Millet Desserts: Gluten-Free Alternatives To Traditional Treats

Giving the classic chocolate brownies a healthier twist, ragi brownies are equally indulgent. The finger millet creates a dense, fudge-like texture to the brownies, while boosting the nutritional value through vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron. You can make the brownies using jaggery, dark chocolate, walnuts, and ragi flour, and enjoy a sweet treat while sticking to your fitness goals.

Delivering both comfort and nourishment, bajra ladoos are made with bajre ka atta, jaggery, and ghee. When roasted in desi ghee, the bajra flour gets a nutty flavour that balances the caramel-like consistency of jaggery. Add a generous amount of chopped dry fruits and nuts, and you’ll have a healthy snack that can be enjoyed as a post-meal indulgence.

Kheer, a traditional Indian dessert, uses rice as per the standard recipe. To make it gluten-free, you can replace rice with little millet, a grain prized for its high protein content. Since little millet has a similar texture to suji or broken rice, it is the perfect option to make kheer. Slow-cooked till the milk thickens, the kheer can be relished with a garnish of sliced nuts.

If you love to munch cookies between meals or with your evening tea or coffee, you can replace the usual maida with jowar. You can make these millet cookies with jaggery, coconut sugar, butter, and nuts. You can also use chocolate chips and experiment with different dried fruits. Without compromising on the taste, they are the perfect munchies for kids and fitness lovers.

For people who love banana-based desserts, this millet version will make your usual even healthier. You can use a millet flour of your choice, and if you use ripe bananas, the naturally sweet fruit takes out the refined sugar content. The muffins can be further enhanced with cinnamon, honey, and a mix of nuts and dry fruits.