Tamil New Year Desserts: Delightful Sweet Recipes to Mark the Festive Occasion

What's the first thing that you associate with celebrations? It's always sitting down with family and friends, eating, and having sweets. Tamil New Year, or Puthandu, is no different. The festival is a celebration of prosperity with traditional fare, including a selection of delicious sweets that have been a part of Tamil homes for generations.

Desserts are more than just a treat—there are tales of tradition, home, and the pleasure of sharing behind them. Every home has its own signature desserts, generation to generation, infusing every gathering with warmth. Whether you're a fan of the heaviness of jaggery sweets or like the simplicity of coconut desserts, there's something for everyone. This year, experiment with a twist on these classic favorites. From classic payasam to fusion-inspired sweets, here's a list of must-try Tamil New Year sweets that are worth a spot at your festive table.

9 Tamil New Year Desserts

Paruppu Payasam

A classic in Tamil homes, this sweet is prepared using moong dal, jaggery, and coconut milk, slow-cooked until it becomes rich and fragrant. The addition of cardamom and topping with ghee-roasted cashews and raisins add richness to the dish. It is best served hot and is usually made on festive days as an offering before being distributed among family and friends.

Akkaravadisal

A richer variety of sweet pongal, akkaravadisal is prepared with rice, moong dal, and lots of milk. Jaggery imparts deep sweetness, while saffron and cardamom deepen its aroma. The preparation is topped with ghee-fried nuts, and thus it is a great festive treat for Tamil New Year celebrations.

Pasi Paruppu Laddu

Made with roasted moong dal, jaggery, and ghee, these laddus are simple yet packed with flavor. They have a soft and melt-in-the-mouth consistency, making them a favorite across all age groups. Rolling them into small balls while still warm ensures they hold their shape perfectly.

Coconut Poli

A sweet turn on the traditional poli, this one has a sweet coconut and jaggery filling inside. The dough, prepared from all-purpose flour, is rolled very thin, filled generously, and cooked on a hot griddle with ghee. This yields a crisp, golden-colored poli with a scented coconut filling inside.

Elaneer Payasam

The tender coconut adds a cool twist to this rich dessert. Prepared with coconut milk, condensed milk, and tender coconut pieces, this payasam is light but indulgent. Refrigerated before serving, it is a great Tamil New Year treat for hot weather.

Chocolate Twist Rava Kesari

Rava kesari is a popular sweet, but with a chocolate twist, it becomes too tempting. Prepared with roasted semolina, sugar, and ghee, this one has a cocoa infusion that adds an exciting turn to the traditional dessert, which even adults will love.

Kadalai Urundai

These peanut and jaggery balls are easy, wholesome, and full of delectable crunch. Roasted peanuts are ground and mixed with melted jaggery and formed into small spheres when still warm. A festival favorite during Tamil festivals, they keep well and are a healthy sweet snack.

Nei Appam

Crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, nei appam is a classic Tamil sweet that consists of rice flour, banana, jaggery, and cardamom. The batter is deep-fried in ghee until golden brown, and the sweet is aromatic and fulfilling.

Carrot Badam Halwa

A rich dessert consisting of grated carrots, almond flour, milk, and ghee, cooked low and slow to perfection. The sweetness of carrots combines magnificently with the richness of almonds, and it makes a great item for the Tamil New Year menu.