Healthy sweet treats made with dates for the festive season

Diwali is almost here and it’s time to celebrate the most awaited festival of the year with some delicious sweet treats. But most of us end up gorging on store bought sugar laden sweets to satiate our sweet cravings and regret later. Well, if you too are someone who loves gorging on sweets and wants to keep it healthy, then we have curated 7 sweet treats made with dates. Why dates for making Diwali sweets?Dates are loaded with protein, fiber, natural sucrose and minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, folate and calcium to name a few. In fact, dates have concentrated natural sugar, which works like a healthy alternative to refined sugar. Here are 7 delicious sweet treats, which can be used to prepare sweet treats for the festive season. Dates LadooTo make these healthy and tasty laddoos, soak and blend dates to make a smooth paste. Then mix this with roasted and crushed nuts, desiccated coconut, cardamom powder, ghee and make small bite sized laddoos and serve.Stuffed DatesThis is a simple sweet can be made by mixing fresh cream, desiccated coconut, chopped nuts, vanilla essence and scoop this mixture inside dates by removing the seeds. Garish with nuts and enjoy. Dates BarfiThis simple sweet treat can be made by preparing a date paste by soaking dates in warm water. Meanwhile, boil milk till it turns thick and creamy. Once the milk is reduced to half, add in the dates paste, cardamom, nuts and milk powder, make a thick mixture. Grease a tray, pour the mixture and let it set. Date KheerTo begin with this easy kheer recipe, take a pan and boil milk. Once the milk is reduced to half, add in rice followed by dates paste, saffron, nuts and make a thick creamy kheer. PhirniTo make this simple Phirni take a pan, add milk and keep cooking the milk, then add crushed rice followed by dates paste, saffron, dry fruits and nuts. Cook till a thick mixture is achieved and serve chilled. Coconut LaddooGive your simple coconut laddoo a healthy twist with this easy recipe, which can be made by tossing grated coconut and mix it with dates paste, sesame seeds, cinnamon powder, cardamom powder and ghee. Mix it all together and make small laddoos.Dates KatliTo make this simple recipe, dry roast kaju and grind them into a smooth powder and then cook this with dates paste and a small teaspoon of ghee. Make a thick mixture and pour it into a greased tray, let it set and cut the Kaju Katli in desired shapes.