Festivals stand as cherished occasions, with the tradition and an abundance of delectable delights making them even sweeter. Amongst these celebrations, Dashain, one of the biggest and most significant festivals in Nepal, holds a place of utmost reverence. Sweets have long been an integral part of Dashain as people want to include different sweets to enjoy with their loved ones. So, here are different sweets for Dashain that you can share with your family and friends.
Barfi
One such beloved sweet is Barfi, a confection made by thickening milk, adding cardamom or other spices for flavour, and then cutting it into square or diamond-shaped pieces.
The process involves simmering milk until it thickens, sweetening it with sugar, and spreading the mixture in a tray to cool before cutting, resulting in a rich, creamy texture with a delicate sweetness and a hint of cardamom. Among the many sweets for Dashain, barfi is often a common festive treat. Its variants, kaju barfi, chocolate barfi, and coconut barfi are also popular choices.
Rasbari
Rasbari is another sweet made from chhena (paneer) soaked in sugar syrup. The process of making this sweet involves kneading chhena, shaping it into small dumplings, and soaking them in a sugar syrup infused with cardamom or saffron.
The resulting treat is soft, and spongy, and has a sweet, milky taste with a hint of cardamom or saffron. Rasbari is very common during this festive season and remains one of the popular sweets for Dashain and all other festivals and joyous occasions.
Lalmohan (Gulab Jamun)
Another equally popular choice as sweets for Dashain is Lalmohan or Gulab Jamun. It is soft, spongy, and sweet, made from deep-fried milk-based balls soaked in sugar syrup, infusing them with the essence of rose. Having lalmohan among the sweets in Dashain spreads joy and sweetness among family and friends so don’t forget to indulge in these sweets for Dashain during the festivities.
Peda
Peda is another delightful dessert, known for its creamy, fudgy texture and sweet taste. Made by cooking sweetened condensed milk to a fudgy consistency and often flavoured with cardamom and garnished with nuts, Peda is a treat enjoyed by many, and one of those sweets for Dashain that you cannot go wrong with. The process involves cooking sweetened condensed milk until thickened, flavouring it, and shaping it into small, flattened rounds. It is very creamy and chewy in nature.
Lakhamari
Lakhamari, with its crispy texture and sweet aromatic taste, is a popular choice for those with a sweet tooth. Made from a dough of rice flour, ghee, and sugar syrup, the dough is shaped into round, flat discs and deep-fried.
The fried discs are then soaked in sugar syrup, resulting in an appealing crispy texture and deep brown colour. Lakhamari might seem like an odd choice but it is a very integral part of Dashain, especially for puja and offerings, so don’t miss out on these sweets for Dashain.
Laddu
Made of flour, sugar, and ghee, often flavoured with cardamom or nuts, Laddus are shaped into round balls. They have a sweet, slightly grainy texture and a rich flavour that comes from the ghee and sometimes added nuts or dry fruits.
Laddus come in delightful different flavours with different grated dry fruits, making them a popular choice during Dashain celebrations. Boondi laddu, coconut laddu, and besan laddus are other common choices as sweets for Dashain.
Anarsa
Anarsa, a unique snack, is created by deep-frying a mixture of rice flour and jaggery. The dough is shaped into discs and deep-fried until golden brown, resulting in a crispy exterior, a sweet taste from the jaggery, and a hint of rice flavour. Anarsa is one of those must-have sweets for Dashain, adding a traditional touch to the festive spread, and enjoy with your family and friends.
Jeri (Jalebi)
Jeri, also known as Jalebi, is a popular dessert characterised by its crispy exterior and sweetness. Made by deep-frying a spiral-shaped batter and soaking it in sugar syrup, Jeri has a tangy note due to fermentation.
The batter, a mix of flour and yoghurt, is fermented and piped into spiral shapes before being deep-fried and soaked in the sweet syrup. Enjoying Jeri during Dashain enhances the sweetness of the festive season, as it is one of those popular choices as sweets for Dashain, that people love to bite on other times as well.
Fini or Phini
Fini or Phini, a delicate and sweet treat, is created by shaping a dough made from rice flour, sugar, and ghee into thin coils and deep-frying them. The result is a crispy, delicate treat with a light crunch and a subtle ghee flavour. Including Fini or Phini as choices in sweets for Dashain is sure to please your taste buds and those of your loved ones.
Shrikhand
Shrikhand, another creamy and tangy dessert, is made by straining yoghurt and sweetening it with sugar, flavoured with cardamom and saffron. The yoghurt is strained to remove excess whey and mixed with sugar, cardamom, and saffron, resulting in a rich and aromatic delicacy. Among the sweets for Dashain, Shrikhand is a popular choice for those who enjoy a creamy and tangy dessert.
Rabri
Rabri is made from sweetened, condensed milk thickened with sugar and flavoured with cardamom, garnished with nut, resulting in a delightful, slightly grainy texture. Including Rabri in your options of sweets for Dashain, sweets will surely please your guests who like a rich taste and add a creamy dimension to the festive menu.
Rasmalai
Likewise, Rasmalai offers a soft and spongy experience, made from paneer (chhena or Indian cottage cheese) balls soaked in sweetened, thickened milk infused with cardamom or saffron, creating a heavenly delight. Rasmalai, one of those beloved sweets for Dashain and other times too, is a perfect way to conclude the festive feasting. Enjoy these delightful sweets for Dashain with your family and friends.
Khajuri
Another popular treat is Khajuri, a crispy snack enjoyed during festivals. It is crafted by deep-frying a dough made from rice flour, sugar, and spices, appealing to many palates. Dashain celebrations are incomplete without sharing Khajuri, a beloved sweet, with your loved ones. Sweets for Dashain make this festival even more special.
