How to make dry fruit laddu

Dry fruits laddu is delicious, healthy, nutritious, and quick to make energy balls that are sweetened with dates and raisins. These Indian-style energy balls are made with assorted nuts, dates, ghee, and cardamom.

They taste super sweet without any sugar or jaggery. Ready in under 15 minutes, these balls make a nutrient-dense snack for any time.

Call them laddu, energy balls, energy bites, protein bites, or bliss balls — these tiny treats are loaded with fiber, protein, and good fats which makes them a perfect healthy treat for any time of the day.

These highly nutritious and wholesome balls are specially made and eaten during cold months, but you can certainly make them throughout the year. These dry fruits laddu is for anyone who is looking for an easy-to-make, rich, and delightful snack which is soul-satisfying and nourishes your body.

You can have them for breakfast, brunch, or as a healthy snack. They are also suitable for Navratri fasting and other fasting days. These dry fruits ladoos are also a lovely dessert for festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, or Ganesh Chaturti.

I usually eat this gratifying laddu in the morning along with a hot glass of plain milk, strawberry milk, or golden milk, and this healthy and delicious breakfast keeps me satiated for hours. This bite-sized snack is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and is also wonderful for evening hunger pangs. 

Not only these laddus, I also love regular sugar sweetened laddus. Some of my favorite laddus are: Til Laddu, Motichoor Ladoo, Instant Coconut Ladoo, Besan Ladoo, and  Aate Ki Pinni.

About Dry Fruits Laddu

This dry fruit laddu or Indian energy balls recipe is made with assorted dry fruits, ghee, and the flavor of cardamom. This is a super simple and easy-to-make recipe that gets done in under 15 minutes.

These dry fruit ladoos are crammed with healthy fats, high fiber, protein, and good carbs. Plus, it has no added sugar or jaggery. This laddu is naturally gluten-free, and can also be made vegan if you skip ghee.

In this recipe, I have used a satiating combination of various nuts and dried fruits such as juicy dates, walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, raisins, poppy seeds, melon seeds, and desiccated coconut. For aromatic flavor, I have roasted nuts in some ghee and added a tinge of cardamom powder to enhance the overall taste.

The great thing about dry fruit laddu is that it is easily customizable. Here, you are free to use your favorite nuts and you can also adjust the amount of nuts. The texture can also vary according to your choice. So feel free to add or substitute any ingredients

They are just effortless to make, and that’s a big plus for me. I usually make a batch during the weekends, and my family and I enjoy these dry fruits ladoos throughout the week.

Not to mention that these laddus are kids’ favorite. My little one just loves them, and why not, they have everything to make them fall in love with. They are sweet, flavorful, jam-packed with their favorite nuts, and give an instant energy boost. This is exactly what a child needs.

So, if you are worried about your child’s diet, make these dry fruits ladoos often to ensure that you are including enough dry fruits in their diet. They would be thanking you. 

This Dry Fruits Laddu

✔ is simple and easy to make

✔ is rich in nutrients

✔ makes delightful post-workout energy bites

✔ tastes super delicious

✔ makes a guilt-free snack

✔ has no artificial sweetener

✔ also makes a nice holiday gift

✔ have a good shelf life

✔ is a gluten-free diet, can also be made vegan

✔ is packed with various nuts and dry fruits

✔ also suitable for fasting

✔ wonderful for growing up kids

How to make Dry Fruits Laddu

Making Dry Fruit Laddu is very easy and simple. This is how it is done in 7 simple steps:

Step 1: Remove seeds from dates and make a smooth paste by mashing them with a fork.

Step 2: Roast nuts in ghee until they are fragrant but do not change their color.

Step 3: Roast raisins in ghee and also cook date paste in ghee.

Step 4: Dry roast poppy seeds, melon seeds, and desiccated coconut.

Step 5: In a food processor or a blender, pulse all the nuts, seeds, and cardamom. Pulse to make a coarse mixture.

Step 6: Cook dry fruits mixed with date paste until everything is well combined and heated thoroughly.

Step 7: Shape mixture into balls and enjoy!

Dry Fruit Laddu Ingredients

Dry fruits laddu is made with some simple ingredients that are available in your pantry.

• Nuts: I added almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, and pistachios, and desiccated coconut in this dry fruit laddu recipe. You can use any nuts of your choice. Nuts are the key ingredient of this recipe — they add a nice crunch and flavors. 

• Seeds: A little amount of poppy seeds and melon seeds are added to this recipe for flavor and texture. 

• Dates: Dates are an important ingredient in this recipe as it both works as a binder and sweetener. So you will need some good quality juicy dates to make this laddu recipe. You can also use seedless dates. 

• Ghee: It is used for roasting nuts and cooking date paste. The addition of ghee increases the flavor and richness of this dry fruit laddu. However, if you are making vegan laddus, then skip the ghee part and dry roast all the nuts.

• Flavoring: I like to add a subtle essence of cardamom to this laddu. Adding cardamom is completely optional though.

Dry Fruit Laddu Variation

In this recipe, I have used nuts and dried fruits such as, cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, coconut, poppy seeds, melon seeds, dates, and raisins. Other nuts and dried fruits that taste good in this dry fruits laddu recipe are:

• Seeds: sunflower seeds, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, toasted sesame seeds, or pumpkin seeds.

• Dry Fruits: dried prunes, dried figs, dried apricots, or dried cranberries.

• Nuts: Hazelnuts, Brazil Nuts, Peanuts, Macadamia Nuts, Pine Nuts, Pecans, or Roasted Fox Nuts.

• Flavourings: I have used cardamom powder in this laddu recipe. You can also add cinnamon powder, ground nutmeg, black pepper powder or dry jaggery.

Serving Suggestions

Dry fruit laddus can be served alone as a snack, or you can serve them with your favorite drink. I like them with plain warm milk, banana date smoothie, or fresh juice.

They also taste great with roasted makhana.

A few more healthy snacks are til chikki, roasted makhana, peanut chikki, and masala kaju.

Expert Tips and Tricks to make best Dry Fruits Laddu

1. Dates: If possible, try using premium quality juicy dates (preferably Medjool or Medina), they are sticky and help in binding laddus without any liquid. If you can’t find juicy dates, then either you can soak them in hot water or make a paste of dates in a blender using little water. After that, cook the paste in ghee until it leaves the sides of the pan.

2. Roasting everything in ghee increases the shelf life of these laddus. But just make sure not to roast for a long time, or else they will lose nutrition.

3. I roast whole nuts and then make a coarse mixture, but if you don’t have a blender then you can either use the chopped nuts for roasting. That way you will not have to crush them later. Or use a mortar-pestle or a Ziploc bag for crushing them.

4. Nuts: I added cashew nuts, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios in this recipe. You can also use hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, peanuts, pine nuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts, etc.

5. You can also use flax seeds, or roasted foxnuts (phool makhana) in the ladoo mixture.

6. Dry fruits: I Only used dates in this recipe. You can also add dried figs, dried apricots, or dried prunes.

7. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make a big batch.

8. If you don’t like to add poppy seeds and melon seeds, then you can skip them from this recipe.

9. To decorate laddus, you can either roll them in toasted sesame seeds, toasted coconut, or powdered pistachios.

10. The number of dates can be adjusted. Feel free to increase the amount of dates if the laddus are not sweet.

11. If you are not a fan of raisins, then you can skip them for this recipe. Since we are using the whole raisins, there is no need to add extra dates for binding. 

12. If the mixture is dry and is not able to hold the shape, then add 1-2 teaspoon ghee. If you are not using ghee, then add 1-2 teaspoons of warm water and mix.

13. Edible Gum: You can also add fried and coarsely powdered edible gum or gond to this laddu recipe. Gond is a nutritious and a warming ingredient which warms our bodies during harsh winters.

FAQs

How to make Dry Fruit Laddu with jaggery?

To make dry fruit laddu with jaggery, swap date paste with ½ cup of jaggery powder. Then cook jaggery with ghee and 3 tablespoons of water until the jaggery melts and comes to a boil. Then turn off the heat and add nut mixture to the pan, and mix until well combined. Let the mixture cool slightly and make laddus by rolling them into balls.

What if the mixture is too dry?

If the mixture seems to dry, then add 1-2 teaspoons of ghee or warm water and cook until the mixture forms a dough and is easily pliable. 

**How long can I store Dry Fruits Laddu?

These laddus stay fresh at room temperature for up to 2-3 days when stored in a paper-lined air-tight container. You can also refrigerate them for up to 2 weeks.

Is dry fruit laddu good for health?

Yes, they are absolutely healthy for snacks because they are rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Also, they are refined sugar-free. 

Can I freeze Dry Fruits Ladoo?

Yes, you can surely do that. To freeze, place these laddus in a freezer-safe tray and freeze for 2 hours. When frozen, transfer them to a Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When you want to consume, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.

1. Remove the seeds from the dates and mash them using a fork to make a smooth paste. You can also use seedless dates. If your dates are not super soft, then you can also blend them in a blender to make the paste.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons ghee in a pan. Once hot, add cashew nuts, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. Stir continuously and lightly roast them on low heat for 1-2 minutes or until they are fragrant. Make sure that they do not change the color.

3. Once the nuts are fragrant, remove them in a bowl and set them aside to cool down completely. To the same pan, add raisins and roast for a few seconds. Once they swell up, remove them from the pan and transfer them to a separate bowl. Keep it aside.

4. Add the dates paste to the same pan and roast it in the ghee for 2-3 minutes on low heat or until it comes together like a smooth dough. Remove the pan from the heat and keep it aside. To another pan, add poppy seeds, melon seeds, and dry roast for 1 minute over medium-low heat.

5. Transfer them to a plate, and in the same pan, add desiccated coconut. Stir and toast 1 minute or until coconut turns slightly golden. Transfer the toasted coconut to a plate the pan and set it aside to cool completely.

6. In a food processor or a blender add the roasted nuts mix, poppy seeds, melon seeds, toasted coconut, and cardamom powder to a blender and pulse for a few seconds in short intervals until they form a coarse mixture Make sure not make fine powder, a few big pieces add a nice crunch and taste in this dry fruits laddu. Alternatively, you can also use a mortar-pestle or a Ziploc bag for crushing nuts.

7. Put the pan with the dates on the stove and heat it for 1 minute or until heat through. Add crushed nuts to the same pan and mix well until everything is well incorporated. To check the consistency, take a small portion of the mixture and try to roll it with your hands. If it holds the shape, then it is ready. If it is hard to bind, then you can add about 1 tablespoon of ghee to the mixture.

8. Turn off the heat, and let it cool slightly. Add roasted raisins and mix everything well. Now with the greased hands pinch out about 2 tablespoons of mixture and roll it into a smooth ball. Keep making laddus until all the mixture is used up.

9. You can also decorate with edible silver or golden leaves, or serve them as it is.

Dry fruits laddu is delicious, healthy, nutritious, and quick to make energy balls that are sweetened with dates and raisins ★★★★✰
(Rating: 4.9 from 4 reviews)

• 1/2 cup (50 grams) almonds (badam)
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) cashew nuts (kaju)
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) walnut (akhrot)
• 1/4 cup (50 grams) pistachios (pista)
• 2 tablespoons ghee, skip ghee if making vegan laddus
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds (khus khus)
• 1 tablespoon melon seeds (kharbuje ke beej)
• 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
• 160 grams dates (I am using premium juicy dates)
• 2 tablespoons of raisins
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder

1. Remove the seeds from the dates and mash them using a fork to make a smooth paste. You can also use seedless dates. If your dates are not super soft, then you can also blend them in a blender to make the paste.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons ghee in a pan. Once hot, add cashew nuts, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. Stir continuously and lightly roast them on low heat for 1-2 minutes or until they are fragrant. Make sure that they do not change the color.
3. Once the nuts are fragrant, remove them in a bowl and set them aside to cool down completely. To the same pan, add raisins and roast for a few seconds. Once they swell up, remove them from the pan and transfer them to a separate bowl. Keep it aside.
4. Add the dates paste to the same pan and roast it in the ghee for 2-3 minutes on low heat or until it comes together like a smooth dough. Remove the pan from the heat and keep it aside. To another pan, add poppy seeds, melon seeds, and dry roast for 1 minute over medium-low heat.
5. Transfer them to a plate, and in the same pan, add desiccated coconut. Stir and toast 1 minute or until coconut turns slightly golden. Transfer the toasted coconut to a plate the pan and set it aside to cool completely.
6. In a food processor or a blender add the roasted nuts mix, poppy seeds, melon seeds, toasted coconut, and cardamom powder to a blender and pulse for a few seconds in short intervals until they form a coarse mixture Make sure not make fine powder, a few big pieces add a nice crunch and taste in this dry fruits laddu. Alternatively, you can also use a mortar-pestle or a Ziploc bag for crushing nuts.
7. Put the pan with the dates on the stove and heat it for 1 minute or until heat through. Add crushed nuts to the same pan and mix well until everything is well incorporated. To check the consistency, take a small portion of the mixture and try to roll it with your hands. If it holds the shape, then it is ready. If it is hard to bind, then you can add about 1 tablespoon of ghee to the mixture.
8. Turn off the heat, and let it cool slightly. Add roasted raisins and mix everything well. Now with the greased hands pinch out about 2 tablespoons of mixture and roll it into a smooth ball. Keep making laddus until all the mixture is used up.
9. You can also decorate with edible silver or golden leaves, or serve them as it is.

1. To store, place laddus in a parchment paper-lined air-tight container and store for a few days at room temperature. You can also store them for up to 2 weeks in a refrigerator. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
2. To make laddus vegan, skip the ghee and dry roast them.
3. For a fancy touch, you can also roll laddus in toasted coconut or toasted sesame seeds.
4. Roasting everything in ghee increases the shelf life of these laddus. But just make sure not to roast for a long time, or else they will lose nutrition.
5. The number of dates can be adjusted. Feel free to increase the amount of dates if the laddus are not sweet.