Navratri Ashtami Special Desserts: Indulgent Recipes to Celebrate the Holy Day

Durga Ashtami falls on 15th April 2025 and is one of the most auspicious days of Navratri. It is the 8th day of the 9-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga where we worship her divine strength and victory over evil. On this day we do Kanya Pujan where we worship young girls as the goddess and offer traditional bhog to seek blessings. Among all the offerings sweets hold a special place-signifying devotion, prosperity and joy of celebration.

You can’t imagine Ashtami without the fragrance of suji halwa, the richness of kheer or the melt in your mouth softness of coconut laddoo. These traditional desserts have been a part of Ashtami rituals for generations and bring families together in the spirit of devotion and festivity. But while the classics are timeless, there’s always room to add a little festive flair.

Whether you are preparing traditional bhog or looking to add a twist to your offerings, this collection of Navratri Ashtami special desserts will sweeten your celebrations. Get ready to indulge in traditional flavors while celebrating the divinity and grandeur of Durga Ashtami in the most delicious way possible!

10 Navratri Ashtami Special Desserts: Indulgent Recipes to Celebrate the Holy Day

Suji Halwa

No Ashtami celebration is complete without a bowl of suji halwa. This rich, ghee-laden sweet is an integral part of Kanya Pujan, served alongside puris and kala chana. The preparation is simple yet rewarding—roast semolina (suji) in ghee, pour in sugar-sweetened water infused with cardamom, and cook until it thickens.

Kesar Badam Kheer

This creamy dessert, made with slow-cooked rice and milk, is infused with saffron, giving it a golden hue and a festive aroma. Finely chopped almonds, cashews, and pistachios add a royal richness, making it a prasad-worthy sweet. Serve it warm or chilled, and let every spoonful bring you closer to divine blessings.

Coconut Laddoo

Coconut laddoos are often prepared as a Satvik prasad during Navratri, as they require minimal ingredients and are naturally sweetened. Fresh or desiccated coconut is roasted in ghee, mixed with condensed milk or jaggery, and shaped into soft, melt-in-your-mouth laddoos.

Makhana Kheer

If you’re fasting on Ashtami, makhana kheer is the perfect sweet treat. Fox nuts (makhana) are lightly roasted in ghee and simmered in milk, sugar, and cardamom, creating a luscious kheer that is both nutritious and festive. Garnish with sliced almonds and saffron strands.

Besan Laddoo

Made with gram flour (besan), ghee, and sugar, besan laddoos have been a favorite in festive offerings for generations. The key to their flavor is slow roasting the besan until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma. Once cooled, the mixture is rolled into soft laddoos, often studded with chopped pistachios or almonds.

Malpua

Soft, sweet, and slightly crisp at the edges, malpuas are an indulgent offering for Durga Ashtami. These deep-fried flour pancakes are flavored with cardamom and fennel, dipped in sugar syrup, and often garnished with slivers of dry fruits. Some families make a vrat-friendly version using rajgira (amaranth) flour and jaggery.

Gurer Sandesh

If you’re looking for a special sweet with Bengali traditions, gurer sandesh is an excellent choice. This soft, melt-in-the-mouth sweet is made by mixing fresh chhena (paneer) with date palm jaggery (nolen gur), giving it a rich, caramel-like sweetness. Often shaped into beautiful molds, sandesh is a pure and simple prasad that pays homage to Maa Durga.

Rajgira Sheera

For those observing fasts, rajgira sheera is a delicious and wholesome alternative to suji halwa. Made with rajgira (amaranth) flour, ghee, jaggery, and cardamom, this vrat-friendly dessert is gluten-free and packed with nutrition. Its smooth, rich consistency and mild sweetness make it an excellent bhog offering.

Sabudana Kheer

Sabudana (sago) kheer is another popular fasting-friendly sweet made by slow-cooking sabudana pearls in milk and sugar. The starchy pearls thicken the kheer beautifully, while a hint of cardamom and a handful of cashews and raisins add festive richness.

Moong Dal Halwa

Though it requires patience, moong dal halwa is one of the richest and most indulgent Ashtami sweets. Prepared by slow-roasting ground moong dal in ghee, this dessert develops a deep, nutty aroma. Once the dal is golden, sugar syrup and milk are added, creating a soft, aromatic halwa.