Diwali and sweets are synonymous, and it is that time of the year, where everyone loves to indulge in yummy desserts.

With festive mood in full swing, houses brightened up, family dressed in new clothes to invite Goddess Lakshmi, let’s also whip up healthy sweets.

Try out these traditional recipes that come in all new avatar with a nutritional makeover and enjoy it with family and friends.

Coconut Ladoo:

Coconut ladoo is a very easy and simple to make delicious sweet with minimal use of ingredients. Swap sugar to dates and nuts to make it healthier and nutrient dense.

Ingredients

2 cups grated coconut

1 cup chopped dates

1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, cashew chopped)

½ cup coconut powder

Method

In a bowl add finely grated coconut, chopped dates and nuts, mix them thoroughly.

Grease your palm with a little bit of ghee and take a small amount of mixture and roll it into round ladoo.

Garnish it with fresh coconut powder to make it look more appealing.

Nutritional Facts

Coconut is a good source of monosaturated fatty acids, dates are loaded with iron, copper, selenium and potassium and nuts provide you with essential omega 3 fatty acids, that boost your memory and improves overall health.

White Pumpkin/Ash Gourd Halwa

Whit pumpkin halwa is quite a popular South Indian dessert that is made during Diwali. It is very yummy and delicious sweet loaded with nutrients and easy to make.

Ingredients

2 cups grated pumpkin

½ cup   milk

2-3 tbsp ghee

1 tbsp mixed nuts for garnishing

1 cup palm sugar 

 ¼ tsp cardamom powder

Method

Grate pumpkin and squeeze water completely using a muslin cloth.

Cook grated pumpkin in ½ cup of milk, until tender. Keep it aside.

In a pan add ghee, roast all the nuts and keep it aside.

Add cooked pumpkin and sauté well in ghee.

When it is done and starts thickening, add powdered palm sugar and cardamom.

Cook it on high flame stirring continuously until the palm sugar melts and binds well.

Once the pumpkin starts leaving the sides, add ghee and stir for 2-3 minutes.

Garnish with roasted nuts.

Nutritional Facts

Pumpkin is a good source of fibre, a low-calorie vegetable, filled up with vitamin A, C, B6 and other essential nutrients that help in boosting your immunity and good for optimum health. Swapping sugar with palm sugar makes this halwa even healthier.