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30+ Easy Diwali Recipes

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Here are some quick, delicious, and Easy Diwali Recipes for a bright and joyous festival of lights! Enjoy this festive collection that includes traditional and contemporary recipes for snacks, sweets, and popular drinks.

Whether you're planning a cozy dinner or hosting your family and friends, these recipes are easy to plan ahead and most of them come together in 30 minutes.

6-image collage of diwali recipes including ladoo, samosa, pinwheels, halwa, chaat and milk cake

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What is Diwali

Diwali is short for Deepavali, meaning "Row of Lights" in Sanskrit. This festival of lights is the most popular festival in the Hindu community and falls in either late October or early November, on a new moon night.

It marks the beginning of the Hindu new year. Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil, humility over pride, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness.

How is Diwali Celebrated

5 days of Diwali: Diwali is typically celebrated over 5 days. We observe the five days as follows; the celebrations may differ regionally though.

  • Dhanteras (day 1)
  • Chotti Diwali (day 2)
  • Lakshmi Puja -Diwali Day (day 3)
  • Govardhan Puja (day 4)
  • Bhai Dooj + Vishkarma Day (day 5)

While each home has its own rituals, Diwali is most commonly celebrated by lighting diyas (tea lights), cooking and exchanging indulgent sweets (mithai) and snacks, and lighting fireworks.

Since food is such an integral part of Diwali, the preparations start weeks in advance. Today, I'm excited to share some of my family's most cherished, special Diwali recipes.

All these sweet and savory recipes are vegetarian since that's what we eat during the 5 days of celebrations. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Diwali Dinner Recipes: For menu ideas and tips on how to plan a Diwali party, check out this detailed post with sample menus: Indian Dinner Party Menu

Diwali Sweets Recipes

Check out some popular traditional mithai recipes made simple, and doable even on weeknights:

Plate of gram flour fudge balls called besan ke ladoo

Besan Ladoo Recipe - Microwave & Stovetop

Easy, fail-proof recipe for Besan Ladoo or Besan Laddu, a popular Indian sweet made with gram flour, powdered sugar, ghee & cardamom powder.
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Coconut ladoo stacked on black plate

Coconut Ladoo (Nariyal Ladoo)

Easy microwave or stovetop recipe for Coconut Ladoo (Indian coconut fudge) with desiccated coconut & condensed milk. Ready in 10-15 minutes!
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Suji ladoo stacked on a metal plate

Rava Laddu Recipe (Rava Ladoo | Sooji Ladoo)

Easy 30-minute recipe for Rava laddu, or Rava Ladoo, a popular Indian sweet made with semolina (rava/ suji), ghee, sugar, nuts & cardamom.
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stack of badam burfi diamonds on blue plate

Badam Burfi

Quick and easy Badam Burfi, or Badam Katli, is a sweet, fragrant almond fudge made with 5 ingredients and ready in less than 25 minutes!
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squares of Indian cottage cheese fudge on black plate

Kalakand Recipe (With Ricotta Cheese)

This simplified and easy Kalakand recipe with ricotta cheese and condensed milk creates a soft and creamy Indian milk fudge in just 25 minutes.
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kalakand squares on a white plate overhead

Sugar-Free Kalakand | Keto Kalakand

This Keto Kalakand is a sugar-free, low-carb version of a traditional Indian dessert! It's soft, creamy, flavored with rose water and cardamom, and topped with slivered pistachios.
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closeup of milk cake squares on a plate

Indian Milk Cake Recipe

This 15-minute Indian Milk Cake, or Alwar Ka Mawa, is a rich and decadent, caramelized milk fudge, made with ricotta cheese and milk powder, and flavored with pistachios, cardamom, and rose water.
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rasmalai tiramisu cake in clear jars

Easy Rasmalai Tiramisu- Eggless Indian Fusion Dessert

This Rasmalai Tiramisu is an easy, 20-minute eggless Indian fusion dessert with layers of cardamom mascarpone cream, rosewater-soaked ladyfingers, and rasmalai.
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Indian nan khatai cookies on black plate

Nankhatai (Indian Almond Cookies)

Easy recipe for crisp, crumbly, and delicious Indian shortbread cookies called Nankhatai, made with a combination of flours, almonds, sugar, ghee, and cardamom.
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rasgulla balls in sweet cream with nuts, saffron and cardamom in bowl

Easy Rasmalai Recipe (with Rasgulla)

Make authentic-tasting Rasmalai in 25 mins! This easy shortcut uses store-bought rasgulla and a foolproof creamy rabri. Perfect for last-minute entertaining!
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Almond pudding in black bowl garnished with dried rose petals and slivered almonds

Badam Halwa With Almond Flour

Here's an easy and authentic 30-minute recipe for Badam Halwa, a rich and decadent Indian almond pudding that's flavored with fresh cardamom and saffron.
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Badam halwa served in a blue bowl with slivered almonds on top

Badam Halwa with Almond Flour (Instant Pot)

Quick and easy recipe for Badam halwa, a rich and decadent Indian dessert made with ground almonds, sugar and ghee, delicately flavored with saffron and cardamom! 
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Indian lentil pudding called Moong Dal Halwa garnished with chopped nuts

Moong Dal Halwa

A rich and decadent Indian dessert made with split mung beans (moong dal), ghee, saffron, cardamom, and lots of love. Here is my easier Instant Pot version.
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Baked Indian Gujiya (sweet dumplings) placed on black plate, dusted with powder sugar

Baked Gujiya (Baked Indian Dessert Empanadas)

Gujiya, or Karanji, are Indian Dessert Empanadas made with khoya (mawa), typically made for Holi & Diwali. In this easy & healthy Baked Gujiya recipe, I bake (not fry) these dumplings using store-bought pie dough!
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Carrot fudge garnished with nuts

Carrot Burfi (Carrot Fudge)

Carrot Burfi, or Gajar ki Burfi, is a fun variation of the classic Indian dessert, Carrot Halwa. Grated carrots are cooked in flavored milk, then sautéed with almond flour for a fudge-like consistency.
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4 popsicles of indian kulfi ice cream with edges adorned with dried rose and pistachios

Easy Kulfi Ice Cream (No-Churn, Eggless Indian Ice Cream)

This Kulfi Ice Cream is an eggless, no-churn Indian flavored recipe perfumed with saffron, cardamom, rosewater, and assorted nuts, that's ready to freeze in 10 minutes.
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Mango cheesecake with pistachio crumbles on top

Mango Cheesecake

This gluten-free Mango Cheesecake will blow your mind!  Made with sweet mango blended with a custard-like cream cheese filling and baked in a crushed pistachio and cardamom crust.
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Bowl of Indian rice pudding garnished with chopped pistachios

Instant Pot Kheer (Indian Rice Pudding)

Creamy Indian rice pudding with cardamom & saffron-this dump-and-start Instant Pot kheer needs no stirring or babysitting. A festive favorite made easy!
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Diwali Snacks Recipes

Diwali food would be incomplete without some crowd-pleasing savory snacks. Here are some easy recipes for Diwali snacks to add a ton of flavor to your Diwali celebrations.

air fried samosas on serving platter with green and tamarind chutneys

Aloo Samosa Recipe (Fried)

Sharing my best tips for aloo samosa recipe (traditional fried samosa) with step-by-step instructions for the perfect dough, filling, and folding technique.
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Dahi vada garnished with chutney and cilantro

Dahi Bhalla (Dahi Vada)

Easy & authentic recipe for Dahi Bhalla, or Dahi Vada, a popular Indian street food. Soft lentil fritters are served in yogurt sauce topped with zesty chutneys.
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samosa and chana masala in bowl topped with chutney and sev

Samosa Chaat

Easy recipe for Samosa Chaat, a popular Indian street food that combines crispy samosas with chana masala, tangy chutneys, creamy yogurt, and a medley of flavorful toppings.
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Samosa flavored puff pastry pinwheels on a black plate

Pinwheel Samosa

This Samosa Pinwheels recipe is a crispy take on the popular Indian chaat that's wrapped in puff pastry and baked in the Oven or AirFryer.
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baked samosa stuffed jalapeno poppers on charcoal board with cilantro and tamarind chutney in two white bowls

Samosa Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers

These Samosa Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers are an Indian inspired take on the popular American appetizer that gets baked in the AirFryer, Crisplid or Oven.
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samosa chaat phyllo cups garnished with cilantro, pomegranate seeds and thin sev on white plate with chutneys in small bowls

Samosa Chaat Phyllo Cups

These Mini Samosa Chaat Cups are the perfect party bites! Flaky phyllo cups filled with spiced potatoes & peas, baked crisp, then topped with chutneys.
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three skewers of paneer tikka on black plate with chutney and onions on side

Paneer Tikka

This authentic Paneer Tikka recipe features tandoori-spiced crisp paneer and crunchy veggies prepared easily in the Air Fryer, Oven, or Grill.
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Spiced roasted potatoes in a bowl garnished with cilantro

Bombay Potatoes

Baby potatoes coated with a potpourri of Indian spices, and cooked till they are golden crisp, these Spicy Bombay Potatoes make for a finger-licking good.
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Drinks

Enjoy these popular drinks including a crowd-pleasing Indian cocktail recipe!

Sweet Mango lassi in glass garnished with saffron strands

5-Minute Mango Lassi Recipe (Indian Mango Drink)

Sweet and creamy mango lassi recipe using just five ingredients. Here's an easy 5-minute recipe for this delicious Indian mango drink!
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Two glasses of indian lemonade garnished with mint

Nimbu Pani / Shikanji (Indian Lemonade)

Easy recipe for a refreshing Indian lemonade known as Nimbu Pani or Shikanji. Made with fresh lime, salt, sugar and water, and spiced with cumin and chaat masala.
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Two glasses of cilantro-mint and cumin flavored lemonade topped with crunchy boondi

Jaljeera - Cumin Spiced Indian Lemonade

Jaljeera is a refreshing Indian lemonade made with fresh coriander and mint, spiced with roasted cumin, chaat masala and dry mango powder.
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Jal-Jeera Vodka (Indian Vodka Mojito) Cocktail

Jal Jeera Mojito | Indian Spiced Mojito Cocktail

In this recipe, I pair the minty and spicy Indian beverage, Jal Jeera, with a classic mojito.  There is nothing more refreshing than a Jal Jeera Mojito (Indian Spiced Mojito) on a hot summer day. Refreshing, chilled, minty and spicy! Yum!
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two cups of tea next to an orange kettle, some cardamoms and cinnamon stick

Authentic Masala Chai Recipe (Indian Spiced Milk Tea)

Make authentic Masala Chai in 10 minutes! Learn tips for a creamy cup, best CTC tea and spices to use, and my genius "no-spill" boiling hack.
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Two cups of Indian tea served with cookies

Ginger Tea (Adrak Wali Chai)

This soothing and invigorating Indian-style Ginger tea, or Adrak wali chai, is made with just four ingredients, and is ready in 10 minutes!
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Fun Facts about Diwali

Here are some interesting facts about Diwali:

  • Approximately 15% of the world's population celebrates Diwali.
  • It's an official holiday in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Myanmar, and Fiji, just to name a few.
  • Hindus, Jains, and Sikh communities also celebrate Diwali, each having a different significance in this festival.

See the full range of Indian Recipes on the blog.

On behalf of the Spice Cravings team, I wish you a Happy & Prosperous Diwali!

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