Sweets are ingrained deep into our very own Indian culture. And among all these amazing varieties of Indian sweets, Laddus are the most popular. If tomorrow we were left to choose a national sweet dish, the most likely contender would be the mighty laddu. To begin with, it is an omnipresent sweet and by this I do not only mean its presence in every festival , but the fact that every region in India has a variety of its own. An example of this is the Coconut Laddu. Not only does this easy variety have close to a dozen styles of making it, the oldest form called the Nariyal Nakru in South. It dates back to the time of the Chola Empire, when it was a sweet that was packed for travelers and warriors as a symbol of good luck for their expeditions. Let’s take a look at the different types of laddus found across the country.

Varieties Of Laddus

1. Coconut Laddu

These laddus are absolutely delicious, they are typically made with coconut which is grated and then cooked with sugar or jaggery. In case you are health conscious yet got a sweet tooth, then avoid sugar and go for jaggery. An even healthier alternative is baked coconut laddus.

2. Til Laddu

These laddus are made with white sesame seeds and are very quick and simple to make. Sesame seeds or til are an indispensable part of Indian winters since time immemorial. Known in Ayurveda for its ability to generate heat and energy in the body and its numerous beauty and hair benefits , sesame seeds are loaded with nutrition that makes it a must-have in your winter diet. Again these can also be made with sugar and jaggery both. And they taste absolutely

Delicious.

3. Badam Laddu

Badam laddu is a rich and indulgent preparation of sweet cashew nuts and almond balls perfect for the season of festivity coming up. Using a collection of nuts that are great brain food, they’re also a high-energy healthy snack. It can be made ahead for any Indian festival, and will make a perfect snack to serve when you have guests over or something to hand out when visiting relatives.

4. Akki Thambittu

Thambittu or rice flour laddu is an authentic Karnataka sweet dish prepared usually for festivals. Akki Thambittu is prepared using rice flour which has a divine taste. Mostly prepared in the Bangalore, Mysore regions of Karnataka,there are different types of Thambittu made with different ingredients. Akki thambittu is prepared with (roasted) rice flour, jaggery, grated dry copra, cardamom and roasted nuts which taste delicious.

5. Motichoor Laddu

Originally said to hail from the Northern region of the country, Motichoor Laddu also happens to be a extremely popular across the whole country. The word ‘motichoor’ literally translates to crushed pearls and honestly we think the taste justifies it. Originally associated with states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, these laddu were easy to store in the torrid temperatures, and would stay good for days. There was also some mention of it in ancient and medieval texts down the Southern and Eastern regions of India. Motichoor laddu now has become an intrinsic part of every Indian festivity.

6. Rava Laddu

Rava laddus are a traditional Maharashtrian sweet. Made with rava , these laddus are tasty and also score high on the health meter as well. If you are bored of those rich motichoor laddus, then the rava laddu is perhaps the next best alternative. Best part is that this can be counted as guilt free eating. Rava is known for its health benefits as its rich in iron, low in fat and has antioxidants. 

7. Malai Laddu

These laddus also called cream balls. This is a very popular sweet dish not only in India but also in Pakistan. Typically made from cream which goes through evaporation process. Malai Laddus are made for offering it to the gods and goddess.

The best part about laddus are that they can be served at almost any time of the year. They are not season specific, or occasion specific. You can prepare most of these laddus at home and spread the warmth and togetherness.