I don’t mean to be bossy or anything, but… You must. Make. These. NOW. You must fill your mouth with the unique flavors of mithai, from humble sugar and milk transformed by classic Indian spices.
And you need to send this new flavor profile into your soul, often cooked right on the stovetop as a refreshing alternative to baked treats.
I’m putting on my #bossypants for the joy of your tastebuds. So obey. Please. Here are 23 of the most delectable Indian desserts to make at home!
1. Jalebi
This one is an absolute game-changer. I love how it reminds me of a funnel cake, but with its own special twist!
You see these everywhere from popular street food carts to big weddings and celebrations, and there’s a reason why. They’re deliciously crispy and juicy all at once.
The batter is made with gram flour and all-purpose flour before being dunked in a sugar syrup. And get this, you can have these delightful sweets ready in 30 minutes or even less when you get the batter just right. It’s a total win!
2. Indian Milk Balls
Okay, YUMMMM. Also known as gulab jamun, these are little balls of pure joy. Traditionally, they’re made from khoya (dried milk solids), flour, sugar, and Indian spices.
Since khoya can be tough to track down outside of Northern India, lots of people make these with milk powder instead. These little berry-sized milk balls get dunked in a sticky, rose-flavored syrup.
The flavor gets even more intense with additions like cardamom powder, paneer, and a little lime juice. When they’re perfect, they are completely smooth on the outside and so moist inside. They are just impossible to resist!
3. Kulfi
The perfect summer dessert has arrived, and its name is kulfi! This is so much more than just a simple ice cream; it has a totally different flavor profile and a denser texture that I just love.
It’s unbelievably creamy without any starchy flavor, which comes from combining fresh cream and cornstarch. The super-rich taste is all thanks to sweetened evaporated milk, nuts, and cardamoms.
Once the mixture is ready, you’ll need some steel cups or popsicle molds to freeze it. The result is a well-spiced, frozen dairy dessert that everyone, from kids to kids-at-heart, will go nuts for!
4. Puran Poli
Puran poli is, simply put, a flatbread with a sweet filling inside. It’s a super common sight during Indian celebrations like Holi and Diwali.
The “poli” is a flatbread made from whole wheat flour, while the “puran” is a filling that brings together lentils, jaggery, cardamom, saffron, and nutmeg.
This flavor-packed flatbread is amazing all on its own, but you can also serve it with milk infused with saffron and cardamom for the absolute tastiest snack ever!
5. Toasted Coconut Ladoo
Give me just 20 minutes and four ingredients, and you’ll have a festive Indian dessert that is packed with coconut flavor and so much crunchy goodness.
All you’re going to need is coconut milk, shredded coconut, milk, and sugar. The cooking steps? They’re ridiculously easy to do. Just toast up the shredded coconut, mix it with coconut milk and flavorings, and let it cool down.
Then you shape it into balls and get ready to eat! The recipe calls for cardamom for extra flavor, but you can totally use other things depending on your preference. Vanilla extract or lemon zest would be awesome options.
6. Shahi Tukra
Shahi tukra is a classic dessert from Hyderabad that features deep-fried bread slices in a creamy sugar syrup. The bread gets fried in ghee until it’s crispy and then placed over a spiced and thickened milk mixture.
If you want a lower-calorie version, you can always toast the bread in the oven instead of frying it. This is such a great way to use up any leftover bread and totally wow your guests with a gorgeous and flavorful sweet dish.
7. Rasmalai
Here we have a juicy and creamy dessert that will just melt right in your mouth. You can expect some explosive flavors from the sugar, saffron, cardamom, creamed milk, and nuts.
This quintessential sweet treat came from Bengal but is super popular all over India. Making rasmalai can be a bit time-consuming, but the steps are really easy to follow.
It’s a three-part process: making chena discs, boiling them in sugar syrup, and then letting them rest in thickened milk. The trickiest part is getting the chena perfectly soft, and the secret is to curdle the milk right after it comes to a boil.
8. Kalakand
This kalakand, or milk cake, is spiced with piney and fruity cardamom and has a texture that just melts in your mouth. There’s a wonderful crunch from the chopped pistachios on top, too!
This dessert is firm but still moist, kind of like a cross between a cake and a fudge. The color can change depending on how you cook it and what ingredients you use.
Traditionally, making kalakand takes SO much time, but this recipe is a game-changer because it shows you how to cook it in an Instant Pot! How amazing is that?
9. Sooji Halwa
Ghee, sugar, and sooji (semolina) are the key players in this absolutely mouthwatering Indian pudding. You can add flavorings if you want, but if you’re looking for that truly intensified Indian flavor, don’t skip the cardamom and nuts.
There are two secrets to making the best sooji halwa. First, you have to get the ratio right: the main ingredients are all in equal amounts, and the water is doubled.
Second, you have to roast the sooji so it doesn’t have a raw taste. Now that the secrets are out, go make a dessert that will please any crowd!
10. Indian Carrot Pudding
Carrot pudding is a dessert from North India that’s a huge hit during Diwali, a religious festival celebrating good triumphing over evil.
This nutritious pudding has a mix of carrots, nuts, milk, sugar, and ghee (which is clarified butter). Carrots are a source of beta carotene, which our bodies turn into vitamin A.
For a healthier version, you can swap out whole milk for cashew milk. You can serve this pudding hot or cold, and it pairs perfectly with a cup of masala chai (Indian spiced tea).
11. Doodh Peda
You can find doodh peda in almost every mithai shop in India, which tells you just how popular this dessert is! Peda uses khoya, which is evaporated and dried milk solids.
For this recipe, both homemade and instant khoya work great. Sweetened and flavored with cardamom powder, sugar, and pistachios, doodh peda is just simply decadent!
12. Boondi Ladoo
At first glance, boondi ladoos might look tricky to make, but this recipe proves that’s not the case at all. The entire prep and cook time is only about 35 minutes!
The recipe has you make boondis from gram flour, cook them in a sugar syrup, and then shape them into little balls. Add some raisins or nuts for extra flavor.
Just like the Indian carrot pudding, bondi ladoos are really popular during the Diwali season. They’re also served during Raksha Bandhan, a festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
13. Phirni
So simple and yet so full of flavor, phirni is one of those Indian desserts you absolutely have to try! It’s super easy to make, and all you need are milk, rice, saffron, sugar, and nuts.
This dessert might look a lot like rice kheer, but they’re made differently. Kheer uses whole rice grains, while phirni is made with ground rice.
Adding aromatics like rose petals, saffron strands, or cardamom powder gives it such a fragrant finish.
Meanwhile, almonds or pistachios add another layer of flavor. For a fun twist, you can even add pureed or grated fresh fruits to the classic recipe. Change up the fruits, and you change up the flavor of the phirni, too!
14. Urad Dal Laddu
You are going to love snacking on these no-bake protein balls! They’re crunchy, delicious, and seriously nutritious. This is the kind of dessert you can enjoy without any guilt.
The main ingredient here is urad dal (a type of lentil) which is packed with protein, vitamin B, and other nutrients. Other healthy additions include ghee and jaggery.
To really amp up the flavor, you can add some dried fruits or almonds into the mix.
15. Indian Peanut Brittle
If you’re a big fan of sweets and peanuts, this recipe is absolutely for you! Also known as chikki, this sweet treat is traditionally made with peanuts and jaggery or brown sugar.
Other versions use extra flavorings like ghee, sesame seeds, and a mix of different nuts. The nutty and sweet flavors are just a match made in heaven.
You’ll love munching on this peanut brittle any time of day!
16. Rasgulla
Fluffy, syrupy, white-colored balls that just melt in your mouth — rasgulla is seriously to die for! If you ever visit India, this is an absolute must-have.
Just like rasmalai, rasgulla is made by curdling milk to get a soft chenna. The whey is drained, and the chenna is kneaded and shaped into balls. Then, they’re cooked in sugar syrup with a few spices.
For rasgulla, the spongy, juicy balls need to be cooked until they double in size. You’ll want to refrigerate this dish with its syrup and serve it chilled. So good!
17. Shrikhand
Shrikhand is often served as part of a thali meal at Indian restaurants or during weddings. It’s a classic dessert that comes from the Indian states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Shrikhand is made with hung curd, which is yogurt that has had all its water drained out. Add some saffron, cardamom, milk, and sugar, and you get a sweet, smooth, and creamy dessert!
For a little crunchy finish, top it off with some chopped pistachios.
18. Seviyan
If you’re loving all the different kinds of puddings available in India, here’s another one that’s definitely worth checking out. Seviyan kheer is perfectly creamy and delicious, with a really unique look thanks to its main ingredient: vermicelli.
The magic really happens when you combine the other ingredients, like whole milk, sugar, saffron, and roasted mixed nuts. Feel free to switch up the spices and toppings based on what you like.
Best of all, Seviyan is SO easy to make, it’s almost hands-free! Just toss everything into the Instant Pot, set it to porridge mode, give it a good stir, and serve.
19. Mysore Pak
This dessert from Southern India originally came from one of the country’s largest and most magnificent palaces, the Mysore Palace.
The ghee-soaked Mysore pak is flavored with sugar and cardamom, and its texture is a bit like a buttery cookie. This dish is easy to whip up at home, and the whole process takes less than 30 minutes.
You’ll know you’ve nailed it when the outside is crumbly and the inside is oh-so-tender!
20. Mango Halwa
The richness and sweetness of mango pulp really bring this sweet dish to life. Combined with flour, ghee, and sugar, you can create one of the most beloved Indian desserts out there.
Mango halwa, or mango sheera, has a melt-in-your-mouth texture, an addictive aroma, and a perfectly balanced sweetness.
While the main flavor comes from the mango pulp, other ingredients like cardamom, nuts, and vanilla make it even more indulgent.
If you’re a mango fan, this dessert will make you go wild in the best way! When served hot or warm, it’s the perfect sweet dish for those chilly winter nights.
21. Indian Rice Pudding (Kheer)
A list of Indian desserts just wouldn’t be complete without the famous rice kheer, or Indian rice pudding. This is one of those sweet dishes that you’ll find in most Indian homes.
The reason? It only needs three simple ingredients: rice, milk, and sugar. It’s recommended to use whole milk to get the richest and creamiest consistency.
To flavor the rice kheer, you’ll need some extra spices like cardamom, rose water, saffron, and nuts. When you mix them all together, these additions bring a floral aroma and a tropical taste.
22. Kaju Katli
Kaju katli is essentially a fudge made from powdered cashews. In its most basic form, all you need is water, sugar, and of course, cashews.
For some extra flavoring, just add a bit of ghee and rose water. This dessert is a labor of love and might not be easy to make on your first try. But with a little practice, you might find yourself making this beautiful dessert again and again.
23. Basundi
Basundi is made by boiling milk until it becomes thick and creamy. Its delicate flavors come from cardamom and saffron, which are two of the most loved spices in India.
Tossing in some crunchy fruits will make this mixture even richer and more flavorful. You’ll want to go for full-fat or whole milk to get that perfect creamy consistency.
For an extra boost of flavor and aroma, think about adding some rose water, too.