[takeaways] • The SIMOVO team's six favorite Indian desserts are kheer, jalebi, rasmalai, gajar ka halwa, gulab jamun, and kulfi.
• Saffron and cardamom appear again and again across Indian sweets — they're extremely versatile and give desserts a surprising and satisfying kick.
• Many Indian desserts — including kheer, rasmalai, and gulab jamun — are celebration staples served at weddings, festivals, and temples.
• Most of these treats can be enjoyed hot or cold, and each is made and served differently depending on the chef, vendor, or region.
• Lactose-intolerant and vegan travelers can find safe twists on many of these desserts, with some prepared from nuts and plants — but always eat with caution.
• A SIMOVO eSIM for India (10GB · 30 days from $24) keeps you connected to hunt down local restaurants and vendors serving the best desserts. [/takeaways]
If you're something of a foodie and are keen to explore the world for its culinary creations from shore to shore, then India should absolutely be at the top of your bucket list. In fact, if you've already read our guide to Indian food, you'll know that there are some incredible savory sensations waiting for you, whether in the heart of Mumbai or the more rural reaches.
In this guide, however, we're focusing on the fun that follows the main course! Indian desserts are some of the sweetest and most memorable in the region — and whether or not you've tried some local variations on Indian dessert recipes at home, you really can't beat the real deal served in an authentic restaurant in India itself.
Let's dive straight into six of the SIMOVO team's favorite Indian sweets, and why they're worth every mouthful.
What are the best Indian desserts?
The best Indian desserts are a matter of opinion and taste, but we personally enjoy kheer, jalebi, rasmalai, gajar ka halwa, gulab jamun, and kulfi above all others.
[numbered title="Kheer" pill="Rice pudding"]Kheer, according to Maverick Baking, is a rice pudding dessert that's adored pretty much all over India. It's made from a variety of spices and flavors, in particular saffron and cardamom, though as the source states, you'll also find a lovely hint of rose water. It's a very popular dish because it contains only a handful of ingredients — milk, rice, and sugar make up the base — but is still really filling and enjoyable. You can eat kheer either hot or cold, but we prefer it chilled to balance the local heat. You'll find it's a popular celebration and temple dish, and in the latter, it's served to visiting devotees. If you're ever visiting Indian homes, you'll commonly find this treat served up throughout the year.[/numbered] [numbered title="Jalebi" pill="Spiral street sweet"]Jalebi are warm, flour-based Indian sweets twisted into spirals that you'll spot at vendors up and down the country. According to Mina Joshi, these treats should be enjoyed warm and reasonably quickly to avoid them going limp! Joshi further states that these sweets, according to her recipe, are also made from yogurt, oil, food dye, saffron, cardamom, lemon juice, and sugar — with the last four needed to make a sticky sugar syrup, which you then cook to ensure it becomes crisp. Not easy unless you know what you're doing! Jalebi are found at Indian food stalls all over the world, such is their ubiquity. However, yet again, you really cannot beat the sweet crunch of a genuine jalebi from a vendor in India itself.[/numbered] [numbered title="Rasmalai" pill="Soaked paneer dessert"]Cooking with Renu calls rasmalai a deliciously rich, juicy, creamy dessert — and we happen to agree. Like kheer, it's a celebratory staple, meaning if you're attending a wedding or a spiritual festival while exploring India, it's very likely you'll see these soft, round, melty desserts on offer. What might surprise you when you first bite into rasmalai is the fact that it's soft cheese, or paneer! It's deeply soaked and saturated with flavored milk and spices such as cardamom and saffron. If the idea of soaking cheese in milk doesn't sound like a very sweet treat, be prepared to change your preconceptions fast. Renu's recipe is linked above if you'd like to try it at home — but try it from an Indian vendor or restaurant to save time (and experience this recipe at its absolute tastiest).[/numbered] [numbered title="Gajar ka Halwa" pill="Carrot halwa"]The idea of adding carrots to desserts might seem a little outlandish to some sweet fans out there, but consider the humble carrot cake — it really works! Caroline's Cooking refers to gajar ka halwa by its alternative English name, carrot halwa, thanks to the fact that carrots and milk make up two of its main constituent ingredients. There are lots of different ways to enjoy this dessert depending on where you travel and eat in India — expect this surprising combination to contain vermicelli, cardamom, raisins, nuts, sugar, and ghee. You'll soon find this dish is less about the carroty crunch and more about that delectable sweet kick. And if you don't like some of the ingredients, you can hunt around for different versions of the dish — raisins are lovely, but we get it if you want your dessert free from dried fruit.[/numbered] [numbered title="Gulab Jamun" pill="Soft dough balls"]Bringing together egg, ghee, milk, flour, salt, and syrup to make soft dough ball treats, gulab jamun is, as Seema Pankhania says, a beloved treat — one that's a must-try regardless of where you go in India. In fact, Seema suggests that you can enjoy it at celebrations and after main courses, and her recipe is a great way to enjoy this soft, fragrant treat from home. Like many of the Indian desserts in this guide, you can enjoy gulab jamun hot or cold as you desire — but during the cooking, it is traditionally simmered to let the sugar bubble. You can also top it with a variety of different extra-crunchy or sweet bits and pieces, and you'll find variations on this dish no matter where you go. If you're stuck for things to do in Mumbai, for example, hunt down a vendor that serves up these treats![/numbered] [numbered title="Kulfi" pill="Frozen dessert"]Kulfi is a world-famous Indian dessert that's served a little more on the colder side compared to many of the dishes we've sampled so far! We've saved the chilliest treat for last — it's a frozen dessert that's also known as ice cream, according to Dassana Amit, who also confirms that it's usually made by simmering down milk and adding different flavors to taste. That means, as you explore dessert vendors and menus across India, you may find flavors such as saffron, almond, and cardamom — though you might also get to sample rose, mango, paan, and even chocolate flavors. As with all of the desserts listed above, we highly recommend you look for different tastes and twists on this Indian staple — it's likely made and served differently depending on the chef or vendor.[/numbered] [esim flag="🇮🇳" label="India" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$24" href="/products/india" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Hunt around for local restaurants serving the best desserts — stay connected across India[/esim]
Quick tips for foodies in India
Let's close with some lightning-quick tips for travelers looking for Indian desserts while exploring the region.
[tip title="A line at a street food vendor is a good sign"]A line at a street food vendor is good — it indicates you can trust them! Follow the locals and join the queue for the freshest, most authentic treats.[/tip] [tip title="Try the recipes linked above before you travel"]Try several of the recipes linked throughout this guide before you travel — it's a great way to prepare your palate and gut before you arrive.[/tip] [tip title="Lactose-intolerant and vegan twists are available"]If you are on a lactose-intolerant diet or are vegan, you will be able to find safe twists on the above when you travel — some are prepared, for example, based on nuts and plants. Eat with caution.[/tip] [warning]Avoid tap water in India — drink from bottles wherever possible. This applies throughout your trip, including drinks and ice served at restaurants and street vendors.[/warning] [faq] [q]What are the best Indian desserts to try?[/q] [a]The best Indian desserts are a matter of opinion and taste, but the SIMOVO team's six favorites are kheer (rice pudding with saffron and cardamom), jalebi (crispy fried spirals in sugar syrup), rasmalai (soft paneer soaked in flavored milk), gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa), gulab jamun (soft dough balls in syrup), and kulfi (a frozen milk dessert).[/a] [q]What is kheer?[/q] [a]Kheer is a rice pudding dessert adored across India, made from a base of milk, rice, and sugar and flavored with saffron, cardamom, and a hint of rose water. It can be eaten hot or cold, and it's a popular celebration and temple dish — in temples, it's often served to visiting devotees.[/a] [q]What is rasmalai made from?[/q] [a]Rasmalai is made from soft cheese — paneer — deeply soaked and saturated with flavored milk and spices such as cardamom and saffron. It's a rich, juicy, creamy dessert and a celebratory staple, commonly served at weddings and spiritual festivals across India.[/a] [q]What is gajar ka halwa?[/q] [a]Gajar ka halwa — also known by its English name, carrot halwa — is a dessert built around carrots and milk, typically also containing vermicelli, cardamom, raisins, nuts, sugar, and ghee. It's less about the carroty crunch and more about the delectable sweet kick, and different regions serve their own variations.[/a] [q]What flavors does kulfi come in?[/q] [a]Kulfi is usually made by simmering down milk and adding different flavors to taste. Traditional flavors include saffron, almond, and cardamom, but you may also find rose, mango, paan, and even chocolate varieties as you explore dessert vendors and menus across India.[/a] [q]Do I need an eSIM for India?[/q] [a]A SIMOVO eSIM for India (10GB · 30 days from $24) is a convenient way to stay connected throughout your trip — perfect for hunting down local restaurants and vendors serving the desserts in this guide, navigating between cities, and keeping in touch. It means no hunting for a local SIM card on arrival.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🇮🇳" label="India" data="10GB · 30 days" price="$24" href="/products/india" benefits="Instant QR setup · Reliable 4G/5G · No contract"]Get connected before you land in India[/esim]
