India may be known as the land of spices but there is absolutely no reason to neglect the massive variety of desserts it provides. A sweet dish to please every sweet tooth is something the country excels in. Broadly divided into four parts (North, East, South and West), each region endeavors on highlighting its authenticity and traditions through their desserts.
NORTH:
1) Kulfi
Generally known as “traditional Indian ice cream” this frozen dairy dessert comes in various flavors such as cream (malai), rose, mango, saffron etc.
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2) Gulab Jamun
Made from freshly curdled milk or milk solids (khoya), these deep fried balls are soaked in rose syrup and eaten to make you and your tummy happy with that insane amount of sweetness.
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3) Gajar Ka Halwa
Carrot halwa is a sweet dessert pudding enjoyed at all occasions and by people of all ages. (And the carrots make it healthy)
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4) Besan Ladoo
It is made with chickpea flour/gram flour, ghee and sugar, roasted in ghee to give it a nutty flavor and then formed into tiny balls (of happiness).
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5) Kaju Katli
This sweet, made from kaju (cashew) paste and sugar syrup, is famous not only in the north but all over the country.
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EAST:
1) Rasgulla
Soaked and dripping in sugar syrup, these balls are made from chenna (Indian cottage cheese) and originate from West Bengal.
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2) Sandesh
Sandesh can be made with jaggery or chenna. To make it more complex and elaborate, it is sometimes filled with coconut or sugar syrup.
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3) Mishti Doi
It is basically fermented sweet yogurt and is extremely famous in West Bengal, Bangladesh and Odisha.
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4) Cham Cham
Available in various colors and flavors, the one thing constant is the coating of coconut shavings.
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5) Rabdi
It is a sweet dish made with a combination of yogurt or condensed milk, flour and bajre ki roti. (Yum)
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SOUTH:
1) Coconut Barfi
Indian confectionery made with coconut, condensed milk and sugar.
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2) Mysore Pak
Mysore Pak is a famous South Indian made with ghee, sugar, gram flour and cardamom. It is a popular dessert served during baby showers.
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3) Sheer Korma
It is a vermicelli pudding made with dried dates with milk and is prepared by Muslims during Eid.
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4) Adhirasam
A favorite of Tamil cuisine, this doughnut like pastry is made from a combination of jaggery, rice flour, butter and pepper, and is a popular offering to Gods during puja (prayers).
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5) Qubani Ka Meetha
Made from dried apricots, this is a popular sweet belonging to the Hyderabadi cuisine.
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WEST:
1) Puran Poli
It is a sweet flatbread with a filling of jaggery and is native to Maharashtra.
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2) Karanji
They are fried sweet dumplings with a common filling of dry or moist coconut variants.
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3) Aamras
Aamras is basically the pulp of the mango fruit which is popularly and heartily eaten with chapati.
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4) Mohan Thaal
Made with sugar syrup, besan and ghee, this is a popular sweet belonging to the Rajasthani food.
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5) Shrikhand
Its origin can be traced back to the time of Mahabharata where Bhim invented this recipe and named it after Shri Krishna. Popular among Maharashtrian and Gujarati cuisines, this sweet dish is made of strained yogurt and spices such as cardamom and saffron are used to enhance its flavor.
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Happy Eating!