As the festive season sets in, with the irresistible aroma of sweets wafting around, colourful Diwali mithai boxes calling out your names, cheerful gatherings and parties –it's hard to keep up with your health goals. Are you looking for a healthy, sugar-free Diwali sweets recipe? Keeping your concerns in mind, here is a list of sugar-free Deepavali sweet recipes you can try for this Diwali.
1. Dry Fruit Laddu
Laddus are part of everyone's fondest memories about almost all festivals. Gorging on them is a must to enjoy the festive vibes to the fullest. Here is a dry fruit laddu recipe–healthy energy balls to fuel up amidst the festivities. It's a great idea to add dry fruits to a Diwali sweets recipe , they are rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals and a source of healthy fats.
- 1.5 cups dates (seedless, chopped)
- 1 cup mixed nuts (chopped)
- 2 tsp of dried coconut
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 1-2 tbsp cow ghee
- Soak dates in warm water and then chop.
- Mix dates, roasted nuts of choice, dried coconuts and cardamom powder in a bowl until the mix is soft enough to roll.
- Grease hands with ghee and roll the mixture into small balls
- Let sit for a few minutes to firm up.
2. Sugar-free Carrot Halwa
Carrot halwa is the favourite sweet dish in our households and is amognst easy sugar-free Dewali dessert recipes to make. Carrots are high in beta-carotene and known to support eye health, boost immunity, and promote healthy skin; you can replace refined sugar with natural sweeteners like dates, which are not only sweet but also filled with nutrients and health benefits. So, let's whip up Carrot halwa, sugar-free sweets for Diwali.
- 4-5 medium carrots, grated
- 2 tsp of cashews and raisins
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 3/4 cup of milk
- 5 to 8 dates, pitted and chopped
- 1/4 tsp green cardamom powder
- Chopped pistachios and almonds to garnish
Instructions
- Heat ghee in a pan and roast cashew nuts and raisins
- Add grated carrots and saute for 5 min until soft and lose rawness, add dates paste and mix well.
- Pour milk and mix, cook on low flame for about 5 to 10 minutes and stir them occasionally; add cardamom powder and cook again until sticky. If you are using a pressure.
- Top it off with chopped pistachios.
2. Walnut Burfi
Drool-worthy burfis are a must-have for the Diwali mithai menu. Interestingly, the name burfi itself comes from barfi, meaning snow. But most of the store-bought burfi contain lots of refined sugar, artificial colours and food additives.
Here is a simple yet healthy walnut burfi you can make at home. Walnuts are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty, specifically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This plant-based omega-3 supports heart health by reducing inflammation and lowering cholesterol levels. Besides, they are good for your brain and rich in antioxidants. All these make walnut burfi one of the One of best sugar-free Dewali dessert recipes.
- ½ cup of walnuts and other nuts of your choice.
- 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds
- 1.5 cups dates (seedless, chopped)
- 2 tsp ghee
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
- Add roasted walnuts, almonds or other nuts of your choice in a food processor and make them pulverized. You can also chop them instead of using a food processor.
- Heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan. Add almonds, pumpkin and sesame seeds. Roast until golden, then set aside.
- In the same pan, add 1 tsp of ghee and chopped dates and cook on low heat until sticky.
- Add nuts mix and cardamom powder to the date mixture and mix well.
- Spread the mixture onto a greased plate, press down, and let set for 1-2 hours.
- Cut into squares and enjoy.
4. Chia Pudding
A healthy chia Pudding is a simple and delicious dessert to round off the festive menu. Chia seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and antioxidants promoting overall health and well-being. So, how about adding chia Pudding to this year's Deepavali sweet recipe list?
- 4 tsp chia seeds
- 1 cup milk
- 1-2 tbsp honey
- A pinch of salt
- In a bowl or jar, mix chia seeds, milk, honey and a pinch of salt. Stir well or you can shake the jar.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Stir it after 1 or 2 hours.
- Refrigerate it overnight.
- Serve chilled, topped with your favourite fruits, berries and nuts.
5. Laddubars
If you are too busy to cook or want to have a healthy snack in a convenient format, try Laddubars. The Laddubars are packed with nuts, seeds, and other healthy kitchen ingredients. Each bar is made from recipes from grandmother's kitchen— adding homely flavours to the Diwali mithai menu with a modern spin.
Tips to Make Healthy Diwali Sweets
Use whole grains and millet while preparing the dishes instead of refined flour and maida.
Limit the fat content in preparations and go for healthier options like nut butter.
Add more nuts and seeds; they are not only healthy but delicious too and make sweets more satisfying.
Try to use spices like cinnamon to enhance flavour without adding extra calories or sugar.
Look for Deepavali sweet recipe which involve baking or steaming, if possible, instead of frying to keep calories and fat in check.
Make smaller portions or bite-sized treats to help with portion control.
