12+ Easy Indian Dessert Recipes

14 Authentic Indian dessert recipes that are quick & easy to make and simply delicious. These Indian sweets recipes can be made ahead, stored in the refrigerator and are perfect for dinner parties, festivals like Diwali and Holi, or any special occasion.

Indian festivals and celebrations are incomplete without sweets, also referred to as Mithai or Meetha (in Hindi). Much like the variations in food, Indian desserts also vary by region. Locally produced ingredients, weather and historical influences form the key flavors in these recipes.

From semolina and coconut flavors in the south, to the use of palm jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) in Bengali sweets, to the north, where mithais share Persian and Mughal influences. Common sweets include nuts or Mawa (Khoya) based sweets with cardamom and saffron, and adorned with an edible silver leaf, called 'Vark'.

Despite the variations, one thing is common in all these desserts- it is impossible to stop at one serving 🙂

Weeknight-Friendly Quick Indian Sweets

All the recipes in this collection are simple to follow, can be made ahead and refrigerated 3 to 4 days in advance. I make most of these in 30 minutes or less, using the Instant Pot, microwave or a simple skillet.

These easy Indian desserts are perfect for dinner parties, or when festivals fall on a weeknight. Whether it's a traditional Carrot Halwa, Moong Dal Halwa, Besan Ladoo (Indian Dessert Balls) or Kalakand, or Indian inspired desserts like Kulfi Ice Cream, and Mango Cheesecake, or the incredibly easy Indian dessert with milk, Rasmalai, you're sure to find a favorite here!

These Indian sweets recipes include pictures and video, but do read the recipe notes. I've included tips to achieve that 'authentic' taste in a short amount of time. I hope you enjoy this Indian dessert collection as much as my family does!

14 Easy Indian Dessert Recipes

Kalakand Recipe (Quick and Easy)

This Easy Kalakand recipe makes soft, creamy milk fudge perfumed with cardamom and adorned with chopped nuts for a satisfying sweet treat, ready in 25 minutes. 

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Easy Rasmalai Recipe

This Easy Rasmalai Recipe features rasgulla balls in a silky smooth cream perfumed with nuts, saffron and cardamom ready in 25 minutes!

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Besan Ladoo in Microwave

This is a 30-minute microwave recipe for Besan Ladoo or Laddu, which is a Indian sweet made of besan (chickpea flour or gram flour), sugar & ghee (clarified butter).

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10-Minute Coconut Ladoo (Nariyal Ladoo)

This easy 10-minute microwave recipe for Coconut Ladoo uses desiccated coconut and condensed milk for a soft and creamy coconut fudge ball.

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Rava Ladoo (Suji ke Laddu)

Rava ladoo (or laddu) is a popular Indian sweet made during festivities. Here's an easy 30-minute recipe for this creamy, crunchy semolina dessert, also called Suji ke laddu.

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Gajar ki Burfi | 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. In this easy recipe, I reduce the cooking time and effort considerably, using an Instant Pot.

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Badam Halwa (Almond Pudding)

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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Instant Pot Moong Dal Halwa (Indian Lentil Pudding)

Moong Dal Halwa is a rich and decadent Indian dessert made with split mung beans (moong dal), ghee, saffron, cardamom, and lots of love. Here is my easier take, a pressure cooker version of a cherished family recipe.

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Instant Pot Carrot Halwa | Gajar ka Halwa

An easy Instant Pot recipe for Carrot Halwa, or Gajar ka Halwa, a traditional Indian dessert made with grated carrots, milk, sugar, nuts and cardamom! Includes vegan and dairy-free instructions.

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Rice Pudding / Kheer in Instant Pot

This creamy Indian rice pudding, Kheer, transforms rice, milk and sugar into a delicious, comforting treat infused with aromatic cardamom.

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Baked Gujiya

Gujiya or Karanji, are fried Indian Dessert Empanadas filled with a sweet mix of Khoya/Mawa (milk fudge), dry fruits, coconut and cardamom, made during Holi and Diwali. In this easy and healthy 30-Minute recipe for Baked Gujiya, I bake (not fry!) these milk fudge dumplings using store-bought pie dough! 

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Kulfi Ice Cream (No-Churn 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 chill in 10 minutes.

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Mango Cheesecake in Instant Pot (Gluten-Free Cheesecake)

If you love mangoes and cheesecake, this gluten-free Instant Pot Mango Cheesecake will blow your mind!  Sweet mango blended with a custard-like cream cheese filling and baked in a crushed pistachio & cardamom crust. YUM!

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Sooji Sheera | Semolina Indian Pudding

Sooji Sheera is an Indian dessert made by pan-roasting semolina and cooking it with milk and sugar.  I add a few tablespoons of almond meal to boost the protein content and infuse a flavor of almond in this dessert.

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I hope you enjoy making these recipes and sharing with family and friends. These sweets fill any occasion with a little bit more love and lot more flavor to make some beautiful memories.

If there's a recipe you would like to see in this post, simply comment below and let us know! Happy celebrations!