Apart from getting the houses illuminated with lights, Diwali is a festival that families also await to indulge in the “Thali” (Platter) of different sweets. While we can get these sweets all year round, there’s something about these royal Diwali delights that has made them popular during the festival of lights. Here are some of the most popular treats of the season you have got to try:
Versatile and Popular Diwali Sweets:
1. Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun is a rose-water-soaked deep-fried dough ball. The sweet and spongy treat can also include ingredients like cardamom and saffron that help give it a final touch and appear more on the theme of a royal Diwali dessert.
Maunika Gowardhanz, a bestselling cookbook author, chef, and food writer whose recipes can be seen in esteemed publications The Sunday Times and The Telegraph, quotes:
“Gulab Jamuns served warm are another must-have; these cardamom-infused syrup-soaked dumplings topped with crushed pistachio and almonds are perfect to make at home.”
2. Rasgulla or Rasgola
Rasgullas are among the most popular Diwali sweets and iconic Bengali desserts. Its true taste originates from its simplicity, where only a handful of ingredients: chhena (cottage cheese), sugar syrup, water, and cardamom—result in a delicious sweet syrup-soaked ball.
Chef Kunal Kapur, an Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur, quotes:-
“Rasgulla is freshly prepared cheese stewed in sugar and flavors of rose. It is truly a piece of art.”
3. Halwa
This sweet dish has several varieties, but the one popular during this occasion is typically made with a mixture of “Suji,” i.e., semolina. ‘Halwa’ is not only a popular Diwali mithai but something made on many festive occasions throughout the year.
Palak Patel, author, chef, restaurateur, and winner of Food Network’s Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay, comments on the diversity of these Diwali delights:-
“If you’ve never had halwa or mithai before, each can be amped up in various ways, incorporating additions like nuts, toppings, spices, and rose petals. In the preparation of each, it’s possible to get as fancy or remain as rustic as you prefer.”
4. Kaju Katli
These diamond-shaped Diwali sweets are an iconic Diwali treat. The kaju, i.e., cashews, are the dessert’s heart, giving it a mild sweetness. But the embellishment of edible silver leaf (Varak) used as decoration over the prepared sweet adds shine to the desserts and makes them look festive.
Co-owner Harshit Agrawal, owner of Pistabarfi Mithai, gives an amazing idea for shaping your kaju katli into a chocolate bar, which would be way more convenient to carry! He quotes:-
“With mithai in the form of a bar, it’s easily portable and can be carried around in your pocket and bags unlike a whole box of mithai, which is extremely cumbersome to carry.”
5. Ladoo
Different varieties of ladoos are counted among popular Diwali sweets. The small round ball has the basic ingredients of flour, ghee, sugar, and nuts. But they alternate in the type of flour used (wheat, refined, gram, or any other), types of nuts and dried fruits, and whether they are coated with syrups or other garnishes or not. All this gives each variety a distinctive flavor and texture.
6. Kalakand
Some basic ingredients sometimes make something exceptional, which is what Kalakand is. The tasty Diwali sweet is made with milk and sugar but is known for its amazing grainy texture, which can be hard to achieve! The rich sweet can be garnished with chopped dry fruits like other Diwali desserts for a more royal appearance and enhanced texture.
7. Barfis
Like Ladoos, there are different types of barfis that are popular Diwali sweets. They are small square or rectangular pieces that have a fudge-like texture. From simple milk and sugar barfis to royal varieties like coconut, pistachio, or even chocolate barfis, everybody has a preferred Diwali mithai they adore and await.
Chef Surbhi Sahni, founder of New York City restaurant and mithai shop, Tagmo, comments on Diwali desserts and gives inspiration on how we can all use different flavors of Barfis:-
“Sweets are such an important part of Diwali… We mix in American traditions and do many barfi flavors—chocolate, raspberry, Oreo, caramel. It keeps things interesting.”
8. Soan Papdi
Soan Papdi is a flaky sweet gifted among every household during Diwali celebrations. The dessert is known for its light layers that take hours to achieve its beautiful taste and texture!
9. Kaju Gulab Roll
While Kaju Katli is the iconic festive treat, its alternative, Kaju Gulab Roll (roll made with cashews and rose), is counted among the top lavish Diwali delights. In this sweet, you get the richness of the dry fruit and the aroma and taste of the rose flower petals that make this a must-treat!
Chef Girish Nayak, a chef and owner of Bombay Sweet Shop, tells how this sweet is made:
“It’s made with a kaju katli base, rose, and pistachio barfi rolled like a Swiss roll and coated with poppy seeds. It’s a perfect amalgamation of the nutty notes from the poppy seeds-coated kaju katli outside and sweet, floral, and fragrant barfi made with gulkand and pistachio inside.”
10. Mal Pua
Diwali desserts can only be completed with this tasty dessert. It’s a sweet, deep-fried small pancake doused in sugar syrup made up of fennel, cardamom, and, of course, sugar. Try it with Rabri (a grainy milk dessert) for a delicious combination.
Conclusion
There is significance to Diwali sweets as they traditionally represent prosperity and sweetness. These festive treats help families, the neighborhood, and everybody come together. Everyone has their favorite sweet: one might love the shiny Kaju Katli or the simple but nostalgic taste of a Rasgulla that they wait for during the year to make and taste!