Rangoli Ladoos
Diwali has always been a special festival growing up in my family… in fact for most Indian families. It’s the Festival of Lights, where we celebrate faith and hope and wish that everyone has a bright future, happiness and prosperity in their lives.
Everywhere you look, Diwali takes over with lights and colors. Rangoli designs are a prominent component of Diwali, with the idea that it brings strength, good luck and genorosity. Keeping in mind that very foundation of colors and brightness, I decided to bring the spirit of rangoli to my mithai (sweets) for Diwali this year.
Coconut ladoos are very popular in Indian and the best part is, they are very easy to make. The basis of each ladoo was kept the same with the main ingredients being coconut, almond flour/ground almonds, and condensed milk. The ratios vary based on the flavor and additions of the ladoo.
Here are the flavors I decided to go with:
- Mango (seriously, how could I not include this flavor?!)
- Lavender (because it’s a new obsession and the flavor and colors are so amazing!)
- Rose (the colors, the fragrance, and the taste are so pretty, it makes me feel like a princess when I’m eating this!)
- Mojito (…..yep. No alcohol, but that hint of lime and mint….YUM!)
- Coconut Almond (the original cannot be overlooked!)
Some tips to make it easier for you when you make this:
- Use a non-stick skillet to make these. It prevents the mixture from sticking and makes the process that much easier.
- Make them vegan! Use vegan condensed milk and coconut oil instead of ghee to roll the balls.
- You can use frozen grated coconut. Just leave it out for a little bit to thaw and bring to room temperature.
- If you don’t want to use or don’t have almond flour available, substitute with the same amount of almonds and grind them up into a flour. It’s an extra step but easy and a perfect swap.
- When buying almond flour, make sure you buy the almond flour and NOT the blend. I almost did that. The blend has a mixture of rice and other ingredients that would change the taste of this dessert.
If you end up making any of these delicious ladoos, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram at @bitofspice146. I would love to see your creations!
