Diwali is all about lights, joy, and of course… sweets! But this festive season, why not indulge mindfully? Swap out refined sugar and heavy ingredients for wholesome, naturally sweet alternatives that nourish your body while satisfying your sweet cravings.
From nutrient-packed ladoos to creamy phirni, these 5 deliciously healthy recipes by My Little Moppet are perfect for a guilt-free, joyous celebration. Let’s make your Diwali both festive and wholesome!
5 Recipes by My Little Moppet
Edible Chocolate Diya
This Diwali, surprise your kids with a unique and nutritious treat that’s both delicious and guilt-free! Our Edible Chocolate Diya Recipe is crafted with wholesome ingredients, including khoya, unsweetened cocoa powder, and jaggery powder, making it a perfect snack for kids.
Ingredients:
- 250 grams khoya (I have reduced 1 liter of full cream milk to get this)
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup jaggery powder
Method:
- In a heavy-bottom non-stick pot, add the crumbled khoya and jaggery powder and cook on a medium flame until all the jaggery has melted completely and well blended with the khoya mixture. This may take around 5-6 minutes.
- Simply incorporate unsweetened cocoa powder and mix thoroughly.
- Cook the mixture for about a minute and then turn off the flame. Avoid overcooking, as it may cause the mixture to become hard and chewy, making it challenging to shape.
- Transfer the mixture to a plate and let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Then, shape the mixture into six equal balls.
- Carefully shape the balls into diya shapes. If you find it challenging to shape them, don’t worry! Simply flatten the ball slightly, add chopped pistachios on top, and savor them as chocolate khoya peda treats.
- For added appeal, consider leaving the diyas empty or filling them with saffron-flavored khoya. The choice is yours!
These adorable diyas are edible and healthy treats too, as they are sugar-free. You want to keep them mildly sweet, so adjust the jaggery as you like. You can also flavor the diya with vanilla or cardamom powder. With just three ingredients, this edible chocolate diya recipe is a breeze to make, especially if you already have khoya on hand. So hurry up and light up your tummies with these yummy treats!
Dry Fruit Gujiya
It’s celebration time, with a healthy twist! This Whole Wheat Gujiya is a delicious and nutritious treat that everybody will love, made with wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour, dates, and desiccated coconut.
Ingredients for the outer covering:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon fine suji/semolina
- 1 -2 tablespoons of ghee
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup milk or as required
Ingredients for stuffing:
- 20 dates (de-seeded and chopped, approximately 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup desiccated coconut
- 2 tablespoons dry fruit powder
Other Ingredients:
- Oil for deep frying
Method:
- In a mixing bowl, take the whole wheat flour. Add suji, salt, and ghee, and mix well.
- Add warm milk as needed and knead into a slightly tight dough.
- Cover and allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, let’s prepare the stuffing for the gujiya.
- In a bowl, take the de-seeded and chopped dates. Add desiccated coconut and dry fruit powder to it and combine well. Stuffing is now ready.
- Make 8 equal portions of the dough and roll out each dough ball into a disc. Hold the disc in your palms. Add 1 tablespoon of stuffing over it. Fold the disc to make a half circle. Seal the edges by applying a little milk to the corners.
- Now, either traditionally shape the gujiya by creating a beautiful pleated pattern around the edges, as shown in the pics and video, or simply make impressions using a fork.
- Prepare all the gujiya similarly.
- Heat oil in a wok over medium heat.
- Tip in 2-3 gujiya into the oil and deep fry until the gujiyas turn golden brown on both sides.
- Remove the gujiya using a slotted spoon and allow to drain on an absorbent paper. Serve the gujiya fresh.
If storing the gujiya, let it cool down completely before transferring it into an air-tight container. The gujiya stays good for a day or two at room temperature in an airtight container. As the stuffing is made of dates, storing the Gujiya for longer will make them soggy.
Chocolate Dates Phirni
Surprise your kids with a creamy and nutritious dessert that’s both healthy and scrumptious! Our Choco Dates Phirni Recipe is made with wholesome ingredients like full cream milk, basmati rice, and Little Moppet Foods Choco Dates Smoothie Mix, making it a perfect treat for the festive season.
Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 cups full-cream milk, boiled and cooled
- 2 tablespoons basmati rice, rinsed and soaked in water for 15 minutes
- 2 tablespoons Little Moppet Foods Choco Dates Smoothie Mix
- 2 tablespoons Little Moppet Foods Dry Dates Powder
- 1 tablespoon chopped/slivered pistachios
Method:
- Drain the rice and grind it with a little water to get a smooth paste.
- Pour 1/2 cup of milk into a bowl. Add the rice paste and 2 tablespoons of Little Moppet Foods Choco Dates Smoothie powder and mix.
- Whisk well to ensure there are no lumps. Keep aside.
- In a saucepan, heat the remaining 1 cup of milk on low to medium flame. Add the dry dates powder to it and allow the milk to boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Now add the rice mix to the milk and keep stirring to ensure the milk does not catch the bottom of the pan.
- Cook the phirni on a low flame until the rice is completely cooked, and the phirni appears thick and creamy. Keep stirring occasionally.
- The phirni thickens further on cooling, so switch off the flame accordingly. Garnish the phirni with pistachio slivers and serve in individual clay bowls.
Phirni is generally served chilled, although you can serve it warm too. It’s best to consume the chocolate dates Phirni within a day. If you’re serving it later, be sure to keep it refrigerated until serving time.
Fig & Nut Laddoo
Add a delightful touch to your celebrations with these delicious and healthy treats! Our Fig and Nut Ladoo Recipe is a perfect blend of sweetness and nutrition, made with wholesome ingredients like dried figs, mixed nuts, and desiccated coconut, ideal for enjoying any time of the year.
Ingredients
- Dried Figs – 1 cup.
- Mixed Nuts – 1/2 cup
- Desiccated Coconut – 1/4 cup.
- Dates – 4-5
- Ghee (Clarified Butter) – 2-3 tablespoons
- Cardamom Powder – A pinch
Method
- Soak dried figs in warm water for 15-20 minutes.
- Drain figs and blend with pitted dates until smooth.
- Dry roast chopped nuts until fragrant and golden.
- Mix fig-date paste, roasted nuts, coconut, and cardamom.
- Add melted ghee to help bind the mixture.
- Roll small portions into bite-sized laddoos.
- Let laddoos cool for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Transfer cooled laddoos to an airtight container.
- Store at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for a longer shelf life.
Enjoy this wholesome and scrumptious treat as a family!
Sweet and Scrumptious Pineapple Kesari
Here’s a special treat for babies during celebrations – Pineapple Kesari! This healthy recipe is a nutritious and delicious option for little ones, using pineapple puree as a natural sweetener, making it suitable for babies from 8 months onwards. A wholesome delight to share joyful moments with your tiny tots!
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons suji/semolina
- ¼ cup chopped ripe pineapple
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon almond powder
- Pinch of cinnamon powder or cardamom powder
- 1 tablespoon ghee
Method:
- In a saucepan, add water and pineapple chunks and boil for 3-4 minutes or until the pineapple is well-cooked.
- Puree this mixture and keep it aside.
- Heat ghee in a non-stick pan and fry the suji on a low flame until aromatic.
- Add the warm pineapple puree to the roasted suji and stir well so that no lumps are formed. Cook for 1-2 minutes and turn off the flame.
- Flavor the kesari with almond powder and cardamom powder, or cinnamon powder.
- Stir well. Serve the kesari to the baby while still warm.
Kesari is a common sweet in Indian homes and can be flavored with any fruit. If you’ve been looking for a healthy dessert option, Pineapple Kesari is a must-have on your menu!
Indulge in the festive spirit of Diwali with a delightful twist this year!