It’s really hard to resist that last gulab jamun or he gujia, isn’t it? I have a sweet tooth and with cravings that I cannot resist, I try to make healthier options at home that help me curb my craving for sweets. But what if I told you that you have healthy sweet options without sugar? Wouldn’t that be interesting?
These recipes are simple to make and because I omit sugar from the recipes, I don’t need to worry about the calories!
Healthy sweets options without sugar
These are some recipes that I make when the sugar rush hit me and the best part is that that my children love to indulge in! These healthy sweet options without sugar are healthy!
Beetroot Kalakand
I’d seen a version of this recipe and I decided to give it a twist to make it a tad healthy.
What you need:
- 100 gms of peeled and grated beetroot. Be sure to remove the juice from the beets.
- 30 gms of paneer
- 50 ml low fat milk
- 50 gms of jaggery (most recipes opt for sugar, but I use jaggery because its healthier)
- 1 tablespoon of ghee
- A pinch of cardamom powder
Making the Beetroot Kalakand
Grease a tray in which you will pour the kalakand to set.
Take a heavy bottomed kadhai and add ghee. Add the grated beetroot and sauté till it softens a bit. Add the milk and let the beetroot cook in it till it completely softens. Add the jaggery and crumbled paneer. Adding jaggery will release a bit of water, but it also adds a caramelized texture. Cook till the sides leave the pan. Add the cardamom powder and give it a mix.
Pour this is the greased tray and let it set. If you want, you can also make balls of this mixture to give it a different look.
Dates Power Energy Balls
Dates are a power house of energy. And this one is my to go for energy snack! Trust me you don’t need Diwali to indulge in this sweet. You can indulge in it almost every day and they are a powerhouse of nutrients. Trust me these make a superbly delicious snack and a perfect Diwali sweet. It is totally healthy and good for your body.
What you need:
- 250 gms of dates de-pitted
- 250 gms of walnuts
- 2 tablespoons each of sunflower and pumpkin seeds
- 1 tablespoons of freshly powdered flax seed
- 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Making the Dates Power Energy Balls
- Take all the ingredients except the dates and the olive oil in a blender. Make a fine powder of it.
- Hand crush the dates and mix it with the powder.
- Add the olive oil to this mixture and roll out in between your palms as dumplings.
- Store them in an airtight container.
Makahana kheer
Makhana, also known as lotus seeds is a superfood that is packed with loads of energy. This desi snack is back in vogue. Low in cholesterol and easy to satiate those hunger pangs, these make a very healthy snack. Makhana kheer is something that I started to make to replace the rice kheer because this was a healthier option and it is delicious. Plus the boys really love it!
What you need
- 300 gms of makhana or lotus seeds (these are also known as foxnuts)
- 1 litre of low fat milk
- 2 tablespoons of crushed jaggery or jaggery powder
- ½ tsp of cardamom powder
- Slivers of almonds and pistachios (optional)
Making the Makhana Kheer
- Take a deep vessel and add milk in it to get to a rolling boil. Turn the flame on sim and break the makhana’s into smaller pieces and add them to the milk.
- Let it simmer on low flame for about an hour. Do not cover it. If you feel the milk is less add more to adjust the consistency.
- Once the seeds are soft, add in the jaggery powder and stir for 10 minutes.
- Add the slivers of almonds and pistachios and let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cardamom powder and give it a quick stir.
- This kheer can be served as hot or cold kheer.
Yes, it’s the time of indulgence in sweets, but you can also opt for healthy eating. These snacks are low in calories and made with jaggery and natural sweeteners that make it is more delicious! Aren’t these a healthier option to make healthy sweets options without sugar?
This post was originally written for Quint Fit. You can view it here to read more recipes.
Beetroot kalakand bahut unique laga ? thanks for sharing recipies