Holi is all colors, happiness, and relishing sweet moments of togetherness with loved ones. Vibrant gulal and splatters of watercolor paint the town red during Holi, but it's sweet delicacies that give Holi festivities an unforgettable twist. The quintessential Indian sweets peda and kalakand are an evergreen hit during festival season. Their heavy, creamy texture and ease of preparation make them a popular pick for many households. Such sweets can be made more celebratory by including colorful twists and special ingredients. From saffron pedas to pistachio kalakand, such recipes not only appear colorful but also bring in an explosion flavor to your Holi festival. Whether you are having a Holi party or just celebrating the festival at home, these colorful peda and kalakand recipes will definitely add sweetness and happiness to your festive table. Let's go through these simple-to-make recipes that will give your celebrations a splash of color and flavor!
Kesar peda is a colorful and fragrant sweet ideal for Holi. Prepared with khoya (mawa), sugar, and saffron strands, this peda derives its golden hue from the soaked saffron. Heat the khoya in a pan, add sugar, and mix well. Add the saffron milk and knead the mixture into small round pedas. Garnish with chopped pistachios and a few strands of saffron. The saffron fragrance and the melt-in-the-mouth, soft peda make this a festive season must-have sweet.
Add a bright green color to your kalakand with the goodness of pistachios. To prepare this, boil crumbled paneer (or chenna) with condensed milk until it thickens. Mix finely ground pistachios into the mixture for a natural green color and nutty flavor. After the mixture has thickened, apply it on a greased tray and refrigerate. Cut into squares and sprinkle with additional pistachios. This pistachio kalakand is not only colorful but also brings a crunchy touch to the conventional sweet.
Rose peda is a new and scented take on the classic sweet. Combine khoya, rose syrup, and sugar in a pan and heat until it thickens. The rose syrup provides a pink color and fragrance to the peda. Form the mixture into small pedas and garnish with dried rose petals and a pinch of cardamom powder. These pink pedas bring a vibrant and scented touch to your Holi dessert spread.
Coconut kalakand provides a tropical flavor to your festival sweets. Combine fresh grated coconut with condensed milk and cook until the mixture thickens. Add crumbled paneer and mix until it becomes a thick mass. Spread this mixture on a tray and allow it to set before cutting it into pieces. For a splash of color, you can add a pinch of food-grade color or garnish with shredded coconut and edible flowers. This kalakand is not only simple to prepare but also provides a fresh, nutty flavor to your Holi festivities.
For a change of pace, make paan peda. Mix betel leaves, gulkand , and some condensed milk to a smooth paste. Fry khoya in sugar and add the paan mixture and stir until thick. Mold into small pedas and garnish with silver vark and chopped nuts. The color from the betel leaves and the fragrance of gulkand in these pedas add a unique touch to your Holi sweets.
Add a splash of yellow to your dessert platter with mango kalakand. Boil crumbled paneer with condensed milk and pureed fresh mango until it thickens into a mixture. Pour it onto a tray to set and cut into squares. The sweetness and natural color of the mangoes complement the creamy kalakand perfectly, providing a welcome twist to the classic sweet. Garnish with dried mango slices or a pinch of saffron for a celebratory look.
Chocolate peda is a combination sweet that takes the classic peda and gives it a contemporary chocolate spin. Combine khoya with cocoa powder, sugar, and a small amount of milk. Cook until the mixture binds together and becomes thick. Roll into small balls and coat with chocolate shavings or colorful sprinkles. These pedas are not only simple to prepare but also a favorite among children and adults. Their decadent, chocolatey flavor adds a lively touch to your Holi celebrations.