30+ Holi Recipes

Holi is one of the most celebrated festivals of India and it is also sometimes known as the ‘festival of colors’ or ‘festival of love’. Just like any other festival celebration, this one is also not complete without having Holi special food. So here I am sharing 30+ Holi recipes including snacks, sweets, and drinks. 

Holi is celebrated in every part of India with utmost joy and enthusiasm. The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire at major crossroads of the city one day before Holi (This day is also known as choti Holi). This bonfire is called Holika Dahan and it is the ultimate victory of good over evil.

The Next day is the main day of Holi celebrations and it is called Dhuleti. On this day the actual play of colors takes place. People have fun by spraying colored water on each other or pouring buckets and buckets of colored water. With all this play and fun people also relish Holi special food and drinks with great joy.

This year Holi (Holika Dahan) is on 6th March 2023 (full moon or Phalguna Purnima) and the next day is Dhuleti on 7th March 2023.

Holi Recipes: 7 Beverages

1) Thandai: It is the most common Holi special drink. 

Thandai Recipe

This cooling, refreshing homemade thandai recipe is super easy to make. This traditional Indian cold drink is made with various nuts and spices mixed with milk. It’s perfect for festivals like Holi and Maha Shivratri.

2) Thandai powder: This is a make-ahead powder mix. You just have to mix it with milk to make an instant thandai. 

Thandai Powder

This is our favorite homemade thandai powder recipe. It has much better flavors than store-bought thandai masala because this one is made without artificial flavors and colors.

3) Aam panna: In some parts of India, raw mangoes are roasted in the Holika Dahan fire and the panna drink is made using that.

Aam Panna

Aam panna is the traditional Indian summer beverage made from raw mangoes, jaggery (or sugar) and flavored with roasted cumin powder.

4) Shikanji: This beverage is not specific to Holi but good to have if you’re looking for something different.

Shikanji (Spiced Indian Lemonade)

Shikanji is the Indian go-to cooling and refreshing drink on hot, sunny days. You’ll find stalls on every streets of North India during the summer season

5) Mango lassi: Noone will say no to mango lassi.

Mango Lassi Recipe (How to make Mango Lassi at Home)

Mango Lassi Recipe – a chilled mango yogurt beverage to beat the summer heat.

5) Falooda

Falooda Recipe

Homemade falooda is easy to make and it is rose flavored beverage dessert.

6) Badam doodh

Badam Milk (Doodh)

This badam milk is a traditional Ayurvedic drink that is so refreshing and nourishing to your body. It is super delicious, sweet and packed with protein.

7) Bhaang is also served during the Holi celebration. It is a potent version of thandai and caution should be taken while consuming it.

Holi Recipes: 15 Sweets

Here in the list, I am sharing a few traditional desserts and some cakes that are fusion. 

Gujiya Recipe (Mawa Gujia)

Gujiya is a traditional sweet, deep-fried, half-moon shaped dumpling.  Holi or Diwali festival is incomplete without this mawa gujiya recipe.

Thandai Cake (Eggless)

An amazingly delicious, Indian fusion thandai cake recipe for this Holi festival! It is a super soft, spongy, and moist cake brimming with traditional thandai flavor spices. It has tender crumbs and so much flavor in every bite.

Rasmalai Cake (Eggless)

This eggless rasmalai cake is the ultimate Indian fusion dessert. The spongy cake soaked in flavored milk, rasmalai, and whipped cream, you’ll get all of these in a single bite. This makes the perfect treat for the festive season.

Malpua

This is the BEST malpua recipe on the internet. You’ll get crispy edges with a soft, spongy center with a perfect amount of sweetness from the syrup.

Kalakand Sweet

This is really the best kalakand sweet you’ll ever taste! It has a moist, juicy and grainy texture with a perfectly sweet milky taste

Moong Dal Halwa

Moong dal halwa is a classic Indian dessert made with 5 main ingredients only. It is perfectly sweet, rich, fluffy and melt-in-your-mouth kind halwa.

Shrikhand (With Greek Yogurt + Traditional)

Shrikhand Recipe - it’s silky, smooth, creamy with a hint of saffron flavor and crunch of nuts. It gets ready in 5 minutes or less (when made with greek yogurt)!

Besan Barfi (No Sugar Syrup)

The easiest way to make besan barfi at home, and it’s ready in no time! This burfi is perfectly sweet with great texture.

Badam Halwa (Almond Sheera)

The BEST Badam Halwa you’ll ever eat! It is a perfectly rich and heavy festive dessert.

Milk Powder Gulab Jamun

Milk powder gulab jamun - a must try Indian dessert! It’s deliciously rich, soft, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth kind that always gets compliments every time it’s served.

Peda Recipe (Doodh / Milk Peda)

This instant version of milk peda or doodh peda is made in microwave and gets ready in 10 minutes only.

Phirni Recipe

This rice phirni is the traditional Indian dessert and is nothing but ground rice sweet pudding garnished with almonds, pistachios and saffron.

Boondi Ladoo

The only homemade boondi ladoo recipe you will ever need! These turn out deliciously sweet, soft with perfectly round boondis every time. Plus they’re so easy to make.

Rice Kheer

Making rice kheer at home is very easy. Learn how to make kheer with this easy, no-fail recipe.

Kaju Katli

This is the BEST kaju katli recipe around the web! You get a soft, smooth and melt-in-your-mouth texture with of course full of cashew flavor.

Holi Recipes: 15 Snacks

Shankarpali (Shakkar Para)

Shankarpali recipe or shakkar para recipe - sweet, crispy yet melt in your mouth textured, whole wheat flour biscuits.

Namak Para Recipe (Namak Pare or Nimki)

Namak pare recipe (Namak Para or Nimki) – easy to make snack recipe. Make a big batch, store in the dabba and enjoy as a snack with a cup of tea.

Khasta Kachori (Chaat)

Khasta kachori recipe - it is deep fried, puffed pastry stuffed with spicy moong dal stuffing. It is topped with chutneys, onion, tomato, yogurt and sev to make the khasta kachori chaat.

Matar Kachori

Matar kachori recipe - It has perfect crisp, flaky texture with very flavorful green peas stuffing inside.

Dahi Vada

This dahi vada recipe is much better than the one you get from street vendors in India. The vada always comes out super soft, melt-in-your-mouth kind.

Aloo Bhujia (Aloo Sev)

Aloo Bhujia or crispy aloo sev is perfect savory tea-time snack or Diwali snacks. Make a big batch, store in container and enjoy it for weeks

Sev Puri

Sev Puri Recipe - a popular Indian street food recipe. This tongue tickling chaat recipe is from Mumbai.

Dahi Puri Chaat

Dahi puri recipe - a chaat recipe from Mumbai. One of the most popular Indian chaat recipes.

Aloo Pakora Recipe (Potato Bajji)

Perfectly crisp aloo pakora recipe! This potato bajji is the most common snack to enjoy with a cup of tea on a rainy day.

Punajbi Samosa recipe

This punjabi samosa recipe is the traditional method. Here spiced potato mixture is made for stuffing.

Pani Puri Recipe (Water & Stuffing)

This is the BEST and ultimate pani puri recipe you’ll find on the internet. I have shared 2 types of pani puri water and 2 types of stuffing recipes. Plus, I’ve shared how to make golgappa (puri) in the air fryer.

Veg Puff Recipe (Bakery Style Vegetable Puff)

Read the notes to get the best, perfect, flaky layered texture. This is an Indian bakery style vegetable puff recipe. These are SO EASY to make, plus taste and texture are PERFECT. A must try and a keeper recipe!

Samosa Chaat

The perfect tongue-tickling samosa chaat recipe! It is made with 6 main elements and is the perfect make-ahead party appetizer or snack.

Frankie Recipe (Bombay Veg Frankie Roll)

This easy Indian veg frankie roll recipe is one of the TASTIEST ways to enjoy street food. It is called ‘Indian burrito’ or ‘Bombay burrito’ or ‘Indian wrap’.

Masala Peanuts (Air Fryer Sing Bhujia)

These air fryer masala peanuts turned out super crunchy and perfectly spiced. This Haldiram-style sing bhujia makes the perfect tea-time snack.

Wishing You Happy Holi!