10 Easy Diwali Recipes | Traditional Sweets & Snacks to Make at Home

Diwali is not just about lights, new clothes and celebrations—it is also about the aroma of freshly prepared sweets and savoury snacks filling the kitchen. From crispy murukku and ribbon pakoda to soft rava laddu and traditional adhirasam, homemade Diwali recipes add a special touch to the celebrations. And you don’t need a kitchen full of complicated ingredients to prepare a delicious festive spread.

With simple staples such as murukku flour, rava, maida, rice flour and jaggery, you can make a variety of traditional Diwali sweets and snacks at home. In this collection, you’ll find 10 easy homemade recipes, from crispy savouries and classic sweets to simple festive treats—perfect for sharing with family and guests or packing into a homemade Diwali gift box.

Diwali Recipes at a Glance

Recipe	Type	Main Ingredient	Time	Servings
Crispy Murukku	Savoury Snack	Murukku Flour	40 min	20–25 pieces
Ribbon Pakoda	Savoury Snack	Rice Flour	30 min	25–30 pieces
Rava Laddu	Traditional Sweet	Double Roasted Rava	30 min	15–18 laddus
Adhirasam	Traditional Sweet	Jaggery Powder	45 min + resting	12–15 pieces
Maida Murukku	Savoury Snack	Refined Wheat Flour	40 min	20–25 pieces
Rava Mixture	Savoury Snack	Double Roasted Rava	35 min	4–5 servings
Thenkuzhal Murukku	Traditional Snack	Rice Flour	40 min	20–25 pieces
Maida Sweet Shankarpali	Sweet Snack	Refined Wheat Flour	40 min	30–35 pieces
Jaggery Rava Kesari	Traditional Sweet	Rava + Jaggery Powder	25 min	4–5 servings
Jaggery Rice Flour Appam	Traditional Sweet	Rice Flour + Jaggery Powder	35 min	15–18 appams

1. Crispy Murukku

Murukku is one of the most popular Diwali snacks prepared in many Indian homes. Its spiral shape, crispy texture and savoury flavour make it a favourite for festive snacking and sharing.

Ingredients for Crispy Murukku

Murukku Flour – 2 cups
Butter – 2 tbsp
Sesame seeds – 1 tsp
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Salt – as required
Water – as needed
Oil – for deep frying

How to Make Crispy Murukku

Mix Murukku Flour butter, sesame seeds, cumin and salt; add water to make a soft dough.
Shape the dough into spirals using a murukku press.
Fry in medium-hot oil until golden and crisp.
Drain on a paper towel and cool before serving.

Want to try another classic murukku? Explore our Butter Murukku Recipe for another crispy homemade snack.

2. Crispy Ribbon Pakoda

Looking for a crunchy addition to your festive snack box? Ribbon pakoda is a simple choice, with its flat shape and light, crispy texture. Rice flour helps give this classic snack its signature crispness.

Ingredients for Crispy Ribbon Pakoda

Rice Flour – 1 cup
Besan – ½ cup
Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Asafoetida – a pinch
Butter – 1 tbsp
Salt – as required
Water – as needed
Oil – for frying

How to make Crispy Ribbon Pakoda

Mix rice flour, besan, chilli powder, asafoetida, salt and butter in a bowl.
Add water gradually and prepare a smooth, medium-soft dough.
Fill the dough into a ribbon pakoda mould.
Heat oil over medium flame and press the dough into thin strips directly into the oil.
Fry until the bubbles reduce and the pakoda turns crisp.
Remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel.

3. Soft and Aromatic Rava Laddu

Rava laddu is a simple festive sweet made with roasted rava, sugar, ghee and nuts. With its soft texture and cardamom aroma, it makes a lovely addition to a homemade Diwali sweet platter.

Ingredients for Soft and Aromatic Rava Laddu

Double Roasted Rava – 1 cup
Sugar – ¾ cup
Ghee – 4 tbsp
Cashews – 2 tbsp
Raisins – 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Milk – 2–3 tbsp, if required

How to Make Rava Laddu

Heat ghee in a pan and lightly roast the cashews and raisins.
Add the rava and roast gently until aromatic.
Add sugar and cardamom powder, then mix well.
Turn off the flame and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Add a little warm milk only if needed to bring the mixture together.
Take small portions and shape them into round laddus.

Love cooking with rava? Learn more about how rava is used in traditional Indian recipes.

4. Traditional Adhirasam

Adhirasam is a traditional sweet often prepared during festive celebrations in Tamil homes. Made with rice flour and jaggery, it has a soft centre and lightly crisp outer layer when prepared well. Jaggery powder makes the jaggery preparation more convenient.

Ingredients for Traditional Adhirasam

Rice flour – 2 cups
Jaggery Powder – 1½ cups
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Sesame seeds – 1 tsp
Water – as needed
Oil – for frying

How To Make Adhirasam

Dissolve jaggery in water, strain if needed, and heat to make the syrup.
Mix in cardamom, sesame seeds and rice flour to form a soft dough.
Rest the dough, flatten small portions, and fry in medium-hot oil.
Drain and cool before serving.

5. Crispy Maida Murukku

Maida murukku is a simple variation that uses refined wheat flour to create a delicate, crispy snack. Refined wheat flour (maida) works well as the main flour for this preparation.

Ingredients for Maida Murukku

Refined Wheat Flour – 2 cups
Butter – 2 tbsp
Sesame seeds – 1 tsp
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Salt – as required
Asafoetida – a pinch
Water – as needed
Oil – for frying

How to Make Maida Murukku

Mix flour, butter, sesame seeds, cumin, asafoetida and salt.
Add water and make a soft dough.
Shape the dough into small spirals using a murukku press.
Fry in medium-hot oil until golden and crisp.
Drain and cool before serving.

6. Festive Rava Mixture

A homemade mixture is perfect when you want a crunchy snack to share with family and guests. Rava, roasted nuts, spices and curry leaves come together to make this simple festive treat.

Ingredients for Festive Rava Mixture

Double Roasted Rava – 1 cup
Peanuts – ½ cup
Roasted gram – ½ cup
Cashews – ¼ cup
Curry leaves – a handful
Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Salt – as required
Oil – as needed

How to Make Rava Mixture

Roast the rava until crisp, then separately roast the peanuts, roasted gram and cashews.
Fry the curry leaves until crisp.
Combine the roasted ingredients and curry leaves in a large bowl.
Add chilli powder, turmeric and salt, then mix everything well.
Allow the mixture to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container.

7. Traditional Thenkuzhal Murukku

Thenkuzhal is a light and crispy South Indian snack that makes a lovely addition to a Diwali snack platter. Its simple ingredients and delicate texture make it a festive favourite.

Ingredients for Thenkuzhal Murukku

Murukku Flour – 2 cups
Butter – 2 tbsp
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Asafoetida – a pinch
Salt – as required
Water – as needed
Oil – for frying

How to Make Thenkuzhal Murukku

Mix murukku flour, butter, cumin, asafoetida and salt.
Add water gradually to make a soft dough.
Fill the dough into a thenkuzhal mould.
Press into medium-hot oil and fry until crisp.
Drain and serve once cooled.

8. Sweet Maida Shankarpali

Shankarpali is a simple, bite-sized sweet snack that can be prepared ahead of Diwali, making it a convenient addition to your festive menu. Refined wheat flour (maida) forms the base of this crispy treat.

Ingredients for Sweet Maida Shankarpali

Maida – 2 cups
Sugar – ¾ cup
Milk – ½ cup
Ghee – 2 tbsp
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Oil – for frying

How to Make Shankarpali

Mix milk, sugar, ghee and cardamom, then gradually add refined wheat flour to form a firm dough.
Rest the dough briefly, roll it out, and cut into small diamond-shaped pieces.
Heat oil over medium flame and fry the pieces until golden and crisp.
Drain the excess oil and let them cool completely before serving.

9. Jaggery Rava Kesari

Kesari is a simple festive sweet made with roasted rava, ghee, cardamom and jaggery. The jaggery gives it a warm, traditional sweetness, making it a lovely addition to your Diwali sweet platter. Double roasted rava also makes the preparation quick and convenient.

Ingredients for Jaggery Rava Kesari

Double Roasted Rava – 1 cup
Jaggery Powder – ¾ cup
Ghee – 3 tbsp
Cashews – 2 tbsp
Raisins – 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Water – 2½ cups

How to Make Jaggery Rava Kesari

Heat ghee and lightly roast the cashews and raisins; set them aside.
Add the rava and roast briefly, then gradually add hot water while stirring.
Cook until the rava softens, then mix in the jaggery powder.
Add cardamom powder and the remaining ghee, stirring until the kesari thickens.
Mix in the roasted nuts and serve warm.

When to Add the Jaggery

Add jaggery after the rava has cooked properly. This helps the rava soften before the sweetener is incorporated.

10. Jaggery Rice Flour Appam

Soft and sweet, these rice flour appams are a simple traditional treat for your festive menu. Jaggery, banana and coconut give them a naturally rich flavour, while rice flour keeps the recipe simple.

Ingredients for Jaggery Rice Flour Appam

Rice Flour – 1 cup
Jaggery Powder – ¾ cup
Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
Banana – 1 small, mashed
Coconut – ¼ cup
Water – as needed
Oil or ghee – for cooking

How to Make Jaggery Rice Flour Appam

Dissolve jaggery powder in a little water and strain if needed.
Mix rice flour, mashed banana, coconut and cardamom powder in a bowl.
Gradually add the jaggery mixture to make a moderately thick batter.
Rest the batter briefly, then cook small portions in a greased paniyaram pan until golden on both sides.
Serve warm.

How to Plan Your Diwali Cooking

Preparing all your Diwali sweets and snacks on the same day can become time-consuming. A simple preparation plan can make the process easier.

Start with recipes that need resting

Prepare adhirasam dough early so it has enough time to rest.

Make sweets first

Finish sweets before moving on to fried savoury snacks.

Fry snacks in small batches

Keep the dough ready and fry small batches for even cooking.

Cool before storing

Let snacks cool completely to keep them crisp and fresh.

Mix sweets and snacks

Combine treats like murukku, ribbon pakoda, rava laddu and adhirasam for a varied festive box.

For example:

Murukku + Ribbon Pakoda + Rava Laddu + Adhirasam

This gives your homemade Diwali gift box a combination of crispy, crunchy, soft and traditional flavours.

How to Store Homemade Diwali Sweets and Snacks

Proper storage helps maintain the quality and safety of homemade festive foods. Dry, crispy snacks should be completely cooled before storing them in clean, airtight containers. Moist or perishable preparations require more careful handling and should be refrigerated when necessary.

Diwali Food	Storage	Recommended Use Within	Storage Tip
Murukku	Room temperature	7–14 days	Cool completely and store airtight
Ribbon Pakoda	Room temperature	7–14 days	Keep dry and airtight
Rava Laddu	Room temperature / Refrigerator	5–7 days	Refrigerate if milk is added
Adhirasam	Room temperature	5–7 days	Store in a clean, dry container
Maida Murukku	Room temperature	7–14 days	Cool completely before storing
Rava Mixture	Room temperature	7–14 days	Protect from moisture
Thenkuzhal	Room temperature	7–14 days	Store airtight after cooling
Shankarpali	Room temperature	10–14 days	Keep in a dry, airtight container
Jaggery Rava Kesari	Refrigerator	2–3 days	Refrigerate leftovers promptly
Jaggery Rice Flour Appam	Refrigerator	2–3 days	Refrigerate leftovers promptly

A Quick Food-Safty Reminder

Since Diwali sweets and snacks are often prepared in larger quantities and shared with family and friends, proper hygiene and storage are important. Use clean utensils, fresh ingredients and suitable storage containers, and refrigerate foods that require it. For more information on safe food handling, follow the FSSAI food-safety guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diwali Recipes

1. What are some easy Diwali recipes to make at home?

Easy Diwali recipes include murukku, ribbon pakoda, rava laddu, adhirasam, maida murukku, rava mixture, thenkuzhal, shankarpali and jaggery-based sweets.

2. What sweets are commonly prepared for Diwali?

Popular Diwali sweets include rava laddu, adhirasam, kesari and other traditional sweets made with ingredients such as rava, rice flour and jaggery.

3. What are some traditional Diwali snacks?

Murukku, ribbon pakoda, thenkuzhal, maida murukku and mixture are popular savoury snacks that can be prepared for Diwali.

4. Can I prepare Diwali sweets and snacks in advance?

Yes. Dry snacks such as murukku, ribbon pakoda and mixture can be prepared ahead of time. Some sweets can also be made in advance, depending on their ingredients and storage requirements.

5. Which flour is commonly used for Diwali snacks?

Rice flour, murukku flour and refined wheat flour are commonly used in different Diwali snacks. The choice depends on the recipe and the texture you want to achieve.

6. What are the easiest Diwali snacks to make at home?

Murukku, ribbon pakoda, thenkuzhal, rava mixture and shankarpali are easy options for homemade Diwali snacking.

7. What can I make for a homemade Diwali gift box?

A combination of murukku, ribbon pakoda, rava laddu and adhirasam makes a simple and varied homemade Diwali gift box.

Conclusion

Homemade Diwali food does not have to be complicated. With a few familiar ingredients and some simple preparation, you can make a delicious mix of traditional sweets and savoury snacks to enjoy with family and friends. Whether you are preparing a festive platter, serving guests or putting together a homemade gift box, these easy Diwali recipes offer plenty of options to make the celebration more special.

Planning your Diwali cooking? Explore more traditional recipes and festive food ideas from Anil Foods to make your celebrations even more delicious.

Table of Contents