Winter brings with it the craving to have a hot bowl of gajar or moong ka halwa, jalebi or any rich, nutty sweet almost every day, right after every meal. While these sweets may taste heavenly when enjoyed on cold winter days, they are not at all healthy and also possible to have such rich, ghee-laden desserts daily. That is why many turn towards jaggery the moment temperatures begin to fall. Unlike refined sugar, jaggery is like a cosy hug to the soul, as it warms the body, boosts immunity, improves digestion, and even helps fight winter flu. Come December, and now you know why you find your mother and grandmother already melting gud in a kadhai and scenting the house with that deep caramel aroma.
Across India, winter is not just a season; it is a dessert-making tradition. Kitchens change into tiny sweet shops where peanut chikki cools on plates, ladoos are placed in steel boxes, and every house has at least one jar filled with something prepared with gud. These homemade jaggery delights are not just desserts, but they are little winter practices, passed down with love and warmth, all that the season demands.
Benefits Of Having Jaggery In Winters
During the winter season, the digestion slows down, and the sugar cravings are triggered, making jaggery the ideal warm sweetener. It has natural minerals, iron, and antioxidants that help in strengthening the immunity, prevent coughs, keep the body warm from within, and even lessen seasonal fatigue. Apart from this, jaggery satisfies the sweet tooth cravings without the heavy feeling that sugar brings.
5 Desserts To Make In Winters Using Jaggery
Here is the list of desserts that you can make using jaggery during winters to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings:
Gud Wale Chawal
Soft basmati rice, when slow-cooked with melted jaggery, provides a caramel-like fragrance and a beautiful golden colour that feels like winter comfort served in a bowl. Lightly aromatised with fennel and some cardamom, mixed in jaggery syrup and cooked till the rice turns sticky, gud wale chawal are an ultimate comforting dessert on a cold winter night. It keeps the body warm from within, helps in digestion and is the perfect dessert to have after a simple lunch when you desire something sweet, but also not too much ghee-laden and heavy.
Til–Gud Ladoo
It is a classic winter ladoo that has a nutty, earthy taste and is deeply satisfying, all thanks to the roasted sesame that binds beautifully with molten jaggery. Just heat some jaggery till it gets a sticky consistency and mix with some warm sesame seeds before proceeding to make ladoos. Sesame keeps the joints greased, jaggery maintains the warmth from within, and both, when combined, give long-lasting energy. Having one til gud ladoo in the breakfast keeps the whole day energised.
Gud Sooji Halwa
Sooji, when roasted in ghee with warm cardamom and jaggery, makes a sweet halwa that is lighter than any other sugar-laden versions. Stir the jaggery syrup slowly into the roasted sooji until it turns creamy and fragrant. Ghee provides nourishment, making it a delightful evening treat to enjoy on chilly days. Gud sooji halwa can be prepared quickly and keeps the sugar cravings at bay.
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Jaggery Banana Bread
This sweet, soft banana bread tastes extra scrumptious when sugar is replaced by sugar, delivering a caramel warmth that goes beautifully with the ripe bananas and a blend of cinnamon. Simply mash some bananas, add in the jaggery, butter, flour and simply bake. It is a great option for kids and can be stored well for days. Jaggery provides iron and minerals, which are a great source of energy during cold winter temperatures.
Gud Peanut Chikki
Crunchy, nutty and irresistibly delightful, peanut chikki can be made by mixing some roasted peanuts into hot jaggery syrup and letting it set. Peanuts deliver the required protein and healthy fats, jaggery boosts the required iron level, and when combined together keep you satisfied for something sweet during cold winter evenings. It’s the perfect take-along sweet for winter picnics, road trips, or just for a gossip session post-dinner.
(Image credit: Freepik)