36 Diwali Sweets to Light Up Your Holiday Celebrations
There are so many ways to celebrate Diwali, also called Deepavali or the Festival of Lights. Innumerable traditions and myths surround the holiday, which is recognized across parts of South Asia and the diaspora. Whether you are throwing a holiday bash with diyas and string lights galore, searching for giftable sweets to share with loved ones, or looking for a festive treat for just yourself, we’ve got 36 Diwali sweets recipes for whatever you’re craving.
There’s plenty of classic mithai, or South Asian sweets, on this list like gulab jamun, jalebi, and kaju katli. But there are also pistachio thumbprints that can be packed and shared at the office, rose-perfumed shortbread cookies begging to be paired with a steaming cup of karak chai, and a tres-leches-by-way-of rasmalai cake that makes for a stunning Diwali party showstopper. Take your pick.
Many Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs celebrate Diwali with an entirely vegetarian (and eggless) menu. Some of the recipes on this list include eggs—choose whichever sweet treats are most appropriate for your celebration.
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Kat Boytsova. Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca1/36Salted Coconut Ladoos
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh2/36Coconut-Mango-Lime Barfi
Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Frances Boswell, prop styling by Sophie Strangio5/36Beet Halwa With Pistachios
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova6/36Easy Gulab Jamun
This easy gulab jamun recipe uses smart store-bought shortcuts like milk powder and pancake mix to stand in for traditional ingredients like khoya.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Carla Gonzalez-Hart14/36Coconut-Cardamom Doughnuts
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca15/36Saffron Milk Cake
Similar to rasmalai, a mithai made from soaking disks of fresh paneer in sweetened, spiced milk, this tres-leches-inspired cake submerges airy sponge cake in milk infused with saffron.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich18/36Chai Cake With Brown-Butter-Ghee Streusel
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni20/36Lime Squiggles
Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou21/36Kolar Pitha
These Bangladeshi fritters are fluffy and tender on the inside, crispy and craggy on the outside. While the traditional sweet is made with jaggery, these are sweetened with maple syrup instead.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore26/36Chewy Date and Dark Chocolate Cookies
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca27/36Giant Cardamom Bun
Christina Holmes29/36Rice Pudding with Fresh Pears and Honey
Kheer, a rice pudding, is a beloved dessert during the festive season. This rice pudding uses orange blossom water for added floral fragrance.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh32/36Raspberry-Tahini Thumbprint Cookies
Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh33/36Mango-Sumac Yogurt Semifreddo
This fruity, tangy semifreddo comes together like no-churn ice cream, which means it’s a stellar make-ahead dessert for your Diwali celebrations.
Alex Lau36/36Ice Cream with Saffron Oil and Sesame Wafer
Dress up store-bought vanilla ice cream with crispy sesame brittle and fragrant saffron for an effortless party dessert.