Dry fruit laddu is made with a combination of chopped and fried dry fruits, traditionally mixed with date paste. It is very easy and quick to make dry fruit laddus at home, as detailed in my easy recipe.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Dry fruit laddu is a popular sweet in India.
- Serve it as is or after a meal as a sweet treat.
- Dry fruit laddus taste nutty, earthy, and slightly sweet.
- Other similar recipes are peanut laddu, sesame (til) laddu, and coconut laddu.
The Ingredients:
- ½ cup desi ghee (clarified butter)
- 1 cup almonds (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup cashew nuts (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- ¾ cup melon seeds
- ½ cup pistachios (roughly chopped)
- ½ cup raisins
- ¼ cup poppy seeds
- 1 cup dried coconut (kopra, finely chopped)
- 1.5 cups dates (chopped)
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
I came across this recipe from a street magician performing near the park. After his show, I offered him water and asked where he learned his tricks. He grinned and replied, “You know madam, my wife drives me forward, especially her cooking. It is the real magic.” I was very curious and asked for a dish, and he shared this recipe as his favorite.
I tried it that weekend. My husband said it was “magically simple,” and the boys were amazed by the story. Now, this is our weekend surprise dish. That magician gave us more than illusions—he gave us a taste of his everyday wonder.
How to Make Dry Fruit Laddu? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp of desi ghee (clarified butter) in a pan on a medium flame. When the ghee is hot, add 1 cup of roughly chopped almonds.
Step 2: Stir and fry them for about 3 to 4 minutes. When they change color to light brown, remove them on a strainer first. Hold it on top of the pan and shake it to remove excess ghee from the fried almonds. Then, put them in a bowl aside.
Step 3: Again heat 1 tbsp of desi ghee in the pan and put in 1 cup of roughly chopped cashew nuts. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, and, when done, transfer to the same bowl with the fried almonds.
Step 4: Add 1 tbsp of ghee and repeat the same process to fry 1 cup of pumpkin seeds along with ¾ cup of melon seeds for 3 to 4 minutes and transfer them to the bowl. Also, fry a cup of roughly chopped pistachios along with ½ a cup of raisins in the same way for about a minute or two and transfer them to the bowl.
(Pro tip: Do not fry the pistachios and raisins for a long time together, or else the raisins will start melting, making the laddus a bit too chewy.)
Step 5: Now, heat 1 tbsp of ghee again in the pan and first put ¼ cup of poppy seeds and fry them for a minute or so. Then, follow it with 1 cup of dried coconut (kopra). Fry for 4 to 5 minutes this time.
Step 6: When they are done nicely and the kopra changes to a slightly brown color, transfer them to the bowl.
Step 7: Now, in a separate bowl, take 1.5 cups of dates. Remove the seeds and chop them roughly. Transfer them to a mixer. Make a smooth paste of them.
Step 8: Then, heat 1 tbsp of ghee again in the pan and then put the paste of dates into it. Cook it for 7 to 8 minutes on a medium flame.
Step 9: Transfer it to the bowl when done. Now, to all these ingredients in the bowl, add 1 tsp of cardamom powder.
Step 10: Mix everything very nicely.
Step 11: Now, take a portion of the mixture in your hand, press it, and use your other hand to make the laddu smooth and perfectly round, as shown in the images below.
Step 12: Your tasty and healthy homemade dry fruit laddus are ready to enjoy. Arrange them on a plate and serve.
Recipe Card
Dry Fruit Laddu
Ingredients
- ½ cup desi ghee clarified butter
- 1 cup almonds roughly chopped
- 1 cup cashew nuts roughly chopped
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- ¾ cup melon seeds
- ½ cup pistachios roughly chopped
- ½ cup raisins
- ¼ cup poppy seeds
- 1 cup dried coconut kopra, finely chopped
- 1.5 cups dates chopped
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp of desi ghee (clarified butter) in a pan on a medium flame. When the ghee is hot, add 1 cup of roughly chopped almonds.
- Stir and fry them for about 3 to 4 minutes. When they change color to light brown, remove them on a strainer first. Hold it on top of the pan and shake it to remove excess ghee from the fried almonds. Then, put them in a bowl aside.
- Again heat 1 tbsp of desi ghee in the pan and put 1 cup of roughly chopped cashew nuts. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, and, when done, transfer to the same bowl with the fried almonds.
- Add 1 tbsp of ghee and repeat the same process to fry 1 cup of pumpkin seeds along with ¾ cup of melon seeds for 3 to 4 minutes and transfer them to the bowl. Also, fry a cup of roughly chopped pistachios along with ½ a cup of raisins in the same way for about a minute or two and transfer them to the bowl. (Pro tip: Do not fry the pistachios and raisins for a long time together, or else the raisins will start melting, making the laddus a bit too chewy.)
- Now, heat 1 tbsp of ghee again in the pan and first put ¼ cup of poppy seeds and fry them for a minute or so. Then, follow it with 1.5 cups of dried coconut (kopra). Fry for 4 to 5 minutes this time.
- When they are done nicely and the kopra changes to a slightly brown color, transfer them to the bowl.
- Now, in a separate bowl, take 1.5 cups of dates. Remove the seeds and chop them roughly. Transfer them to a mixer. Make a smooth paste of them.
- Then, heat 1 tbsp of ghee again in the pan and then put the paste of dates into it. Cook it for 7 to 8 minutes on a medium flame.
- Transfer it to the bowl when done. Now, to all these ingredients in the bowl, add 1 tsp of cardamom powder.
- Mix everything very nicely.
- Now, take a portion of the mixture in your hand, press it, and use your other hand to make the laddu smooth and perfectly round, as shown in the images below.
- Your tasty and healthy homemade dry fruit laddus are ready to enjoy. Arrange them on a plate and serve.
