12 Indian Desserts and Cakes to Taste

Want to taste some indian desserts during your next trip to India? India is a country that’s full of delicious and interesting flavors.

I’m not only talking about the Indian food, but the desserts as well. From fudge-like desserts and rice puddings to cookies and sweet dumplings – there are so many delicious things to taste in India. Here are 12 desserts that you can taste in India: 

Kaju Barfi

Kaju Barfi is one of the Indian desserts that you’ll see almost everywhere. They’re shaped like diamonds and are covered with edible silver foil.

This dessert is made from milk and cashew nuts and come in flavors of saffron, pistachio, peanut, carrot, and chocolate. These Indian sweets are very delicious, and a must to taste while you’re in India.

Kulfi

Kulfi is made by evaporating milk till it gets a creamy and caramelized texture, then frozen or shredded.

It’s a common street food in India, and it comes in different flavors. However, the most traditional flavors include mango, saffron, pistachio, and cardamom.

Kulfi is a delicious Indian dessert that you’re going to crave a warm day in India.

Peda

Peda is an ancient Indian dessert made from khoa (dairy product), sugar, and flavorings such as pistachio, cardamom, and saffron.

This dessert is smooth, creamy, flavorful, and delicious. Peda can vary in color from white to yellow/brown depending on where you buy them.

Kalakand

Sweetened milk and ricotta or cottage cheese, that’s the main ingredients of kalakand – one of the most popular Indian desserts.

It’s basically a simple milk cake that’s both creamy and delicious.

Gulab Jamun

The Indian dessert Gulab Jamun is known as the donuts of India. Shaped into balls, these sweet milk balls are dipped into sugar syrup and flavored with both saffron, cardamom, and rose water.

They are popular to eat in India, as well as in Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Gulab Jamun are normally served hot after dinner with vanilla ice cream. It’s one of the most popular Indian desserts, so it’s a must to taste while you’re in the country!

Mysore Pak

During festivals and celebrations in South India, you are most likely going to find these delicious sweets.

Mysore Pak is a fudge-like indian dessert made from cardamom, sugar, ghee, and flour. They’re soft, sweet, and delicious – so you’re going to enjoy every bite of it.

Phirni

When visiting northern India, you must try Phirni. Phirni is a sweet pudding that’s popular to eat during festivals. It’s made from rice and garnished with cashew nuts, saffron, and raisins.

If you like pudding, then this is an Indian dessert for you. It’s both sweet and delicious.

Puran Poli

This is a typical dessert of western India. It’s flat bread stuffed with sugar, cardamom or nutmeg, flour, chana dal, and ghee.

Puran Poli is a popular Indian dessert to eat in Maharashtra, especially during their celebrations and festivals. It’s typically eaten together with amti, which is a spicy lentil dish.

Boondi ka Laddo

Boondi ka Laddo is one of the most popular Indian desserts to eat during festivals and celebrations, such as Diwali. It’s made from chickpea flour and flavored with both saffron, raisins, cashew nuts, and cardamom.

There’s a vegan version of the Boondi ka Laddo as well, the coconut laddo. It’s also delicious and a must to taste in India.

Sandesh

Sandesh is one of the most popular Indian desserts in Bengal ad is made from cottage cheese, cardamom, and saffron.

It’s a mouthwatering dessert that you have to taste at least once. Any person with a sweet tooth is going to love this dessert.

Sweet Modak

Modak is a sweet flour dumpling stuffed with coconut, jaggery, saffron, and nutmeg. Then steamed and served during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.

It’s a festival favorite that’s known all over india for its delicious flavor and texture.

Jalebi

Jalebi is one of the most weird-looking Indian desserts and is made of pretzel-shaped dough that’s deep-fried and drenched in a sweet syrup. The syrup is sometimes flavored with rose water, lime or lemon, which gives it a slightly different taste.

This dessert can be served hot or cold and has a chewy texture with a slightly crispy outer from the crystallized sugar.

More about Indian desserts

There are many interesting desserts in India. Most desserts are made from milk with a variety of local flavors such as cardamom, saffron, pistachio, and cashew nuts, etc.

The different parts of the India (North, South, East, and West), all have their own unique desserts with interesting ingredients and flavors.

Other Indian desserts to taste:

• Seviyaan
• Mango Halwa
• Kheer / Payasam
• Indian Shrikhand
• Rasmalai
• Gajar Ka Halwa
• Rabri
• Ragi Oats Laddo
• Suji Ka Halwa
• Shahi Tukra
• Rasgulla
• Bebinca

---

Do you have more questions about Indian desserts? Leave a comment below!