Best Post-Fast Dessert Ideas for Karwa Chauth: Light, Healthy, and Quick Recipes

With Karwa Chauth celebrations around the corner, several Indian Hindu married women are gearing up for the ‘nirjala upvas’ (abstaining from both food and water) from sunrise to moonrise. In line with the traditional Hindu belief systems, this festival, largely popular in North India, is a testimony of a wife's devotion towards her husband, as she fasts to pray for his long life.

When the day-long fast comes to an end with the moonrise, the festival turns into a gastronomic feast with a wide variety of Karwa Chauth special delicacies. And sweets and desserts are an inseparable part of the celebration. From kheer and rasmalai to malpua and badam halwa, the list of the best post-fast dessert ideas for Karwa Chauth for a sweet ending of the auspicious day is endless.

Here, we have crafted a list of the best post-fast dessert ideas for Karwa Chauth

We've got some of the best Indian sweets and dessert recipes that you can make on Karwa Chauth to relish post-dinner!

Rice Kheer/Seviyan Kheer/Pheni

Festive seasons are incomplete without some creamy, melt-in-the-mouth kind of rice kheer. Kheer is a quintessential rich and creamy Indian dessert typically made from rice, thickened milk, and spices with the unadulterated goodness of nuts like almonds, cashews, and pistachios.

While Rice Kheer is the most widely consumed variety, Seviyan (vermicelli) Kheer (Pheni) can also be a great option to include in the Karwa Chauth festivities. This variety is prepared by mixing vermicelli with milk and nuts. Many prefer this dessert owing to the inherent sense of comfort that comes with the rich, creamy, and nutty texture. To make it visually attractive, it can be garnished with crushed dry fruits.

Classic Rasmalai

Classic Rasmalai is an exquisite Bengali dessert that has carved its own niche across the nation. From Diwali to Karwa Chauth, in every festival, Rasmalai enjoys a separate fanbase. Made from mouth-melting paneer dumplings, Rasmalai (also called ‘Rosh Malai’ in Bengali), epitomizes a delicious amalgamation of flavors and textures with a hint of sweetness and saffron infusion.

In Bengali, ‘rosh’ means juice, and ‘malai’ refers to cream. This delectable Bengali delicacy is made by curdling the milk to prepare succulent paneer for the super-soft rasgullas and later dipping them in saffron-infused milk when the Rasgullas absorb the aromatic and spicy flavors to make authentic Rasmalai. While Saffron plays the role of the key flavor enhancer, the subtle tanginess comes from the soft paneer balls.

The combination of dry fruits with the rich, milky flavor of succulent rasmalai enhances the taste and flavor, and refrigeration of the assembled dessert makes it an unforgettable experience to savor.

Kaju Katli

Festivals and these diamond-shaped delicacies go hand in hand. Kaju Katlis are not only a sweet treat. Since our childhood, Kaju Katlis bring that inherent flavor of festivities. Be it Karwa Chauth, Dussehra, or Diwali, these sweets make celebrations even more joyful with every bite. And the homemade Kaju Katlis made with finely ground cashews, condensed milk, and milk powder always win over the store-bought ones.

Rava Kesari

Despite its origin in South India, this dessert finds popularity in Karwa Chauth celebrations. The creamy, luscious combination of semolina, sugar, and ghee, and the signature flavor of cardamom and saffron make this sweet dish a festive favorite. The richness and sweetness of the dish complements the festival. The dish is not only easy to prepare but also very flexible for customisation as per individual preferences.

Moong Dal Halwa

This classic Rajasthani sweet dish is ideal for the Karwa Chauth celebrations. Made with the classic yellow moong dal, this Rajasthani traditional dish is considered to be auspicious. The authentic Rajasthani dish is known for the laborious process it involves in making. However, every bit of the effort is worth it. As every spoonful of the rich halwa melts in your mouth.

Malpua

Tender, syrupy Malpuas are quintessential for Karwa Chauth celebrations. Following just a few simple steps, these sweet treats can be prepared at home to enjoy with your friends and family. Malpua shares a striking similarity with pancakes. Dipping the crispy batter pancakes in sugar syrup lends that perfect sweet taste and texture.

Badam Halwa

Ending the day-long fast with something as healthy as a bowl of Badam Halwa can never go wrong. To make this healthy dessert, all you need is some chopped almonds, granulated sugar, ghee, and cardamom. In under 30 minutes, this delicious dessert can be prepared following a few simple steps. Along with the almonds, you can always add semolina, rice, flour, and dry fruits to further elevate the creamy texture of the halwa.