11 Indulgent Desserts and Sweets to Share at Diwali

Diwali, the Festival of Light, marks the Hindu new year and is a time to eat, drink and peruse the dessert table. While the holiday is commonly celebrated by illuminating the home with tea lights, candles and sparklers, it is also a particularly tasty time of year — specifically in the dessert department. Gift boxes, abundant with fruit, nuts and mithai (traditional Indian sweets), are exchanged between friends, and dessert stations at Diwali parties showcase platter after platter of colorful pastries. But how does one navigate around the many varieties of Diwali desserts? Here’s a look at what’s what, and why you should be indulging.

Like pudding or custard, halwa is served by the spoonful, allowing people to partake in as much or as little as they please. Traditionally, the moist, semolina-based dessert is crafted with sugar, ghee and water, then garnished with nuts, but there are countless variations deemed equally popular. Badam halwa features a base of ground almonds in lieu of semolina, while atta halwa begins with whole-wheat flour.

Halwa's versatility does not stop at grains though — halwa is commonly made with fruits and vegetables too. Gajar ka halwa is comfort in a bowl, incorporating carrots, milk and cardamom, while the striking beetroot halwa, crimson in color, is made with slow-cooked beets, whole milk and warm spices.

On Diwali, a towering platter of ladoos is just as festive to look at as it is to indulge in. The hand-rolled balls are bite-sized treats which can range in color, texture and flavor based on their variety. Besan ka ladoos are tightly packed rounds, made with gram flour, ghee, sugar and cardamom and are often combined with almond or pistachio pieces, while coconut ladoos serve as a more moist option, made with grated coconut and condensed milk. Boondi ke ladoos are some of the most popular of the bunch. These semi-soft ladoos are constructed by piecing together tiny rounds made from chickpea flour — or boondis — with nuts, saffron and cardamom, revealing a bright yellow ball of goodness.