By Aditi Saraswat
January 6, 2026
Til Bugga is a traditional Sankranti sweet where roasted sesame is combined with melted jaggery. Soft and nutty, this sweet reflects winter, harvest, and homemade comfort in every bite.
1 cup white sesame seeds (til) ¾ cup grated jaggery (gul) 2 tbsp ghee ¼ tsp cardamom powder 2 tbsp roasted peanut powder (optional, for softness) 1–2 tbsp warm milk or water (as needed)
In a pan, dry-roast the sesame seeds over a low flame until they turn fragrant and lightly golden. Let it cool a bit, then grind coarsely.
In another pan, heat some ghee and add the grated jaggery to it. Cook on low heat until it just melts smoothly. Do not boil.
Add the ground sesame seeds to the melted jaggery and mix constantly on low heat so that everything binds evenly.
Add in the cardamom powder and roasted peanut powder. Mix everything well until the mixture begins to leave the sides of the pan.
Sprinkle warm milk or water from the top, a little at a time, to keep the mixture soft and flexible.
Grease your palms with ghee and shape the mixture, while still warm, into small, round bugga. Let it cool at room temperature before serving.