Diwali is a time for family gatherings, joy, and, most importantly, indulging in delicious sweets. However, for health-conscious individuals and those with diabetes, enjoying these festive treats can often feel challenging. Instead of shying away from sweets altogether, why not put a healthy spin on your festivities? Food blogger “Cook with Parul” has shared a video on her channel featuring six delectable sugar-free sweets that you can enjoy guilt-free. From Khajur Pak to sugar-free laddus, these delightful recipes will allow you to celebrate without compromising on taste or health.
Here are six delightful sugar-free sweets to try this Diwali:
1. Khajur Pak
Ingredients:
- Edible gum (gond) – 1/2 cup
- Ghee (clarified butter) – 4 tablespoons
- Cashews – 50 grams
- Almonds – 50 grams
- Pistachios – 50 grams
- Poppy seeds – 2 tablespoons
- Grated coconut – 4 to 5 tablespoons
- Dates – 500 grams (pitted)
- Cardamom powder – 1/4 tablespoon
- Ginger powder – 1/2 teaspoon
- Grated nutmeg (a pinch)
Instructions:
- Heat ghee in a pan and roast the edible gum until it puffs up. Remove and let it cool.
- Crush the cashews, almonds, and pistachios together, then roast them in a bit of ghee.
- Add poppy seeds and grated coconut to the nut mixture and combine well.
- Crush the roasted edible gum and set aside.
- Make a coarse powder of the pitted dates.
- In a pan, melt some ghee, add the date mixture, and cook until it leaves the sides of the pan.
- Mix in the crushed edible gum and the nut mixture, followed by cardamom and ginger powder.
- Pour the mixture onto a greased plate, cut into pieces, and enjoy!
2. Protein Ladoo
Ingredients:
- Roasted peanuts – 1 cup
- Sesame seeds – 1 cup
- Oats – 1/2 cup
- Dates – 200 grams (pitted)
- Cardamom powder – 1/2 tablespoon
- Saffron strands (a few)
Instructions:
- Heat sesame seeds in a pan and transfer to a plate to cool.
- Roast dry coconut until golden and set aside.
- Roast the oats and set aside as well.
- Grind the roasted peanuts to a coarse powder and mix with the dry coconut.
- In another jar, grind the sesame seeds and oats together, then combine both mixtures.
- Blend the dates with a bit of water to form a thick paste.
- Cook the date paste in a pan until it thickens, then combine with the nut mixture, adding cardamom and saffron.
- Shape the mixture into ladoos and enjoy!
3. Jaggery Mysore Pak
Ingredients:
- Gram flour (besan) – 1 cup
- Ghee – 1 cup
- Jaggery – 1 cup
Instructions:
- Sift the gram flour to remove lumps and roast it on low heat.
- Add some ghee and mix thoroughly.
- In a separate pan, melt jaggery with a bit of water to form a syrup.
- Grease a tray and pour in the melted jaggery, then mix in the roasted gram flour.
- Cook until the mixture absorbs the ghee, then pour it into the tray and allow to set.
- Cut into squares once cooled.
4. Immunity Booster Ladoo
Ingredients:
- Almonds – 1/4 cup
- Cinnamon sticks – 2 to 3
- Fenugreek seeds – 1 tablespoon
- Oats – 1 cup
- Ghee – 2 tablespoons
- Black pepper powder – 1/2 tablespoon
- Ragi flour – 2 cups
- Dried coconut – 4 tablespoons
- Dates – 1 cup (pitted)
- Cardamom powder – 1 tablespoon
Instructions:
- Roast almonds, cinnamon, and fenugreek seeds lightly.
- Add oats and roast them too, then cool and grind into a coarse powder.
- In a pan, heat ghee and add black pepper, ragi flour, and the oats mixture. Cook well.
- Mix in dried coconut.
- Blend dates into a paste with a few drops of water, then cook until thick.
- Combine the date paste with the flour mixture and add cardamom powder.
- Shape into ladoos and enjoy!
5. Sandesh Barfi
Ingredients:
- Paneer – 400 grams
- Cardamom powder – to taste
- Milk powder – 5 tablespoons
- Ghee – 1 tablespoon
- Jaggery – 1/2 cup
- Dried fruits for garnish
Instructions:
- Grind paneer into a smooth paste, adding cardamom powder and milk powder.
- In a pan, melt ghee and jaggery until combined.
- Add the paneer mixture and cook on low heat until it thickens.
- Grease a tray with ghee, pour in the mixture, and spread evenly.
- Cut into pieces and garnish with dried fruits.
6. Sugar-Free Ladoo
Ingredients:
- Almonds – 50 grams
- Cashews – 50 grams
- Walnuts – 50 grams
- Pistachios – 2 tablespoons
- Melon seeds – 1 tablespoon
- Dried coconut – 1/2 cup
- Dates – 250 grams (pitted)
- Raisins – to taste
- Cardamom powder – to taste
Instructions:
- Roast cashews, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts together.
- Roast melon seeds until golden and set aside.
- Roast dried coconut and set aside as well.
- Blend the dates into a paste, adding a bit of water as needed.
- Cook the date paste in a pan until it changes color.
- Coarsely grind the mixed nuts and add to the cooked date mixture.
- Mix in the coconut, raisins, and cardamom powder.
- Shape into ladoos and enjoy!
These delightful sugar-free treats are perfect for sharing and enjoying during the Diwali festivities without compromising your health. So, get ready to celebrate with these delicious recipes and indulge in guilt-free sweets this Diwali 2024!
