Delicious Sweets You Can Eat on Ekadashi Fast

January 10, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the Times of India, a popular belief from the Bhavishya Purana suggests that grains consumed on Ekadashi can attract negative karma, which is why devotees abstain from them during the fast. This tradition, however, doesn't mean you must give up sweet treats entirely; many delicious and permissible options exist for those who observe this sacred day.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a comprehensive list of sweet dishes suitable for Ekadashi fasting, detailing recipes made from fruits, dairy, and permitted flours like water chestnut and amaranth. It explores how to satisfy your sweet cravings while adhering to fasting principles.

Key Points

Grain-Free Focus: Avoid all grains, pulses, and beans, but enjoy sweets made from permitted flours like rajgira (amaranth) and singhara (water chestnut).
Dairy is Permitted: Milk and milk products like paneer, curd, and ghee are allowed, forming the base for many rich Ekadashi sweets.
Fruitful Delights: Use fresh fruits in salads, chaats, or creamy custards for natural sweetness and energy during your fast.
Sattvic Ingredients Only: Restrict the use of tamasic ingredients such as onion and garlic, and opt for rock salt (sendha namak) over regular salt.
Traditional Sweets: Indulge in classic Ekadashi desserts like makhana kheer, rajgira halwa, and shrikhand for a satisfying fast.
Break the Fast Gently: Remember to break your fast on Dwadashi (the day after Ekadashi) with light, sattvic food like fruits or a simple potato curry.
Avoid Honey and Certain Spices: Honey is generally restricted during the fast, as are spices like cumin, asafoetida, and turmeric.

Understanding Ekadashi Fasting Rules for Sweets

Observing an Ekadashi fast, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, involves strict dietary guidelines to purify the body and mind. The primary rule is the avoidance of grains and pulses, including wheat, rice, and beans. This rule extends to sweets, meaning many common Indian desserts are off-limits due to ingredients like refined flour or rice. However, a wide array of ingredients are permissible, allowing for a delightful selection of sweet dishes. These include milk and milk products (like paneer and curd), fruits, nuts, and specific flours like water chestnut (singhare ka atta) and amaranth (rajgira). The key is to use pure, sattvic ingredients, avoiding tamasic items like onion and garlic even in other preparations.

Fruit-Based Sweets for Ekadashi

Fruits are the cornerstone of a phalahari (fruit-based) Ekadashi fast and offer a natural sweetness that can be enjoyed in various forms. Simple and pure, they provide essential nutrients and energy during the vrat.

Sweet Fruit Preparations

Fruit Salad or Chaat: A simple, refreshing option is a fruit chaat. Mix chopped bananas, apples, pomegranates, and grapes. Sprinkle with rock salt (sendha namak) and black pepper for a delicious and tangy flavor.
Fruit Custard: A special Ekadashi-friendly fruit custard can be made using milk and a paste of tapioca pearls (sabudana) or samak rice instead of commercial custard powder. Mix with fresh fruits for a creamy, delightful dessert.
Fruit Kheer: For a warm, comforting sweet, a kheer made with fruits like mashed bananas or shredded apple cooked in milk is an excellent choice. Use a little jaggery or rock sugar (khadi sakhar) for sweetness.
Caramelized Banana: Caramelized bananas are a simple yet decadent option. Just pan-fry banana slices in ghee with a sprinkle of sugar until golden brown.

Dairy-Based and Flour-Based Sweets

Dairy products and certain flours are excellent for preparing richer, more indulgent Ekadashi sweets. These are particularly satisfying for those who need a more substantial meal during their fast.

Dairy Delights

Shrikhand: This Gujarati classic is made from hung curd (dahi) and sweetened with sugar. It can be flavored with cardamom, saffron, and garnished with nuts for a luxurious treat.
Paneer Kheer: A delectable kheer can be prepared using crumbled paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cooked in milk, sweetened, and garnished with dry fruits.
Makhana Kheer: A popular North Indian dessert, makhana (foxnut) kheer is prepared by simmering phool makhana in milk until they soften and the milk thickens. It's a healthy and nutrient-dense sweet.

Vrat-Friendly Flours

Rajgira (Amaranth) Halwa: This gluten-free halwa is made from rajgira flour, ghee, and jaggery or sugar. It's a quick, energy-boosting dessert perfect for fasting days like Ekadashi.
Singhare ka Halwa: Made from water chestnut flour, ghee, and sugar, this halwa is rich and delicious. It's a traditional vrat sweet that is easy to prepare.
Sweet Potato Halwa (Shakarkandi Halwa): Mashed sweet potatoes are cooked with ghee, milk, and sugar to create a simple yet wholesome and satisfying halwa.

Comparison of Ekadashi Sweets


Sweet Type	Main Ingredients	Preparation Complexity	Texture Profile	Best for...
Fruit Salad	Fresh fruits	Very Low	Juicy, crunchy	Quick, light, and refreshing
Makhana Kheer	Makhana, milk, sugar	Medium	Creamy, chewy	Warm, comforting dessert
Rajgira Halwa	Amaranth flour, ghee, jaggery	Medium	Dense, granular	Energy boost and heartier meal
Shrikhand	Hung curd, sugar, saffron	Medium (prep time)	Smooth, thick	Chilled, rich dessert
Fruit Custard	Milk, tapioca paste, fruits	Medium	Creamy, chunky	Delicious, cooling treat

Conclusion: Savoring Ekadashi with Sweet Intentions

Observing an Ekadashi fast with devotion doesn't mean sacrificing the joy of a sweet indulgence. The vast repertoire of permissible ingredients, from fresh fruits to dairy products and special flours, offers numerous opportunities to prepare delightful and satisfying desserts. Whether you prefer a light, refreshing fruit salad, a comforting bowl of kheer, or a richer halwa, these traditional recipes help you honor the sacred day while keeping your palate pleased. Always remember to use only approved ingredients, including rock salt, jaggery, or sugar instead of honey or regular salt, to maintain the purity of your fast. Embracing these sattvic sweets not only satisfies your cravings but also enriches the spiritual experience of the Ekadashi observance.

Resources for Ekadashi Recipes

For more vrat-friendly dishes and inspiration, explore the comprehensive collection of Ekadashi recipes on Veg Recipes of India: https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/ekadashi-recipes/.

Keypoints

Grain-Free Focus: Avoid all grains, pulses, and beans, but enjoy sweets made from permitted flours like rajgira (amaranth) and singhara (water chestnut).
Dairy is Permitted: Milk and milk products like paneer, curd, and ghee are allowed, forming the base for many rich Ekadashi sweets.
Fruitful Delights: Use fresh fruits in salads, chaats, or creamy custards for natural sweetness and energy during your fast.
Sattvic Ingredients Only: Restrict the use of tamasic ingredients such as onion and garlic, and opt for rock salt (sendha namak) over regular salt.
Traditional Sweets: Indulge in classic Ekadashi desserts like makhana kheer, rajgira halwa, and shrikhand for a satisfying fast.
Break the Fast Gently: Remember to break your fast on Dwadashi (the day after Ekadashi) with light, sattvic food like fruits or a simple potato curry.
Avoid Honey and Certain Spices: Honey is generally restricted during the fast, as are spices like cumin, asafoetida, and turmeric.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can eat sweets during an Ekadashi fast, provided they are made from permissible ingredients. Prohibited items include grains, pulses, onion, garlic, and regular salt. Allowed ingredients for sweets are fruits, milk, dairy products, nuts, and specific flours like singhara or rajgira.

For Ekadashi sweets, you can use flours made from water chestnuts (singhara ka atta) or amaranth (rajgira ka atta). These are common alternatives to grain-based flours and are used to make items like halwa and ladoos.

Yes, fresh and dried fruits are fully allowed during Ekadashi fast. Many people observe a phalahari (fruit-based) fast, consuming only fruits and milk products throughout the day.

Yes, milk and milk products like curd, paneer, and ghee are permissible for the Ekadashi fast. They provide nourishment and can be used to prepare a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

Yes, you can have kheer on Ekadashi, but it must be made with permissible ingredients. Instead of rice, use sabudana (tapioca pearls), makhana (foxnuts), or rajgira (amaranth) flour. Avoid regular rice, as grains are not allowed.

Pure sugar is generally allowed on Ekadashi. Some traditions prefer using rock sugar (khadi sakhar) or jaggery as a sweetener instead of refined sugar, but both are acceptable in most cases.

No, honey is typically not consumed during Ekadashi. According to Vaishnava tradition, it is one of the restricted food items, along with grains, pulses, and certain spices.