Get An Easy Laddu Recipe For Making Sweets At Home

Indians are fond of different kinds of sweets, which they prepare at home or buy from sweet shops. Laddu is a popular variety of Indian sweets that is widely prepared all over the country. This spherical sweet is made of different ingredients, according to the tastes of local people and the availability of those food materials. It is believed that its name was derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Lattika’. People make laddus for offering to their deities during festivals or to celebrate any special occasion.

Varieties of ingredients used in laddu recipe

Laddu Recipe

• Boondi laddu is the most common form of this popular sweet. The round boondis are made of Bengal gram or chickpea flour, semolina, and sugar. These boondis are fried in ghee and dipped in sugar syrup. When very tiny boondis are used for laddu preparation, this sweet is called Motichur laddu. People add raisins, almonds, and cashew nuts into these laddus, to make them tastier.
• Coconut laddu is made from grated coconut, which is further sweetened with sugar, jaggeries or condensed milk. All the ingredients are cooked over a low flame, which are then cooled and formed with hands to form the round laddus. Usually, this type of laddu is offered to God in the temples or while worshipping at home.
• Besan laddu is very popular all over North India. It is made by cooking besan or chickpea flour in ghee till it turns golden brown. Then the sugar is added to it and stirred till it melts. People also add pistachios for a better flavour of this laddu. This type of laddu can be stored for a long time, as all dry ingredients are used here.  
• Rava laddu is another simple variety, which is made of semolina, ghee, sugar, and condensed milk. Cardamom powder is added to the laddu mixture for its beautiful scent. Many people also add grated coconut, khoya or dry fruits for rendering extra flavours to this laddu. Semolina is lightly fried with most of these ingredients, to form the base for creating this laddu.
• Til laddu is a classic Indian sweet that is made from white or black sesame seeds. These seeds are bound together by melting jaggery, to make it pleasantly sweet. This aromatic laddu is usually made to celebrate Makar Sankranti in many parts of India. However, sweetened cheese is also used in this laddu recipe in some places of North India.
• Malai laddu is prepared for offering on the pious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is made by mixing condensed milk with paneer or cottage cheese. Some people also prefer fresh cream instead of condensed milk, to increase its creamy texture.  Normally, this laddu is white unless saffron strands are added to turn it orange.

It is traditional to gift boxes full of laddus on special occasions, to show love and regards for receivers. Hence, the laddu recipe is followed in all common households throughout the country.