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As Diwali approaches, the excitement of festive treats fills the air. For those embracing a vegan lifestyle or seeking healthier alternatives, there’s no need to miss out on the joy of sweets. These delectable vegan sweets are the perfect addition to your Diwali celebrations, offering a healthy and compassionate twist to traditional Indian desserts. Crafted without dairy or refined sugar, these treats embody the spirit of plant-based living while retaining the rich flavours and textures we all love.
From the vibrant Vegan Gajar Motichoor Laddu to the rich Vegan Badam Halwa, these recipes use wholesome ingredients like jaggery, nuts, and seeds, ensuring a burst of nutrition in every bite. Whether you're indulging in the nutty sweetness of Vegan Dates Poli or the creamy delight of Vegan Sabudana Apple Kheer and Vegan Muesli Jar, these festive desserts bring joy to your palate while aligning with the values of health and sustainability. Celebrate Diwali with these guilt-free, dairy-free, and flourless sweets that honor both tradition and wellness. These divine Diwali sweet recipes are created by Saritha Sreedharan, a nutritionist and supporter of Veganuary India. She is also the author of the Whole Foods Plant-Based cookbook.
Vegan Muesli Jar
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
Rolled oats - 1/2 cup
Chia seeds - 1 tbsp
Melon seeds - 1 tbsp
Rose petals - 1 tsp, for garnish
Raisins - 1 tbsp
Dates - 2, chopped
Mixed nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts) - 2 tbsp, chopped
Almond milk (or any nut milk) - 1 cup (plus extra for consistency if needed)
Maple syrup - 1 tbsp
Cut fruit (such as berries, banana, or mango) - 1/2 cup
Peanut butter - 1 tbsp
Soaking: In a jar, add rolled oats, chia seeds, melon seeds, rose petals, raisins, dates, and chopped nuts. Pour almond milk over the mixture, stirring well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Method: In the morning, add additional almond milk if the mixture is too thick and stir in maple syrup.- Layer in a jar or long glass, alternating between the oat mixture, cut fruit, and peanut butter. Garnish with rose petals and serve chilled.
Vegan Gajar Motichoor laddu: Flourless laddu
Ingredients:
Winter carrots(Gajar) - 2 Big size
Jaggery powder / Brown sugar - 1 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Dry ginger powder - 1/4 tsp
Nuts / Seeds - 3 tsp finely chopped
Cutting: Peel the carrots and mince them to fine consistency in a vegetable shredder. Carrot size should look like moti choor.
Method: Heat a heavy bottom pan. Add the minced carrots to the pan and roast them while tossing periodically on medium heat. After about 5-6 minutes when the carrots are soft, add the jaggery powder/ brown sugar, mix well and allow it to cook for some time. Sprinkle cardamom powder, nuts, and ginger powder. On medium heat cook till the consistency of the carrots gets to a binding consistency.
Try making a small laddu to check if it's ready to bind. If not, cook for a few minutes more. Allow this mixture to cool for a minute before making the laddus. You can store them in a refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Vegan Dates poli
Makes 6 to 8 polis
Ingredients:
Peanuts -1/2 cup
Sesame - 1/4 cup
Fresh coconut - 1 cup
Dates - 2 1/2 cups deseeded
Ginger powder - 1/4 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Roasting & Blending: Dry roast all ingredients except dates. Allow them to cool and blend them to fine powder. Depending on the softness of the dates, the paste will be soft or moist. If needed, add very little water while blending. The filling is ready. Knead 2 cups of wheat flour to semi-hard consistency. Leave it for 30 minutes.
Method: Make small round balls of the dough, make a small depression in it and add sufficient filling. Gently wrap the dough around the filling and roll the poli to a thin/ thick consistency according to your choice. Heat a pan and slow-cook the poli on both sides. Sprinkle a little oil (optional) while cooking. Enjoy healthy puran poli.
Vegan Badam halwa
10 Minutes badam halwa
Ingredients:
Almonds - 1 cup
Jaggery powder - 3/4 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder -1/2 tsp
Saffron- few strands for flavour
Any nut milk - 1/2 cup
Blending: Powder almonds to fine powder, do not remove the peel.
Method: Use a pan with a handle. Add all the above ingredients to the pan. Mix well. On medium heat, cook by stirring periodically. As the almonds cook, the oils from the nuts are released, which is sufficient for the halwa. Cook till you get a halwa consistency. Transfer to a bowl while it is still warm. Garnish with any crushed seeds. The halva can be stored for 3 days in a refrigerator. You can choose to add fresh mango pulp (if it is in season) as a topping, as shown in the image.
Vegan Sabudana Apple kheer
Makes 4 cups
Ingredients:
Any nut milk - 2 cups
Sabudana- Soaked 3/4 cup
Deseeded & mashed custard apple - 1 cup
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Saffron- few strands for flavour
Mixed seeds, roasted - For garnish
Soaking: Soak sabudana in water for 3 to 4 hrs.
Method: Heat a little oil in a pan and cook sabudana till they become transparent. Add thick nut milk, cardamom powder, and saffron and mix well. Let it cook for a few minutes. Be careful to not boil the milk. Remove from the heat and add mashed custard apple. Serve in bowls and garnish with roasted mixed seeds.
