Diwali Sweets Recipes

From the archive: first published October 20, 2011.

Diwali is on October 26th. Diwali for me just meant sweets and crackers. I have collected some easy-to-make recipes for you. Happy Diwali!

Sandesh

Serves 6–8

• 1 lb ricotta cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cardamom powder

Knead the cheese into a fine, smooth paste. In a wok over low heat, cook the cheese and sugar, stirring continuously. When the sugar has melted and the cheese starts leaving the sides of the pan, add the cardamom powder.

Remove from heat. While still warm, divide into 25–30 portions and mold each into the desired shape. Serve at room temperature.

Kesar Shrikhand

(Sweetened saffron yogurt) — Serves 6–8

• 2 lbs plain whole-milk yogurt (hung in a muslin cloth overnight to drain the whey)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• A generous pinch of saffron, soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• Pistachios, chopped, for garnish

Beat the hung yogurt until smooth. Fold in the sugar, the saffron milk, and the cardamom until fully combined. Chill for at least 2 hours. Serve cold, garnished with pistachios.

Coconut Ladoo

The emergency sweet — ready in 20 minutes. Makes about 20 ladoos.

• 3 cups desiccated coconut (plus extra for rolling)
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder

Mix the coconut, condensed milk, and cardamom in a heavy pan and cook over low heat, stirring, until the mixture thickens and starts leaving the sides (about 8–10 minutes). Cool until you can handle it, roll into small balls, and roll each in extra coconut. Done.

Editor's note: reconstructed during our editorial review — the original 2011 post was truncated mid-recipe; the complete recipes above are written from standard preparations.