Can Holi Sweets Be Healthy? Try These 5 Baked Homemade Recipes

Holi is just around the corner. People are all geared up to celebrate the festivals of colours. And Holi is literally incomplete without sweets. But eating too many sweets may cause blood sugar spikes, and can even be a cause of serious concern for diabetics. However, fret not – because we are here with some healthy non-fried baked sweet recipes, which can be prepared at home. If you want to prioritise your health this Holi, then this article is a must-read for you.

To get a better understanding of this, the editorial team of OnlyMyHealth reached out to Ms Edwina Raj, Head of Services - Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

5 Healthy Baked Holi Sweet Recipes

Ms Raj shares some Holi sweets recipes that are tasty and lighter than traditional fried sweets often prepared during Holi. Let’s take a look:

1. Baked Gujiya

Ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat flour, 3 tsp of makhana powder, 2 tablespoons ghee, water to knead, 1 cup grated dry coconut, 2 tablespoons chopped nuts, 2 tablespoons palm jaggery powder or pure monk fruit powder, and ½ teaspoon cardamom powder.

Recipe and process: Mix flour and ghee, add water, and knead into a soft dough. In a bowl, mix coconut, nuts, jaggery, and cardamom. Roll small discs, fill with stuffing, fold and seal. Brush lightly with ghee and bake at 180°C for 20–25 minutes until golden.

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2. No-Bake Dry Fruit Ladoo

Ingredients: Half cup dates (seedless), half cup raisins or prunes, ¼ cup almonds, ¼ cup cashews, 2 tablespoons pistachios, 1 tablespoon chia seeds.

Recipe and process:Dry roast nuts lightly and grind coarsely. Blend dates into a soft paste. Mix everything well, shape into small balls, and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

3. Baked Coconut Barfi

Ingredients: 1 cup fresh grated coconut, ½ cup sugarless khova or paneer, ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder, 1 tablespoon chopped nuts, honey 3tbsp, 100ml milk.

Recipe and process: Mix coconut, khova and milk in a pan and cook for 3–4 minutes on low flame. Turn off the flame, add honey, cardamom and nuts. Spread on a greased tray and bake at 170°C for 10 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

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4. Millet Malpua (No Fry)

Ingredients: ½ cup mixed millet flour, 2 tablespoons wheat flour, 1 mashed banana, 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, and milk as needed.

Recipe and process: Mix all ingredients into a smooth batter. Pour small portions on a non-stick pan and cook on low flame without deep frying until both sides are golden.

5. Baked Shakarpara

Ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat flour, 2 tablespoons ghee, 2 tablespoons powdered palm jaggery or pure monk fruit powder, water to knead.

Recipe and process: Mix flour, ghee, and jaggery, add water to form dough. Roll, cut into small diamond shapes, place on tray, and bake at 180°C for 15–20 minutes until crisp.

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The Final Word

Holi aka the ‘colour of festivals’ is incomplete without sweets. But gorging on too many sugary sweets can cause glucose levels to spike. Especially for those with diabetes, this may be a cause of concern. That is why, you can try non-fried baked healthy sweet recipes this Holi. These recipes can be prepared with ingredients such as ghee, jaggery and fruits as well, among others. They can give a new twist to the traditional Holi sweets, but with a pinch of wellness.

ALSO READ- Planning a Holi Party? Here’s How to Prep Your Skin 10 Days in Advance