Best Festive Desserts for Diwali Celebrations – Easy Recipes & Mistakes to Avoid

Diwali, being one of the major festivals in India, brings immense joy to all of us. Sparkly fairy lights, glistening dias, houses decked up with flowers and garlands, and the smiling, happy faces and joyous laughter of your loved ones- don’t we all love visualizing Diwali like this? Yes, we do.

What further uplifts the festive spirit is the wide platter of Diwali-special sweets. In our deeply rooted Indian culture, sweets not only represent culinary delight. During this festival that depicts the triumph of good over evil, sharing sweets symbolizes the celebration of love, togetherness, and prosperity.

From jalebis and halwas to shahi tukda and malpua- the list of Diwali favorite sweets is never-ending. With the festive season just a few weeks away, if you are worried about which sweets to buy or make this year, here we have crafted a list of the 7 best festive desserts for Diwali celebrations, where traditional recipes meet modern twists.

7 Best Festive Desserts For Diwali Celebrations

Jalebis

Nothing adds more joy to the festive spirit in India than those plates full of crispy, spiraled Jalebis. Whether it's Diwali or Dussehra, Jalebis bring smiles to faces with their syrupy, golden-orange sweetness and spiraled crispiness. Traditionally made with flour, sugar, and ghee, this iconic sweet dish is both crunchy and juicy in every bite.

Suji ka Halwa

This classic north Indian warm, creamy treat is ideal for festive celebrations. Made with the richness of ghee (clarified butter), semolina (suji), milk, and sugar, every spoonful of Suji ka Halwa represents a symphony of rich, creamy taste and smooth, melt-in-mouth texture. To bring a little contrast, you can always add some chopped nuts and raisins for that added crunchiness. Spicing it up with a touch of cardamom completes that perfect aroma and flavor of this comforting festive.

Mysore Pak

This legendary sweet delicacy, all the way from Karnataka’s Mysore/Mysuru, has carved its own niche in India’s festive sweet platter with its signature ghee-based aroma and melt-in-mouth milk-cake kind of texture. This mouthwatering confection is traditionally made from gram flour, ghee, and sugar, forming that unique velvety smooth texture. The decadence of Mysore Pak is a symbol of culinary excellence that encompasses the richness and sophistication of Indian sweets.

Kala Jamun

Kala Jamun, the darker cousin of Gulab Jamun, is once again a popular North Indian sweet. What makes it a festive delight is its dense texture and a unique depth of slightly caramelized flavor. With a bit of chewy exterior, Kala Jamun has a tender, delicate, syrupy interior. This contrasting taste makes Kala Jamun a festive favorite.

Shahi Tukda

Often referred to as the ‘Royal Piece’, which elucidates its royal presence in the Indian dessert palette, Shahi Tukda is a Mughlai dessert that essentially captures the opulence of India’s culinary heritage. This exceedingly indulgent sweet treat celebrates the rich flavors, textures, and aromas that originated in Mughal kitchens. The center of attraction in this exquisite bread pudding is the rich, creamy rabri. Be it Diwali, Ramadan, or weddings, this delectable delicacy never fails to symbolize indulgence.

Cham Cham

Although it is a purely Bengali delicacy, Cham Cham (also called Chomchom in Bengali), stands out in the Indian festive dessert platter owing to its irresistible texture, flavor, and vibrant appearance. The culinary magic of Cham Cham is woven around ‘chhena’ (resh curdled milk) and a milk-based sugary gravy. While you can enjoy it as is, to further add to its delectable taste and flavor, you can garnish it with some chopped dry fruits. Every bite of this classic Bengali delight will surely brighten your festive days.

Malpua

This classic North Indian delicacy heightens the festive spirit like nothing else. The pancake-like delicacy dipped in sugary syrup indeed carries the true essence of festivals. While Malpus has a golden, crispy exterior, the interior is soft, tender, and juicy. Following just a few simple steps, these sweet treats can be prepared at home to enjoy with your friends and family. Dipping the Malpuas in sugar syrup lends that perfect sweet taste and texture. Often Malpua is served with a side of rabri, which further enhances its richness.

7 Mistakes to Avoid While Making Festive Desserts for Diwali Celebration

1.Toasting Ingredients on High Flame: While toasting dry ingredients (flour, besan, sugar) is often important for making Diwali sweets, you should be careful about keeping the flame low while toasting them. High flame often burns the ingredients.

2. Using stale ingredients: It is always recommended to use fresh ingredients for optimum taste and quality. Stale ingredients often meddle with the quality and desired outcome.

3. Not toasting dry ingredients: Not toasting the dry ingredients often leads to the usage of raw or half-cooked ingredients. Moderate toasting is important as it helps release natural oils from the ingredients, making it easier to bind.

4.Using extra butter/ghee/fat: While it is often understood that ghee-laden sweets taste great, an excess of everything spoils the recipe and makes the sweets too moist and greasy to hold their shape.

5.Using White Sugar: White sugar contains fewer nutrients and can lead to health issues like blood sugar spikes. Alternate options such as brown sugar, coconut sugar, and stevia can be considered

6.Reusing oil: Never reuse oil for deep-frying sweets, as it can create harmful free radicals in the body.

7.Avoid Overcooking: While mixing the ingredients over a low or medium flame, please avoid overcooking or overmixing of ingredients, as that often ruins the desired texture or consistency of the dish.