The term “Indian food” always conjures up images of spiced meats, vegetables, and flatbreads that bring an exotic flavour to any meal of the day. Rarely does one find space to think about pastries or desserts made in this exotic country located on the Asian continent.

And yet, traditional Indian desserts are similar to their appetisers and main courses in preparation. These treats can be topped with spices, pistachios, or soaked in syrup. Read up on these recipes that will light up your taste buds with the wonderful flavours of Indian food!

Gajar Ka Halwa

Gajar Ka Halwa is an Indian carrot pudding found in the northern regions of India during the winter and Diwali seasons.

Gulabjamun

This delicious fried Indian dessert is found at celebrations and festivals. You can find it during Diwali or Holi or any time you are craving something sweet. Some restaurants offer this delicacy with a side of ice cream!

Jalebi

Jalebi is the equivalent of American funnel cakes: fried, crispy, and sugar-coated. They’re a typical street food in India, typically sold in the Northern and Western regions. To much surprise, they are also a popular breakfast food served with a glass of warm milk on the side! We bet you’ll love these air-fryer Indian recipes. And grab your spoons for this Indian pudding.

Kheer

If you like serving pudding for dessert, you’ll love this Indian version. It’s creamy and delicious and easy to make in an Instant Pot!

Kulfi

These nutty, spicy custards are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Kulfi is very similar to ice cream but thicker and creamier. You can even find other versions of kulfi on the market, like mango and strawberry. But before you dive into the crazy stuff, you’ve got to try this classic kulfi recipe first.

Laddoo

Also known as laddu, these soft dessert balls are commonly served for Diwali. This besan laddoo recipe gets its golden colour from roasting ghee (Indian butter) and besan (chickpea flour) overheating.

Peda

A famous Indian sweet for Hindu festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Rakshabandhan, Peda are made of milk solids and fragrant aromatic seasonings like saffron and cardamom. It’s another reasonably easy Indian dessert you can whip together in under an hour.

Rasgulla

A typical East Indian dessert, these are bite-sized cheese balls soaked in floral sugar syrup. The secret to perfecting rasgulla is ice! Throwing a handful of ice cubes into your saucepan before straining will help get the perfect rasgulla texture. If you have extra rasgulla on hand, use them to make rasmalai.

Rasmalai

Spice Craving’s modified ras malai recipe makes it easier for you to make this popular dish—her recipe shaves off about half the time it would take you to make the authentic dish, but it tastes just as good as the traditional recipes!

Sandesh

This popular Indian dessert is made of only three ingredients. You need milk, lemon juice, and sugar to make these Bengali sweets. Pistachios are optional but recommended for a pretty presentation and a little extra bite.

Soan Papdi

Soan Papdi first originated from the Northern region of India. Nowadays, it can be found in Indian sweet shops across the country. Traditionally, it was sold loose in paper cones; however, you’ll find it more commonly cut into squares or rectangles. If you have extra soan papdi on hand, use it to make shahi tukra.

Eat Authentic Indian Food in London

The next time someone brings up Indian food as a conversation topic, you’ll have something new to add — these rare desserts from the Indian subcontinent! Why not plan to make them with or for your guests, or just order them the next time you eat out in an Indian restaurant to curb your curiosity!

Eat authentic Indian food in London at Tower Tandoori today! Our homemade desserts aren’t heavy or filling, so don’t worry about leaving room! Please ask a staff member about our dessert selection of the week for a gastronomic surprise during your visit!