Flavorful Rainbow Holi Ladoo Truffles with Cardamom
These colorful ladoo truffles combine roasted gram flour with aromatic cardamom and natural food colors for a festive, easy-to-make sweet treat perfect for Holi celebrations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 20-25 ladoos 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (120g) gram flour (besan), freshly ground preferred
- ½ cup (115g) ghee (clarified butter), melted
- ¾ cup (90g) powdered sugar
- 1½ teaspoons cardamom powder
- Natural food colors or powdered spices (turmeric, beetroot powder, spirulina powder, butterfly pea powder), about 1 teaspoon each
- ¼ cup (35g) chopped nuts (cashews or pistachios), optional
- 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut, optional
Instructions
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 cup (120g) of gram flour and roast, stirring constantly for 10–12 minutes until light golden brown and nutty in aroma.
- Transfer the roasted flour to a plate and let it cool completely, about 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine ¾ cup (90g) powdered sugar and 1½ teaspoons cardamom powder. Add more cardamom if a stronger aroma is desired.
- Add the cooled roasted flour to the sugar-cardamom mixture and stir to blend evenly.
- Slowly pour in ½ cup (115g) melted ghee while mixing with a spatula until the mixture forms a pliable dough. Add a tablespoon more ghee if too dry.
- Divide the dough into 4 to 5 equal portions. Add about 1 teaspoon of chosen natural food color or spice powder to each portion and knead gently until color is uniform.
- Roll each colored portion into small balls about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Optionally, sprinkle desiccated coconut or chopped nuts on your palms and roll the ladoos for coating.
- Place the ladoos on a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
Notes
Roast gram flour on medium-low heat stirring constantly to avoid burning. Use natural food colors for best flavor and health benefits. If mixture is crumbly, add a little warm ghee. Refrigerate ladoos to help them set and hold shape. Powdered sugar can be substituted with coconut sugar or maple sugar for vegan or less refined options.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ladoo (approximate
- Calories: 120
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 2
Keywords: Holi sweets, ladoo truffles, cardamom ladoo, rainbow sweets, gram flour ladoo, festive treats, easy Indian dessert