Which Sweets Can We Eat in Fasting? Your Ultimate Vrat-Friendly Guide

December 19, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 70% of Indians participate in some form of religious fasting annually, often observing specific dietary rules that exclude grains and certain spices, creating a need for permissible and satisfying sweets. This guide explores a delicious variety of sweets you can enjoy while fasting, ensuring your devotion is complemented by delightful flavors.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a comprehensive list of sweets that are suitable for consumption during religious fasting, including various kheers, halwas, and other desserts. It outlines allowed ingredients and offers tips for preparing satisfying treats.

Key Points

Check ingredients carefully: For store-bought sweets like kaju katli, verify they are made with only permitted ingredients like cashews, sugar, and natural flavorings, not additives.
Embrace alternative flours: Use singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour), rajgira (amaranth) flour, or kuttu (buckwheat) flour for halwa and other sweet preparations.
Opt for natural sweeteners: Use jaggery, dates, or honey instead of heavily processed white sugar for a healthier, more traditional approach.
Prioritize homemade: Preparing sweets at home gives you complete control over ingredients, ensuring they are truly vrat-friendly and free of unapproved additives.
Explore diverse options: Beyond traditional kheers and halwas, refreshing options like fruit salads with honey or yogurt-based shrikhand are great for staying hydrated and nourished.
Choose wholesome ingredients: Incorporate nutrient-dense ingredients like makhana (foxnuts), which are rich in protein and calcium, into your sweet dishes.

Your Guide to Vrat-Friendly Sweets

Religious fasting, known as vrat or upvas in India, involves a set of dietary restrictions to purify the body and mind. While many staples like grains, onions, and garlic are avoided, dairy, fruits, and certain flours are often permitted, opening up a delicious world of sweet possibilities. This article provides an in-depth look at the sweets that can safely satisfy your cravings during fasts like Navratri, Ekadashi, and Maha Shivratri.

Kheer Varieties: Creamy, Comforting, and Fasting-Friendly

Kheer is a classic Indian pudding that can be easily adapted for fasts. The key is to use ingredients that adhere to the vrat rules, primarily relying on dairy, fruits, and specific millet substitutes.

Sabudana Kheer

Made from tapioca pearls (sabudana), this kheer is a staple for many fasts. It is thick, creamy, and provides a good source of energy.

Soak sabudana pearls for a few hours until they soften.
Boil milk and add the soaked pearls, stirring continuously.
Sweeten with sugar or jaggery, add cardamom for aroma, and garnish with roasted nuts.

Makhana Kheer

This kheer uses foxnuts (makhana), which are light and nutritious, packed with calcium and protein.

Lightly roast makhana in ghee until crunchy.
Simmer them in milk until they soften and the mixture thickens.
Add jaggery or sugar and garnish with dry fruits like pistachios and almonds.

Samak Chawal Kheer

Made with barnyard millet (samak chawal), this kheer is a fantastic alternative to rice pudding during fasts.

Roast the millet lightly before cooking it in milk.
Add sweetener and dry fruits for a nourishing and traditional dessert.

Halwa Preparations: Warm, Rich, and Energizing

Halwa is a dense, flavorful sweet that offers warmth and instant energy, making it perfect for breaking a fast.

Singhare Atte Ka Halwa

Water chestnut flour (singhare ka atta) is a gluten-free and popular fasting ingredient.

Roast the flour in ghee until it turns fragrant and slightly darker.
Add water or milk and a sweetener like jaggery to form a thick, hearty halwa.

Sweet Potato Halwa

This nutritious and fibrous halwa is naturally sweet, reducing the need for excessive added sugar.

Mash boiled sweet potatoes and cook with ghee.
Mix in nuts and a sweetener to create a simple yet wholesome dessert.

Lauki Halwa

Bottle gourd (lauki) is turned into a delicate and delicious halwa, often enhanced with condensed milk and cardamom.

Grate the lauki and cook it down in ghee.
Add milk, sugar, and khoya (optional) to create a fragrant, festive treat.

Laddoos and Barfis: Portable and Wholesome Treats

For a quick and easy energy boost during the day, laddoos and barfis made with fasting-approved ingredients are ideal.

Dates and Nuts Ladoo

Made without any added sugar, these energy balls rely on the natural sweetness of dates to bind chopped nuts like almonds, cashews, and pistachios.

Coconut Ladoo

Using fresh or desiccated coconut, these laddoos can be made with jaggery or condensed milk for a rich, satisfying taste.

Kaju Katli

Often considered a fasting sweet, Kaju Katli's suitability depends on the preparation. While pure kaju katli with only cashews and sugar is generally acceptable, it is crucial to verify if the store-bought version contains any prohibited fillers or processed ingredients. The safest option is to make it at home using simple, pure ingredients.

Yogurt and Fruit-Based Sweets: Light and Refreshing

When you need something lighter, yogurt and fruit-based dishes are the perfect solution.

Shrikhand

This creamy, yogurt-based dessert is prepared by straining yogurt to remove excess water, then mixing it with sugar and flavorings like saffron and cardamom.

Fruit Salad with Honey

A simple and refreshing mix of fresh fruits like bananas, apples, and pomegranates, drizzled with honey.

Apple Rabdi

This lighter version of the classic rabdi uses grated apples cooked in milk, with natural sweetness from the fruit complemented by cardamom and nuts.

Sweet Comparison: Homemade vs. Store-Bought


Feature	Homemade Vrat Sweets	Store-Bought Vrat Sweets
Ingredients	You have full control, ensuring only permitted, pure ingredients are used.	You must be vigilant and check labels for restricted ingredients like refined flours or regular salt.
Freshness	Always made fresh and consumed quickly, maximizing flavor and nutritional value.	Can be made weeks in advance, potentially compromising freshness and taste.
Customization	Easily adjust the sweetness, thickness, and nut content to your preference.	Limited to the standard recipe offered by the manufacturer.
Additives	Free from preservatives, artificial colors, and synthetic flavors.	May contain additives to increase shelf life or enhance appearance.
Cost	Generally more economical, especially when making in larger batches.	Can be more expensive, particularly for branded or specialty items.

Outbound Link: The Importance of Sattvic Foods

For more insight into the philosophy behind fasting cuisine and the concept of sattvic food, a term for pure and balanced foods often consumed during fasts, check out this guide on the topic: Understanding Sattvic Foods.

Conclusion: Savoring Your Fast with the Right Sweets

Choosing the right sweets during a fast can be a delicious and fulfilling experience. By focusing on whole, unprocessed ingredients like fruits, nuts, and approved flours such as singhare or rajgira, you can create a wide array of delightful desserts. Whether it's a creamy sabudana kheer, a warm sweet potato halwa, or a light coconut laddu, homemade options provide the safest and most satisfying way to adhere to your dietary observances. For store-bought items like kaju katli or peda, a quick check on the ingredients ensures you maintain the sanctity of your fast. Enjoy these treats guilt-free while respecting the traditional fasting guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can eat kaju katli during fasting, provided it is made with only permitted ingredients like cashews, sugar, and natural flavors. Always check for fillers or additives, or better yet, make it at home to be sure.

Generally, all types of dairy products, including milk, paneer, ghee, curd, and khoya, are allowed during fasting and are excellent bases for sweets.

Healthy sweet options for fasting include dates and nut laddoos (using natural sweetness), fruit salad with honey, and makhana kheer, which provides protein and calcium.

While regular refined white sugar is often avoided by those who fast strictly due to its processing, it is not explicitly forbidden. Many prefer natural sweeteners like jaggery, dates, or honey as healthier alternatives.

Suitable flours for fasting sweets include singhare ka atta (water chestnut flour), kuttu ka atta (buckwheat flour), and rajgira (amaranth) flour.

Yes, but always inquire whether the sweets are specifically prepared for fasts (vrat). Some shops clearly label them, but cross-contamination can be an issue. Making sweets at home offers the most control over ingredients.

The key is to soak the sabudana pearls thoroughly beforehand and to stir the mixture continuously while it cooks in the milk to prevent sticking and achieve a smooth, creamy texture.