Good Friday, on April 18, 2025, is the day we commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. It’s a day of reflection, prayer and fasting for many Christians around the world. In India, Good Friday has special significance especially among Christian communities in states like Kerala, Goa and Tamil Nadu where special church services and processions take place. Traditionally many observe a Lenten fast for 40 days before Easter and abstain from rich foods especially meat, dairy and eggs. As the day ends simple, yet meaningful desserts bring a sweet end to this period of devotion.
Lenten desserts for Good Friday are humble, made with wholesome ingredients like jaggery, coconut, nuts and dried fruits. They are eggless and low on dairy, true to the spirit of simplicity and yet comforting. From Kerala’s Aval Vilayichathu, a sweet, flattened rice dish to Goan Dodol, made with coconut milk and rice flour, these desserts are traditional. Even modern adaptations like jaggery-sweetened date puddings or banana-based bakes have made it to Good Friday tables. These are not just about indulgence but a gentle transition from fasting to feasting as Easter approaches.
Traditional Lenten sweets are eggless, dairy-free and made with wholesome ingredients. Here are 10 desserts that honour tradition and end the Lenten journey nicely.
A Good Friday staple, these spiced buns with a cross mark the crucifixion. Traditionally made with dried fruits and warm spices, you can tweak them by using whole wheat flour or adding jaggery for natural sweetness. To make, knead a soft dough, let it rise, shape into buns and bake. The cross is made with a simple flour paste and a light honey glaze adds to the flavor.
Originally an Easter cake, Simnel cake is also associated with Lent. This fruitcake with marzipan represents the 12 apostles. A lighter version can be made with whole wheat flour and dry fruits like dates and figs. Soak the fruits in orange juice, mix into a batter and bake until golden brown. A topping of homemade almond paste completes the cake.
A simple yet soulful dessert, kheer is often made without eggs or dairy during Lent. A coconut milk version with jaggery instead of sugar is rich yet wholesome. Slow cook rice with coconut milk, sweeten with jaggery and garnish with nuts and cardamom. This pudding is perfect for a Good Friday meal.
Root veggies like sweet potatoes have been part of fasting traditions for ages. This halwa is made by steaming mashed sweet potatoes and cooking them with jaggery and coconut milk. A pinch of cardamom and saffron and it’s a nourishing and delicious treat.
For a quick and nutritious dessert, peanut ladoos are the way to go. Roasted peanuts ground with jaggery and shaped into small balls is an energy packed sweet. No cooking required and rich in protein makes it perfect to break your fast.
Ripe bananas sweeten this bread naturally making it soft and moist without eggs or butter. A simple batter of mashed bananas, whole wheat flour, jaggery and coconut oil comes together in no time. Bake and enjoy with a cup of tea.
A classic Indian sweet, coconut barfi is Lenten friendly when made without condensed milk. Freshly grated coconut, jaggery and a pinch of cardamom is cooked together and set into small squares. This easy dessert is both flavorful and symbolic of purity and simplicity.
Black sesame is a symbol of protection in many cultures, so it’s a meaningful ingredient for Good Friday. Roasted black sesame seeds mixed with jaggery and set into bars is a sweet and nutritious treat. Packed with minerals and an energy booster.
Dates are often consumed during fasting periods and provide natural sweetness without refined sugar. Blended dates mixed with crushed nuts and rolled into logs is a satisfying chewy dessert. A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg and it’s perfect to indulge after a meal.
Tapioca pearls soaked in coconut milk and sweetened with palm sugar is a creamy pudding perfect for Good Friday. This is light, gluten free and easy to digest so perfect to end your fast. Serve chilled with toasted coconut for extra flavor.