa Recipes
Halwa is another sweet dish that is often made during Diwali or any Indian festival occasions. Halwa can be made with cereals, lentils, nuts or with veggies & fruits. I have categorized the halwa recipes with two separate listings of fruit & vegetable based halwa and cereals, lentil & nuts halwa.
Fruit & Veggie Halwa
Carrot Halwa | Gajar ka Halwa
A carrot halwa recipe made in the traditional way and slow-cooked – with just carrots, whole milk, ghee, sugar and some nuts. You will love this evergreen and popular gajar ka halwa recipe.
Beetroot Halwa
Beetroot halwa is a slow cooked dessert made with grated beetroots, milk, sugar, cardamom and dry fruits.
apple halwa
Apple halwa recipe made with apples, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Apple halwa is a delicious halwa that is easy to make. This apple halwa recipe does not use sooji (rava), milk, khoya or milk powder. Just apples, sugar (optional) and ghee. Flavorings and nuts of your choice can be added in the apple halwa.
Papaya Halwa
Papaya halwa recipe is a vegan Indian dessert made with semi ripe papaya.
ash gourd halwa
ash gourd halwa or kashi halwa or dumroot halwa is a delicious halwa made with ash gourd or white pumpkin.
Cereal, Lentils & Nuts Halwa
Badam Halwa
Badam ka halwa is a rich South Indian style delicious halwa made with blanched almonds, ghee and sugar.
banana halwa
Banana halwa or banana sheera is banana semolina pudding that is often made as prasad for ganesh puja or satyanarayan puja or devi puja or for any auspicious occasion.
Milk Kesari (Paal Kesari)
Milk kesari is an easy to prepare delicious kesari variety made with milk, semolina (rava), sugar and dry fruits.
Moong Dal Halwa
Moong dal halwa is an addictive and delicious halwa variety made from mung lentils.
kesari bath
Rava kesari bath recipe – rich Karnataka style sweet made with rava (cream of wheat), sugar, dry fruits and ghee
Fruit Kesari
Fruit kesari is a rich South Indian sweet made with cream of wheat, mixed fruits and dry fruits.
Ragi Halwa
Ragi halwa is a sweet dessert made from ragi flour, ghee, sugar and milk.
Karachi Halwa
Karachi halwa is made with basically 4 ingredients – corn flour, ghee, water and sugar. Its soft, melt in the mouth and taste good.
Bread Halwa
Bread halwa is a variation of halwa made with bread slices. To make bread ka halwa, bread cubes are first fried or roasted in ghee and later cooked in milk.
Kada Prashad Recipe
Kada prashad is a super delicious halwa that is served in gurudwaras as prasad.
Double Ka Meetha
Double ka meetha recipe. This is an easy and delicious recipe of Hyderabadi style double ka meetha made with sweetened condensed milk.
Barfi Recipes
There are so many varieties of barfi recipes in the Indian cuisine. Below are listed some barfi recipes from the blog.
Barfi Recipe
Easy and delicious recipe of quick barfi made with khoya or mawa.
Coconut Burfi
Easy and tasty coconut burfi recipe made with condensed milk and desiccated coconut.
dry fruit barfi
Easy method and recipe of dry fruit barfi. No sugar added.
Besan Barfi
Besan ki barfi is a traditional Indian sweet of a rich and decadent barfi made with gram flour, sugar and ghee.
Gajar ki Barfi
Easy, quick and tasty recipe of carrot burfi
paneer barfi
Easy to prepare paneer barfi with cottage cheese (paneer), condensed milk and cream.
Sweet Snacks
Listed below are snacks which are sweet. Some of them have a savory sweet taste too. I am sharing sweets snacks which I have shared earlier on the blog.
These sweet snacks can be made in advance or a couple of days before and refrigerated. The fried sweet snacks will have a longer shelf life.
Puran Poli
Puran poli is a sweet flatbread stuffed with a sweet lentil filling made from skinned spilt bengal gram/chana dal and jaggery.
bobbatlu recipe
Bobbatlu or Holige or obbattu are sweet flat breads made with chana dal stuffing or tuvar dal stuffing. This bobbatlu recipe is one of the best bobbatlu made with a spiced chana dal stuffing.
Meethi Seviyan
Meethi seviyan is a sweet dessert made from whole wheat vermicelli, ghee, milk, sugar and dry fruits.
banana appam
Banana appam are sweet appam or paniyaram made with ripe bananas, rice flour and jaggery.
Unniyappam Recipe
Unniyappam are sweet fritters made with rice, banana, a few spices and coconut.
Wheat Appam
These are instant appams made with whole wheat flour, jaggery and bananas.
Mangalore Buns
Mangalore buns or banana buns are a mildly sweet fried bread made with mashed banana, flour and sugar. These sweet banana pooris are a specialty of Mangalore in Karnataka.
Cakes & Desserts
During Diwali, many people gift chocolate or chocolate based sweets or desserts to friends or relatives. I have shared eggless chocolate based desserts, frozen desserts and some more popular desserts from the world cuisine in this section.
Eggless Chocolate Cake
This easy (one-bowl!) Eggless Chocolate Cake is a simple vegan recipe you're sure to come back to time and again. Unbelievably soft and light, you won't believe that this decadent, chocolatey sponge cake is actually made with healthy whole wheat flour.
Black Forest Cake
This black forest cake recipe is too good and is an eggless version of the classic black forest cake. The base sponge chocolate cake is made from whole wheat flour.
Biscuit Cake
Biscuit cake is one of the easiest and yummy cake one can make. This no bake chocolate biscuit cake has chocolate in it and tastes too good.
Lava Cake | Chocolate Lava Cake (Eggless)
This is a simple and easy recipe of molten lava cake or chocolate lava cake made without eggs.
Eggless Vanilla Cake
This easy Eggless vanilla cake recipe makes a perfectly moist and flavorful sponge every time. It's delicious to enjoy with a homemade strawberry glaze, or use as a base for cream cakes and gateau.
Cooker Cake
Eggless sponge cake recipe made in cooker with step by step photos. Spongy and a soft, light textured delicious egg free sponge cake recipe made in a pressure cooker.
Wheat Cake Recipe
This easy wheat cake recipe is eggless and made with deliciously hearty whole wheat flour. It is simple to make with only a handful of ingredients and is great for enjoying plain or with any sweet spread or frosting.
Mawa Cake
This eggless mawa cake is a cardamom-spiced eggless buttery cake with a caramelized milky flavor. Made with mawa or khoya, whole wheat flour and butter.
Pound Cake
This is an easy to prepare eggless pound cake made with whole wheat flour, sweetened condensed milk, unsalted butter, milk and sugar.
Banana Cake (Eggless, Vegan, Whole Wheat)
Banana Cake is a delicious, one-bowl vegan recipe made from mashed ripe bananas and whole wheat flour. Tasty and healthier than traditional cakes, this quick and easy eggless banana cake recipe is refreshingly light, pillowy soft and incredibly moist.
Orange Cake (Whole Wheat, Eggless & Vegan)
Soft and light orange cake made with fresh orange juice and whole wheat flour.
Pineapple Cake
Pineapple cream cake pastry – this is an eggless recipe of pineapple cream cake.
Date and Walnut Cake
An easy and light date walnut cake. Vegan and eggless recipe.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Eggless, Vegan, Whole Wheat)
A Chocolate Zucchini Bread that is moist, soft with a tender crumb and made with whole wheat flour. This is an easy eggless & vegan zucchini bread made with your regular pantry staple ingredients.
Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies
Buttery, crisp and crunchy Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies made from whole wheat flour.
Healthy Chocolate Chip Muffins
This eggless chocolate chip muffins recipe is easy to prepare, and perfect for a sweet treat or weekend breakfast. Made with whole wheat flour, these healthy chocolate chip muffins are made in just one bowl and are ready in 30 minutes or less.
chocolate brownie recipe
Eggless brownie recipe – an easy recipe of chocolate brownie made with whole wheat flour (atta used for making chapatis), sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and oil.
Cheesecake Recipe
Creamy, tasty and soft baked cheesecake. The sweet chocolate sauce complements the slightly sour taste of the cheesecake very well.
Panna Cotta | Vegetarian Panna Cotta Recipe
Panna Cotta is an Italian dessert made with milk and cream. This easy and delicious panna cotta recipe is made without gelatin and thus a vegetarian version of panna cotta.
Chocolate Fudge (Quick 3 Ingredient Recipe)
This chocolate fudge is a quick, no-bake recipe made with just 3 ingredients – chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and butter.
Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
This is an easy recipe for a creamy and smooth choco chips ice cream. Does not need any ice cream maker.
Chocolate Pudding
Creamy chocolate pudding made with cocoa powder. Easy 15 minute recipe.
Easy Kulfi Recipe
This is a simple and easy recipe of delicious kulfi made with khoya (mawa or dried evaporated milk solids).
Ice Cream Recipe
This ice cream recipe is an easy and quick version of delicious vanilla ice cream made with only 3 ingredients. No cook, no churn and no ice cream maker required. This ice cream recipe yields a creamy, smooth and soft homemade ice cream without any ice crystals.
Chocolate Ice Cream
This is an easy recipe for a creamy and smooth chocolate ice cream. Does not need any ice cream maker.
Fruit Custard
Fruit salad with custard recipe – easy recipe of delicious custard made with mixed fruits and custard powder. Fruit custard is a popular Indian dessert.
trifle recipe
Easy to prepare trifle pudding with mixed fruits, custard and whipped cream.
Instant Pot Rice Pudding
Creamy rice pudding in instant pot without cream. Egg-free recipe.
Tiramisu Recipe | Easy Tiramisu without Eggs
Tiramisu is a famous italian dessert. the Tiramisu recipe shared here is an easy tiramisu recipe made without eggs and alcohol.
Wishing happy Diwali to all our readers and friends.
This post from the archives (Oct 2013) has been republished and updated on 31 October 2020.
Hi Dassana,
I am planning to buy a kitchenaid stand mixer but i am confused whether to go for the artisan or the smaller kitchenaid mini. I bake often but in small batches. can u please tell me do u use yours for 6 inch or 8 inch cakes or do you think electric hand mixer is better for smaller cakes. Sorry for asking a totally out of context question. Waiting for your reply.
No problem Anitha. Don’t buy the kitchenaid mini, but buy the artisan. With the mini, the ingredients can spill out while mixing or whipping. You can can easily use the kitchenaid artisan to even knead roti atta or making bread doughs or pizza dough and even a pie dough. For smaller cakes, for beating butter I use an electric beater. But even ½ cup cream can be easily whipped in an artisan mixer. I hope this helps.
Thank you for the quick reply.
Welcome!
What a collection of sweets I liked these.
hello mam,
amazing collection and quite easy it seems….though hv always pushed ppl to buy sweets from market to avoid long cumbersome hrs in d kitchen for all prep bt dis tym, i think i,myself vl tr out a few…..
raring to go………alrdy!!!!!
vl update u for sure..
thx mam..
happy diwali
thank you pooja. do try the recipes and let me know. i avoid buying from outside as usually for snacks they use oil which is reused many times. and the amount of sugar which is there in the sweets is too much for us. plus one does not know how the sweets are made and in what condition. so for all festivals including diwali i make both snacks and sweets at home. wish you too happy diwali in advance.
nice Recipes
thanks madhavi
I like these reces very much.very nice
thanks saba