40+ Holi Recipes

Thandai also known as "Shardai" is a traditional Indian drink, made especially for Holi. It is made from milk, nuts, poppy seeds, and various spices like cardamom, saffron, and fennel seeds with a hint of spice from black peppercorns. Often served chilled, Thandai is refreshing and it's believed to have cooling properties, making it particularly good during warmer weather.

A creamy, festive Indian rice pudding infused with aromatic Thandai Masala, perfect for Holi celebrations and make-ahead desserts!

Crispy, sticky, sweet, irresistible–that is the one and only Jalebi! My mom’s recipe for the best Jalebi needs no fermentation, is ready in under an hour, and stays perfectly crunchy for days! These Instant Jalebis have it all—light crisp dough to soak up sweet cardamom-saffron syrup and that essential lemony tang. 

Make this super easy treat for your family! Each square looks like a pretty picture with Pistachios, Rose Petals & Apricots against the creamy Cardamom White Chocolate. A perfect dessert for the festival of colors using some of our most favorite flavors.

Feeding a crowd? Try this stunning Crinkle Cake that is easy to make! It has that pretty sheen and crinkly swirled top of a fancy pastry, but is actually a simple dessert based on store-bought frozen phyllo dough!

Balushahi is a heavenly Indian dessert that dresses up any celebration! These pretty little yogurt cakes are shaped into donut-like rounds which are fried, then bathed in a luxurious rose and cardamom syrup. The result is a sweet flaky surface, a tender cakey interior, and the pure pleasure of beautiful Indian flavors - ghee, rose, cardamom, and saffron.

ou might be surprised by how few ingredients you need to make this beloved Indian dessert. The magic behind the fudgy, melt-in-your-mouth texture of Besan Ki Barfi is in how each element is treated and combined. The simple base of besan flour, ghee, sugar syrup, and spices is transformed into a rich and fragrant delicacy!

Homemade creamy-tangy mango popsicles made with fresh mangoes, yogurt, floral saffron & a hint of salt perfectly balancing the sweetness. This is an easy-to-make, hard-to-resist fun treat that kids and adults are sure to devour!

Presenting a new family favorite, Badam Burfi – an aromatic Indian dessert with a delightful balance of a mild sweet taste and a light fudgy texture. Unbelievably easy to make, this almond fudge leaves your kitchen smelling like a million bucks, as the fragrances of cardamom and saffron weave a perfect harmony with the earthy and flavorful almond flour.

Kalakand is a delectable, melt-in-the-mouth dessert whipped up in Indian homes for festivals and celebrations. A moist and flavorful milk cake, Kalakand has a nutty floral aroma and delicate grainy texture. Laced with cardamom and saffron, and dressed up in bright green pistachios, this exotic mithai always stands out amongst the finest of Indian dessert spreads.

A cool and lush mango flavored dessert made with creamy yogurt and sweet mangoes, garnished with aromatic saffron. This is my favorite no-cook dessert for Indian festivals as it can be made ahead and is loved by all.

Anjeer Halwa or Dry Fruit Halwa is a popular Indian Dessert. This 5 ingredient Fig Walnut halwa laced with cardamom, is my modern take on the traditional fig dessert. I have included both Instant Pot and stovetop recipes for this refined sugar-free, must-try dessert.

Creamy, lightly sweetened Rice Pudding AKA ‘Kheer’ is infused with fragrant saffron and cardamom. In India, Rice pudding is also known as kheer, phirni or payasam in different states with slight variation but same comforting flavors.

Vermicelli pudding topped with saffron, cashews, raisins and a hint of rose flavor, this Seviyan Kheer is a great last minute dessert to celebrate Holi.

A deliciously creamy dessert made with the healthy, gluten free fox nuts cooked with milk, carrots with the floral essences of cardamom and saffron.

Pineapple Sheera is an exotic, tropical tasting dessert made with sweet and tangy pineapple cooked with ghee roasted semolina garnished with aromatic saffron and nuts.

My mom's signature recipe, this variation of sheera has grated carrots added to the classic recipe made with semolina, sugar and ghee. The carrots add festive color and delicious taste to the creamy sheera.

Gajar ka halwa is a popular Indian dessert made with grated carrots cooked in ghee, milk, aromatic cardamom, saffron and garnished with nuts and raisins. Enjoyed warm or cold, this make ahead dessert is ready in under 30 minutes using the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

Another popular Indian dessert, Dudhi Halwa is a creamy pudding made with grated bottle gourd also known as lauki. This perfectly sweetened, creamy pudding is traditionally laced with cardamom but feel free to add vanilla extract instead for a surprise twist.

Looking for a more healthier Indian dessert? Try this Sweet Potato Halwa with a delicious coconut crunch that is lightly sweetened with brown sugar or jaggery.

5-ingredient dessert with a soft melt-in-mouth, fudgy texture, this coconut mango burfi has fragrant Alphonso mango pulp that makes this dessert heavenly. This must-try recipe has my favorite ingredients - coconut and mango - if you love them too, make this recipe today!

Besan Ladoo are creamy, melt-in-the-mouth dessert balls. These Laddu or Ladu are made with besan/gram flour, ghee and sugar, laced with aromatic cardamom, nutmeg and saffron.

Another dessert ball recipe made with freshly grated coconut, roasted semolina with the aromatic cardamom & saffron. Check out this recipe with all the tips and tricks to make perfect rava ladoo.

Rose Coconut Karanji or Gujiya is a crispy pastry filled with sweet and delicate rose flavored coconut filling that simply melts in your mouth.

Sweet Coconut Rice is made with rice and coconut and is flavored with cloves, cardamom, and saffron. EASY to make, this lightly dessert rice has delicious tropical coconut flavors.

Heavenly Mango Cheesecake! The smooth textures and flavors of this divine creamy tangy mango cheesecake are elevated with a perfectly crumbly crust for a decadent treat. Best of all, this radiant golden cheesecake is easy to make using the Instant Pot.

Lighter than the traditional cheese cake, this perfectly sweetened ricotta cheesecake is laced with delicate notes of rose & cardamom. The buttery pistachio crust will remind you of the nutty baklava and is a must-try recipe that will win everyones heart over.

An ice cream float with aromatic rose syrup, cool sweet basil seeds, thin noodles, and cold milk topped with creamy vanilla ice-cream and nuts of your choice. A Colorful dessert/drink that is a must-have for Holi celebration.

A stunning contrast of colors, Aloo Chaat in Phyllo Cups is a fusion of the all time favorite spiced potatoes, sweet – spicy chutneys and lightly sweetened creamy yogurt. Dressed up in crunchy sev and bright red pomegranate pearls, this snack is a crowd pleaser.

There is something so fun and inviting about mini appetizers and finger foods. Don’t they just make a party?? I love seeing my guests happily talking and grazing. All the oohs and ahhs over how cute bite-sized food is. These Mushroom Tartlets are so tasty, extremely easy to make, and bake in just 6-8 minutes so you can keep those plates full.

Dahi Vada are soft, melt-in-your-mouth, lentil dumplings dunked in lush yogurt that is garnished with sweet and tangy tamarind-date chutney, red chili powder, cumin-coriander powder and crunchy sev.

With flavor explosion in every bite, Papdi Chaat is crunchy wheat chips topped with creamy potatoes, dressed with cooling yogurt, spicy bright green chutney, sweet-tangy tamarind chutney, crunchy sev, and ground spices.

Popular street food from India, Dahi Puri is a crunchy, savory dish packed with layers of tangy, sweet, and spicy flavors with a perfect balance of texture and aromas that are a feast to the eyes! Making Dahi Puri at home is easy as it needs minimal cooking. Super versatile as an appetizer, snack, or light vegetarian meal.

Tangy, Spicy, and Sweet Bhel Puri is a popular Indian street food. Made with crispy puffed rice, crunchy gram flour noodles mixed in spicy green chutney, sweet-tangy tamarind chutney, and ground spices garnished with cilantro and pomegranates. A flavor-packed vegan snack that is quick and easy to make and a crowd-pleaser dish that is easily customized to your taste.

Sweet, Spicy & Tangy this Tater Tots Chaat is loaded with an incredible combination of flavors and textures. A simpler version of the traditional North-Indian Aloo chaat, this recipe uses crispy air-fried tater tots that are layered with chickpeas, creamy yogurt, spicy green chutney, sweet-tangy tamarind chutney, crunchy onions, and sev.

With a simple combo of fresh and frozen ingredients, these Jalapeno Cheese Samosas come together in a flash! A flaky crispy shell holds the spicy, melty cheese filling with little bursts of sweet corn goodness. 

These awesome Air Fryer Zucchini Chips make a healthy and delicious one-bite appetizer that’s just perfect for entertaining. They’re light, crispy, and so satisfying dipped in the tangy yogurt sauce. The Indian spiced zucchini coins have so much flavor and the grab-and-go size lets guests nibble and mingle with ease!

These golden-crisp onion fritters are jam-packed with flavors from green chilies, red Kashmiri chili, garlic, carom seeds, turmeric, and of course onions! Serve this epic dish as a snack with green chutney or ketchup or serve it alongside your favorite Indian meal.

Onion Bhajis are naturally Gluten-Free and Vegan, a wonderful bite to be enjoyed by all!

Bombay sandwich is a deliciously wholesome sandwich with generous amounts of lip-smacking fresh cilantro-mint chutney and thinly sliced veggies layered between slices of soft bread. This Indian vegetarian sandwich is a hassle-free, crowd-pleaser snack loaded with colorful veggies, making for an immensely gratifying bite.

No-fry version of the traditional Sabudana Vada this Maharashtrian delicacy that is made with tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes, ground peanuts, chillies and cumin seeds. Served with a sweet, and spicy yogurt sauce these tapicoa fritters are sure to tickle your taste buds!

Popular Indian street-food, Paneer Kathi rolls are warm, layered parathas filled with spicy paneer, mixed peppers and sweet caramelized onions. Whether you make it for a quick weeknight meal or a leisurely gathering, these kathi rolls are sure to be a hit!

Fluffy and soft savory semolina cakes that are lightly spiced with ginger, green chilies and an earthy tempering of black mustard seeds and sesame seeds. Served with fresh cilantro-mint chutney, rava dhokla is a great make-ahead snack or appetizer.

Handvo is a traditional gujarati savory cake made with rice, lentils and vegetables. Spiced with fresh ginger & green chilies, tempered with mustard seeds, sesame seeds & dried red chillies. This wholesome dish can be enjoyed as a meal by itself or as a snack.

A popular street food in India, Ragda patties is a dish everyone must try once. A spicy white peas curry served over potato patties and dressed up with sweet and tangy chutneys, crispy sev and garnished with diced onions and fresh cilantro. Every bite is a magical explosion of “CHAT-PATA” flavors!

Pav Bhaji is a spicy mashed vegetable dish, served piping hot with a dollop of butter, diced red onions, cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Served with warm buttery pan-toasted rolls, this dish is always a hit!

Misal Pav is a vibrant meal consisting of a spicy sprouted bean curry topped with crunchy farsan, crisp red onions and fresh cilantro that is served with lightly buttered pav.