Deliciously decadent and melt-in-your mouth kind of fudge is this Coconut Khoya Laddoo. Impress your guests this Diwali by making this really quick and easy laddoo.
The festival season is here for those in India or are of Indian origin living elsewhere in the world. There is practically nothing much going on for the first ⅔rds of a year and then boom! comes September and we are off to a start to the festival season that does not finish till sometime mid November. Festivals is the common word used in India as an equivalent of the term holidays, here. First is Ganesh Chaturti and Onam, for those of us in the state of Kerala in Southern India. Then comes Navarathri or Dussera, which takes up 10 days of celebration exhaustion sometime in October. And then finally comes Diwali anywhere between mid October to Mid November. And that’s that. The variation in the dates for different years is because these festivals are celebrated based on dates in the lunar calendar which does not coincide with the dates in the regular calendar.
Now that we are bang in the middle of festival season here with the 10 days Navrathri festival being celebrated right now. Us in the USofA are also in the middle of all the pumpkin patch-ing and halloween celebrations as well. I have to be honest though, some years, like this one, gets a little overwhelming and exhausting during these few months. But still, it is the time of the year I most look forward to.
This is a very simple and delicious laddoo that you can make pretty quickly this time of the year. The recipe calls for equal parts of grated fresh coconut, grated khoya and sugar. Khoya is nothing but condensed milk solids that is easily available in Indian stores. I did a quick search to see if it is available to buy online, but I didn’t see any.
I was also researching to see how we can make this at home. It is quite a long process and kinda takes away from the easiness of this recipe. However, I did read in many places about making khoya from ricotta cheese, but I will have to make this myself to validate that. Hopefully soon enough and I will then post it here.
Coconut Khoya Laddoo – The Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups grated fresh coconut, frozen grated coconut thawed to room temperature is fine. I will not recommend desiccated coconut for this.
- 1 ½ cups grated khoya / mawa
- 1 ½ cups regular cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ – 1 cup desiccated coconut, optional
Method
- If the thawed coconut is still a little cold, microwave it for 30 secs or so.
- In a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat, roast the coconut. Roast is continuously till it releases oil and turns slight pink. This stage is right before it starts browning and we don’t want browned coconut.
- Add the khoya to this and keep mixing it until it starts to loosen up a little and mixes in with the coconut.
- Now add the sugar and cardamom. Mix well until the sugar melts and starts to bind with the coconut khoya mixture and they all form a dough like mixture. It will really start to thicken and you will feel that you need more muscle power to mix them. That is about the right time to stop.
- Remove from heat and let it cool down a little.
- Wet your hands and take a little of the mixture and form key lime sized balls. Roll into the desiccated coconut (optional).
- Store in an airtight container for a day. If storing for more than a day and upto 3-4 days, keep refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.
📖 Recipe
Coconut Khoya Laddoo
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups grated fresh coconut frozen grated coconut thawed to room temperature is fine.
- 1 ½ cups grated khoya / mawa
- 1 ½ cups regular cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ - 1 cup desiccated coconut optional
Don't forget to check out Step-by-step instructions with photos in the body of the post above
Instructions
- If the thawed coconut is still a little cold, microwave it for 30 secs or so.
- In a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat, roast the coconut. Roast is continuously till it releases oil and turns slight pink. This stage is right before it starts browning and we don’t want browned coconut.
- Add the khoya to this and keep mixing it until it starts to loosen up a little and mixes in with the coconut.
- Now add the sugar and cardamom. Mix well until the sugar melts and starts to bind with the coconut khoya mixture and they all form a dough like mixture. It will really start to thicken and you will feel that you need more muscle power to mix them. That is about the right time to stop.
- Remove from heat and let it cool down a little.
- Wet your hands and take a little of the mixture and form key lime sized balls. Roll into the desiccated coconut (optional).
- Store in an airtight container for a day. If storing for more than a day and upto 3-4 days, keep refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Ashleigh says
These look so darn good! I love all things coconut and if these taste as good as they look, then I know I'll be a fan! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Afrolems says
This looks like a dessert we have in Nigeria. I would be trying your version out
J @ Bless Her Heart Y'all says
These little balls of goodness look so yummy especially with the coconut!
Nagi@RecipeTinEats says
My favourite Indian restaurant in Sydney is a whole in wall place that has incredible array of sweet treats. This is one of my favorites!! Who knew it was so easy to make?
Sandi (@sandigtweets) says
I am so excited these are gluten free so I can give them a try. They look amazing.
Ann says
You had me at Coconut! I am a sucker for anything with coconut in it. These remind me of a Vietnamese treat called Bahn Ram. I just LOVE learning about foods from different cultures, and will definitely ask for it the next time I go out for Indian food.
Jenn says
Coconut is one of my favorite ingredients in sweets and these sound amazing!
Silvia @ Ribas with Love says
These coconut balls looks so yummy, a lot like ones I ate growing up in Brazil. But I do know recognize the ingredient Khoya ? will have to search it up... Love easy recipes and everything that has coconut in it!!
Ludmilla says
These coconuts balls reminds me a Brazilian coconut "truffles". I love coconut!!
GiGi Eats says
The problem with me and balls is I just cannot stop at one... HE HE. Balls in my mouth are just the best.
Ange says
These little bites are right up my alley. Sweet, spicy and easy to make. Camt wait to try
Amanda@ChewTown says
What wonderful looking treats! I'm having a coffee right now and this would be the PERFECT accompaniment.
Shashi says
Nice rcp