Sweets are an inherent part of food in every country and every region. North Indian cuisine is rich in sweet dishes too. A variety of sweet dishes from this region are famous all over the world. The taste, texture, and richness of every sweet dish from this region are distinct. 

Here is a list of the 5 best North Indian sweets recipes that are diabetes-friendly.

1. Bakheer recipe

Bakheer also called Gud Chawal ki Kheer is a traditional North Indian sweets recipe made during festivals like Dussehra, Ramnavami along with Dal Poori. Bakheer is prepared from rice, dark brown jaggery, and milk.

Recipe features

FFD-style Bakheer recipe avoids the usage of animal milk and suggests the use of vegan milk. Jaggery is substituted with dates paste and stevia which puts it in the best North Indian sweets recipe category that is diabetes-friendly too.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Brown Rice 
• ¼ Cup Thick Dates Paste 
• Few Drops Stevia
• ½ Tsp Green Cardamom/ Hari Elaichi
• 1 Tsp Raisins/ Kishmish
• 2 Tbsp Cashew Nuts/ Kaju
• 2 Cups Vegan Milk 
• 1 Cup Water

Method

• Wash and soak the rice in water.
• Drain the water from the rice.
• In a pressure cooker, add the rice, date paste, and water and cook through to 4 to 5 whistles.
• Once the pressure has naturally released, open the cooker lid and gently mash the rice.
• Meanwhile, bring the milk plus water to a boil and then switch off the flame.
• In a kadhai, dry roast the cashews and raisins until they have turned golden brown.
• Then, add the vegan milk plus water, fried dry fruits, stevia, and cardamom powder to the cooked Bakheer.
• Mix well.
• Serve hot.

2. Date & Coconut Kulfi recipe

Kulfi is a traditional Indian sweet recipe that comes in various flavors. Its main ingredient is khoya or milk solids and sugar and flavoring materials.

Recipe features

The date and coconut kulfi in FFD style avoid dairy. We suggest using coconut milk instead. The added coconut flour gives a nice grainy texture and date syrup makes it fuller in taste and more satisfying. 

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Coconut Cream 
• 1 Cup Coconut Milk 
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Powder/ Flour 
• 1 Tbsp Date Syrup 
• Few Drops Stevia
• ¼ Cup Sliced Almonds + Cashews

Method

• Take a large mixing bowl, pour coconut milk and coconut cream into the bowl and start beating the mixture with an electric hand mixer.
• Once it is fluffy and creamy start adding coconut flour, stevia, and date syrup a little at a time while continuously mixing with a hand mixer.
• Beat till all the ingredients are well combined and check for sweetness, if needed add a few more drops of stevia.
• Mix in the sliced nuts.
• Pour the mixture into a container and place it in the freezer.
• Let it set for 3 hours.
• The kulfi will be ready to serve.

Variations: 

With this recipe, we can experiment many variants such as pistachio, almond, and cardamom. Also, add more crushed nuts if you like.

3. Peda recipe

Peda is another delightful sweet recipe that is very popular. The original recipe is prepared from khoya (dried milk solids), sugar, nuts, and different fragrant spices.

Recipe features

This is an easy-to-make 100% vegan recipe that is made from nuts, dates powder, and stevia. One of the best North Indian sweets recipes.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Cashew Nuts (Powdered)
• 2 Tbsp Cup Date Paste (Thick)
• Few Drops Stevia
• ¼ Cup Dry Date Powder
• 1-½ Tsp Cardamom/ Elaichi Powder
• Pistachios for Garnish

Method

• Blend, adding enough date powder to create consistency.
• Shape into flattened balls/ pedas.
• Garnish with pistachios.

4. Rabdi recipe

This is a traditional sweet dish from north India made with full-fat milk, nuts, saffron, sugar, and cardamom. This is a popular dessert served along with gulab jamum, malpua, Jalebi, and puri. It has a creamy texture and is very full of flavors.

Recipe features

FFD style Rabdi avoids the use of animal milk. 

Instead, we suggest using almond or cashew milk along with the unique addition of sweet potato all good for diabetics.

Ingredients

• 100 ml Almond + Cashew Milk
• 100 ml Water
• 2 Tbsp Sweet Potato (Boiled and mashed)
• 3-4 Stevia Drops
• ½ Cup Warm Water
• ½ Tsp Cardamom/ Elaichi Powder
• Few Saffron Strands
• 1 Tsp Mixed Nuts

Method

• Boil the milk and water well and then add the mashed sweet potato to it.
• Cook well till the milk thickens.
• Now add the saffron strands to a cup of warm water and wait till they dissolve completely.
• Add this to the milk mixture and stir well.
• Stir in elaichi powder and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• In the end, add 3-4 stevia drops and nuts on top and empty the entire rabdi in a bowl and let it cool.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour. 
• Serve chilled.

5. Burfee recipe

Burfee Also known as burfi or barfi is a basic type of fudge from North Indian cuisine. It is made using full-fat milk, nuts, ghee, and sugar. 

Recipe features

FFD style burfi avoids the usage of animal milk, ghee, and sugar all the traditional ingredients. It suggests the use of a lot of nuts and stevia to make it sweet.

Ingredients

• ½ Cup Almonds
• ½ Cup Cashews
• 2 Dates
• Stevia Drops as per Taste
• ½ Cup Thinly Sliced Peeled and Toasted Almonds
• 1 Tsp Poppy Seeds/ Khaskhas
• ¼ Tsp Cardamom/ Elaichi Powder
• ¼ Tsp Nutmeg Powder
• ½ Tsp oil

Method

• Soak washed and peeled almonds and cashews.
• Also, soak washed and chopped dates in 3 separate katoris overnight.
• The next morning, remove the water from the nuts and wash the nuts well.
• Retain the water from the dates.
• Put the nuts, dates, 4 drops of stevia, cardamom, and nutmeg in a blender/ food processor jar, and blend to a fine paste. 
• Add half the sliced toasted almonds and half the poppy seeds to the nut paste and mix in gently.
• Add more stevia if needed. 
• Grease a baking tray with the oil.
• Pour the paste into the greased tray and sprinkle the remaining poppy seeds and toasted almonds evenly on top, pressing it in slightly.

From the above recipes, we can easily gather that sweets too can be made healthier and richer. We just need to start studying and paying attention to the ingredients and their effects after consumption. FFD's recipe section has a huge collection of recipes from all over India. Do visit it to know how recipes can be made healthy and diabetes friendly.

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Looking for North Indian healthy Diabetes-friendly lunch, dinner & sweet dish Recipes? Visit here:

1. North Indian breakfast recipes

2. North Indian lunch recipes

2. North Indian dinner recipes