Raksha Bandhan 2024: Celebrate sibling sweetness with a twist on traditional recipes

Traditional Raksha Bandhan sweets recipes: Orange crush coconut barfi

No celebration is complete without sweets, but finding the right one can be tricky. Some people prefer sweets without sugar, others want vegan options, and some are just looking for a fresh twist on traditional treats. If you’re looking to delight your sibling with a sweet treat that meets different preferences, try these recipes that cater to a variety of tastes.

Making sweets for Rakshabandhan to show your love to your sibling is simple with these recipes, says Chef Naveen, Marugarh Resort, Jodhpur. He suggests, “For a sugar-free option that still satisfies your sweet tooth, try khajoor anjeer laddoo, which combines dates, figs, nuts, and coconut with ghee. The white chocolate barfi blends creamy white chocolate with cardamom and pistachio. Besan laddoo, a classic favourite, is made by roasting gram flour with ghee, turmeric, and nuts. Gond giri ladoo mixes wheat flour, ghee, nuts, coconut, and crushed gond for a tasty, healthy treat. Lastly, orange crush coconut barfi adds a modern twist with coconut and orange crush, topped with nuts and cut into refreshing pieces.”

Orange crush coconut barfi

Ingredients: Coconut powder, 1 kg; Ghee, 200 gm; Pistachio flakes, 50 gm; Almond flakes, 50 gm; Orange crush, 50 ml

Method: Heat 400 ml water in a pan and add sugar to make a two-string syrup. Stir in orange crush, then mix in coconut powder and ghee. Cook for 20 minutes, then spread the mixture in a ghee-greased tray. Garnish with pistachio and almond flakes, flatten with a rolling pin, and cut into pieces once set.

Traditional Raksha Bandhan sweets recipes: Khajoor anjeer laddoos (sugar free)

Khajoor anjeer laddoos (sugar free)

Ingredients: Dates, 500 gm; Figs, 25 gm; Almond slices, 1/3 cup;  Cashew nuts, 200 gm; Pistachios, 100 gm; Grated coconut, 100 gm; Ghee, 200 gm

Method: Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat. Add cashew nuts, pistachios, and almond slices; sauté until lightly golden. Add chopped figs and dates, and cook with the dry fruits until softened. Stir in grated coconut and cook for another 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool for 30 minutes, then shape into small laddoos and serve.

Traditional Raksha Bandhan sweets recipes: White chocolate barfi

White chocolate barfi

Ingredients: White chocolate, 1 kg; Pistachio (finely cut), 200 gm; Green cardamom, 50 gm;
Ghee, 50 gm; Milk powder, 200 gm

Method: Melt white chocolate in a bowl set over boiling water. Once melted, stir in milk powder, green cardamom, and pistachios. Pour the mixture into a ghee-greased tray and spread evenly. Refrigerate for 1 hour, then cut into pieces and serve.

Traditional Raksha Bandhan sweets recipes: Besan ladoo

Besan ladoo

Ingredients: Besan (gram flour), 1 kg; Sugar, 1 kg; Ghee, 600 gm; Mace powder, 1 tsp; Green cardamom powder, 1 tsp; Cashews, ¼ cup; Almond flakes, 100 gm; Turmeric powder, ½ tsp

Method: Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat. Add besan and sauté until golden brown. Stir in turmeric powder and continue to cook. Add sugar, mace powder, green cardamom powder, cashews, and almond flakes. Mix well and shape into round laddoos once cooled.

Traditional Raksha Bandhan sweets recipes: Gond giri laddoo

Gond giri laddoo

Ingredients: Wheat flour, 1 kg; Gond, 150 gm; Ghee, 700 gm; Chopped almonds, 100 gm; Chopped pistachios, 100 gm; Chopped cashews, 100 gm; Grated coconut, 200 gm; Green cardamom powder, 1 tsp; Powdered sugar, 800 gm

Method: Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat. Add wheat flour and cook until golden brown. Mix in powdered sugar, chopped dry fruits, and green cardamom powder. Fry 75 gm gond and crush the remaining 75 gm, then add to the mixture along with grated coconut. Let cool and shape into laddoo.