Tips to Store and Pack Cadbury Desserts for Chhath Puja Offerings
Written by jheelum basu | October 15, 2025
The true spirit of Chhath Puja, an ancient practice to worship the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya for well-being, abundance, and prosperity, lies in preserving the purity and sanctity of the offerings. If proper measures are not taken, the chances of spoilage are quite high, considering the moderately warm weather conditions in October and November. Careful packing and storage are therefore essential.
About storing chocolate desserts and sweets during festive seasons, refrigeration or no refrigeration is indeed the biggest dilemma, as refrigeration is not ideally recommended for these items
to avoid ‘sugar bloom’ on the surface. However,
it is compulsory for those desserts with perishable chocolate fillings with high moisture content (e.g, whipped cream, fruit, or dairy fillings).
Other than the question of refrigeration, proper storage methods include several other attributes, such as finding a place with the right temperature and humidity to using airtight containers, and avoiding places with strong odors and direct sunlight. Moreover, using proper insulation and airtight containers is important to protect the offerings from the effects of moisture and humidity.
To ensure that the festive delights last longer, here we have gathered a few tried and tested tips to help you pack and store your Chhath Puja offerings.
How To Pack Offerings For Chhath Puja
Arrange offerings in a traditional basket:
The Cadbury delights prepared as Chhath Puja offerings can be arranged on a traditional bamboo basket (soop) along with the core traditional offerings like thekua, kasar laddu, and fresh fruits.
Wrap chocolate items individually:
To protect the chocolate items from heat and moisture, you may consider wrapping each of them separately in aluminum foil. This provides a protective barrier and prevents spoilage.
Use a thermal bag:
Considering the warm and humid weather conditions, you may use a thermal bag to carry your offerings to maintain a cool temperature.
Use cooling packs to prevent melting:
If your chocolate desserts are likely to melt, you may consider wrapping a sealed gel cold pack in a towel and placing it in the thermal bag to maintain the desired temperature.
How To Store Chhath Puja Offerings
Storage Methods for Specific Chhath Puja Offerings
Chocolate Thekua:
Chocolate Thekua, the classic Chhath Puja offering with a modern twist, is a chocolate-infused dry, fried, cookie-like item that must be kept in a cool, dry environment to keep it safe from heat and moisture.
Chocolate Rasiya Kheer:
This milk-and-rice based kheer needs to be preserved in clean, earthen pots for purity. Refrigeration is the ideal option to keep it fresh until the final offering..
General Storage Methods For Chocolate Desserts
Refrigerate only when necessary:
Usually, it is not recommended to refrigerate chocolate sweets, as it often causes ‘sugar bloom’, where the sugar and fat content separate and create a white powdery surface on the sweet items. However, refrigeration is a must for desserts with perishable fillings (mousse, truffles, cakes) as the high moisture content causes a shorter shelf life.
Refrigeration for these items is mandatory in good-quality airtight containers.
Use airtight containers:
These are essential to protect the chocolate desserts from absorbing moisture and humidity, which significantly contribute to staleness and mold. To preserve them for a longer period, it is recommended to place the chocolate in an airtight container.
Avoid direct sunlight and heat:
It is also important to keep them away from direct sunlight and heat sources, as these can degrade the taste and texture of sweets.
Select a cool, dry place:
To preserve the chocolate-based sweets, it is recommended to select a cool and dry place where the humidity level is below 55 percent and the temperature is 18-21°C. This optimum temperature is ideal for preservation as it prevents ‘sugar bloom’.
Protect from moisture and odor:
Moisture and odor can ruin chocolate desserts like nothing else. As chocolate is extremely absorbent in nature due to the high amount of cocoa butter in it, to save it from the unwanted odor of spices or other items, it is always recommended to wrap each sweet individually in aluminum foil before putting them into an airtight container. You may also consider placing wax paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together.
Avoid exposure to abrupt temperature changes:
Exposure to random temperature shifts often interferes with the quality and longevity of chocolate-based sweets, as rapid cooling or warming allows moisture to condense on the surface and cause sugar bloom.