1. Kaju Kathli
This is a type of barfi, which is made from cashew nuts paste and very attractive thing, that I personally like about this sweet dish is, the silver paper covering on it. It tastes the best, my personal favorite and which tops the list. Previously we had simple plain kathli that is made up of cashew-nuts paste but now we can also see a lot of variety in the same type of barfi, some of them are kaju rolls, mixed fruit kaju kathli and many more.
2. Badam Halva
All the sweet dishes of Diwali are special in their own way, but some of them are just not special, they are also royal. One of which is Badam (almonds) Halva, to add up to its luxury, the ingredients are almonds, khoya, milk and poppy seeds. It taste royal, it feels royal. This Halva becomes very important part of our Diwali celebration.
3. Shahi Tukda
Another traditional and royal sweet dish is Shahi Tukda, as the name itself tells you about how the sweetness of this dish would be. Bread slices are fried first and then soaked in milk, cherry on the cake is, the decoration done with nuts,pistachios and almonds. This is a dish, you should at least try once.
4. Mohanthaal
Mohanthaal is an Indian dessert made with gram flour, it tastes really nice and is decorated with nuts, pistachios to add on its taste. It is popularly made in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Very famous dish during Diwali. Nowadays sweets are a must during every small or big occasion in our lives and mohanthaal in this range has gained much popularity.
5. Mysore Paak
Mysore Paak, as the name suggests is the traditional and famous dish of Mysore and is known to have originated in Mysore Palace. It is a rich recipe and a mix of desi ghee, gram flour and sugar.The speciality of this dish is, it melts in your mouth as soon as you taste it. And none other thing can be more soothing than this, while you are eating any sweet dish.
6. Gulab Jamun
Here comes the most favourite and all-time hit sweet dish of Diwali. Firstly evolved as round in shape, but now it has also got cylindrical shape which forms some other type of sweet, covered with sugar all over. Traditional gulab jamun is made up of milk powder, khoya and paneer/cottage cheese. It is deep fried, and served with caramel, which tastes great.
7. Besan Ladoo
Every Indian knows about besan ladoo, as it is the most common sweet dish made during any festival in India. This yellow colored dish is made of powdered besan and powdered sugar, which is rolled with hands to give it a circle shape, and an oily texture. While making the mixture of besan(gram flour) and powdered sugar, there is extra care taken, so that it gives an oily texture after sometime. A small cashew is added on top for garnishing.
8. Rasgulla
This is one of the most popular and famous sweet dish of Odisha, West Bengal. Its texture is soft and spongy and main ingredient is milk, soaked in a special type of milk or liquid containing nuts, pistachios and chopped almonds or even sometimes caramel(sugar syrup). Serving is very special in this case, it is served in small traditional earthern pots, just to keep it cool, as it tastes best when it is served chilled.
9 Kalakand
This recipe can be made in 15 minutes, using ingredients sweet condensed milk and paneer. This dish was originated in Alwar, Rajasthan. Alternative names are mishri mawa and milk cake, it has the shape of a barfi and is decorated with very thin sliced cashew nuts. This is a little bit simple one as compared to other sweet dishes in India. On a big pan, milk is added and kept on stirring for a long time, until it forms a thick layer on the pan, and then it is kept sometime to cool down. After that, the thick layer is cut down in square pieces and garnished with nuts and pistachios.
10. Basundi
This sweet dish is originated from the states, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. It is made up of milk, sugar, cardamom and saffron. Saffron gives you a rich taste and it is form of liquid sweet dish. Chilled basundi is usually served with pistachios, nuts, almonds finely sliced in vertically. During cooking, it should be stirred very well, so that malai is not formed on top. As it should be thick, heavy cream is added during boiling process, to add to its thickness.
11. Rasmalai
It is a type of dessert originated from West Bengal. Common meaning can be derived from the name, that is, Ras means juice and malai means cream. The ingredients are white balls of chhana soaked in malai and given a flavor of cardamom. It is dipped in sugar syrup and milk with saffron and pistachios. Nowadays people also prefer making it at home on special occasions like Diwali.
12. Jalebi
This is a famous sweet dish of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Its alternate name are Jilbi, Jilipi, Jilapi (Bengali), Zulbia and many more. This is a form of dessert. Its main ingredients are Maida flour, saffron, ghee, sugar. It is orange in color. Its variations are imarti or jahangiri. Most of the people like jalebi served hot and its taste is just out of the world.
13. Rabri
This dish is also known as Rabdi in Rajasthan. A popular sweet dish overall India, and is preferred during all festivals that is throughout the year. This sweet dish is made with dahi (yoghurt) and flour. We can find rabri in most parts of northern, western and central India. Chopped dry fruits, nuts and pistachios can be added as garnish.
14. Sandesh
Famous Bengali dish, now well-known overall India. Its main ingredients are chhana or paneer, sugar, condensed milk and jaggery. This is a very popular Bengali dessert made with milk and sugar. Festivals and occasions in India are celebrated with the top-most ingredient that is sweets. It is garnished with pistachios and nuts all around. Condensed milk is a must ingredient of this dish.
15. Malpua
This sweet dish is originated in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The popular states in India very well-known for this sweet dish are Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra in India. Its key ingredients are plain flour, rice flour, sugar and coconut.
16. Gajar ka Halwa
Well-known dish in central and northern parts of India. Quiet famous in Punjab. This is a winter dessert served hot with nuts, pistachios and almonds. This orange color sweet dish is a mouth-watering dish and its smell pulls you towards it. This is a must try sweet dish and a very popular one. Gajar ka Halva is a must dish on festivals and on any pleasant occasion in your houses as well.
17. Babroo
This is a speciality of Himachal Pradesh. A well-known pahadi dish. One of the popular Diwali delicacies in Himachal. Main ingredients are flour and sugar, it has a solid texture but tastes good. An appropriate dish on the mountains.
18. Coconut Laddoo
Assam is another famous state for its various sweet dishes during Diwali time. Cocnut is one of the most important ingredient for making sweets. Some sweet dishes made from coconut are, coconut barfi, coconut laddoo and many more. These are small white laddoos rolled circular and are popular sweets during Diwali.
19. Balushai
Alternate name given to balushai is ‘Shakkar Parre’ in Madhya Pradesh. It has a solid texture but an awesome taste, as it seems to be tough from outside, it is sweeter than that from inside. This is soaked in sugar syrup and served. This is such a sweet dish, you will never want to miss. A very important and must sweet of Indian festive seasons and occasions.
20. Phirni
Phirni is condensed and creamy milky sweet usually served with hot spicy Biryani. Very famous Mughlai sweet dish, made in southern parts of India. A rich and royal taste and feel and texture of the dish, including great taste. It is also a form of dessert. Kesar is another ingredient, without which garnishing is incomplete. It has a thick texture and awesome taste.
