By Aditi Saraswat
January 9, 2026
Til ladoos are not only for jaggery lovers. This simple variation uses sugar syrup to bind the sesame seeds into soft ladoos, perfect for those who like sweetness without losing the festive warmth.
1 cup white sesame seeds (til) ¾ cup sugar ¼ cup water 2 tbsp peanuts (roasted, crushed) 1 tbsp ghee ¼ tsp cardamom powder 1 tbsp desiccated coconut (optional)
In a pan, dry roast sesame seeds on low heat, and stir continuously until they turn lightly golden and fragrant. Cool slightly, then coarsely crush for better binding.
In another pan, heat ghee, add crushed peanuts and some coconut. Sauté for a short while until it begins to release a nutty fragrance without browning too much.
In a vessel, boil sugar and water until a one-string consistency is created, making sure the syrup feels sticky but not too thick.
Add the roasted sesame mixture and cardamom powder into the hot syrup, and mix it quickly so that everything is covered evenly before it begins to cool.
Switch off the heat and let the mixture cool a bit until warm enough to handle but still flexible enough for shaping.
Grease your palms with ghee and shape into tight ladoos. Let the ladoos set completely and store them in an airtight container.