Indian Diabetic Desserts

Can people with Diabetes eat desserts?

People with diabetes often think they need to totally steer clear of desserts. But, the fact is that while it is important for diabetics to control their calorie and sugar intake, they can still have some aptly prepared desserts, occasionally, in limited quantities. They can make better options or learn the art of making sweets/desserts in such a way that it is safe to be consumed and diabetes is managed. Birthdays, festivals or parties, no special occasion is ever complete without desserts! This section will take you on a beautiful ride, which guides you through some of these lip-smacking desserts.

Carbohydrate Control Plays a Key Role in Diabetes Management.

The term carbohydrates include complex carbohydrates, sugar and fibre too. Your blood glucose levels are not only affected by sweets in your diet but also the quality of the carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates like sugar, honey, fruit juices, corn syrup and processed foods can immediately spike up your blood glucose levels and hence, should be avoided by diabetics. Desserts like cakes, pastries, cookies, puddings, ice-creams and candies contain high amount of simple sugars. 

Desserts for diabetics are usually made with artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. But this isn’t an ideal solution. Sugar substitutes are low in calorie or may also be calorie free. Research data reveals that sugar substitutes may alter healthy gut bacteria. Moreover, artificial sweeteners are 100 times or even more, sweeter than sugar will leave you craving for more sweets.

These days low sugar sweets and desserts is available in many sweet shops and restaurants. But if you’re craving for sweets then you can make delicious diabetic friendly recipes at home. All you need to do is a wise selection of ingredients. Home-made sweets are a healthier version of regular sweets because you will know the actual amount and type of ingredients used in that particular dessert.

8 Significant Tricks and Ideas for making Indian Diabetic Desserts

1 Substitute whole milk with low fat milk or skimmed milk.

2. Substitute regular paneer with low fat paneer, butter with low fat butter.

3. Eat whole fruits instead of fruit juices and milk shakes.

4. Replace sugar with natural and low Glycemic Index (GI) ingredients like honey, jaggery, dates, figs and other fruits.

5. Include a lot of fibre in your diet in the form of fruits.

6. Use artificial sweeteners only if necessary.

7. Consume a protein rich diet to control diabetes include ingredients like milk and paneer.

8. Cut down your carbohydrate in meals to make place for desserts if you’re craving.

Our section on diabetic desserts includes a range of lip smacking Indian and International dessert recipes that will satisfy your sweet tooth for sure.   Try our yummy dessert recipes:

1. Paneer Kheer is a healthy yet tasty recipe made with low fat paneer and sugar substitute and is also rich in calcium.

2. You can try our fibre rich Apple Pancake which is low fat and made with whole wheat flour instead of refined flour.

3. A calcium rich recipe like Oats Apple Phirni is a low calorie and low fat dessert, perfect to top up your calcium requirements.

4. If you are a fan of Indian sweet preparations than Lauki Halwa is a must try as it is low in calories and carbohydrates. 

5. Kids will drool over this Chocolate Pinwheel  dessert. This recipe is a healthier version of the regular one but is as delicious.

6. You can use natural products as sweetener like dates used in the recipe of Date and Apple Kheer. This recipe is free from rice and is definitely a good treat for occasions like Eid, Navratri and Parsi New Year.

7.  Diabetic Caramel Custard  is a lovely recipe to try if you’re craving for something sweet. This recipe uses minimal amount of sugar and is prepared from low-fat milk.

8. Another delightful recipe is Sugar Free Date Rolls , a rich and unique combination of dates, almonds, pistas and walnuts and I bet you cannot miss this one.

9. Who doesn’t love ice-creams? Here’s a fabulous diabetic friendly recipe of Sugarfree Strawberry Ice cream. For a sweet and chilled affair.

10. Ever heard of a healthy lolly? Well we have this marvelous recipe of Strawberry Lollies. Wondering what makes them healthy? We have added a lot of healthy ingredients like oats, skimmed milk powder, low fat curds and cream to add to its nutrient value.

Try our other recipes like Oats and Orange Rabdi, Thandai Ice-cream  and many more from the section below…

Disclaimer: It is highly recommended that these recipes be relished by diabetics only occasionally and in small quantities. This is just a mere ‘treat’ and does not qualify for a regular diabetic menu.

Other Sections in Diabetes which you will love:

Diabetic Recipes
Diabetes and Healthy Heart
Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Recipes, Diet
Diabetes and Kidney friendly
Diabetic Accompaniments
Diabetic Soups
Diabetic Starters & Snacks
Diabetic Breakfast
Diabetic Dals & Khadis
Diabetic Drinks / Beverages
Diabetic International Recipes
Diabetic Rice, Khichdi and Biryani
Diabetic Rotis and Parathas
Diabetic Salads & Raitas
Diabetic Subzis



Oats and mixed nuts ladoo recipe | healthy oats laddu | Oats dry fruits ladoo | how to make oats laddu | with 20 amazing images Oats and mixed nuts laddo is a treat for the sweet tooth. Oats dry fruits ladoo is made with a nutritious combination of oats, jaggery and nuts. Learn how to make oats laddu in a step-by-step fashion. To make Oats dry fruits ladoo, you need to dry roast oats, sesame seeds and nuts like almonds and walnuts. Add all of these to ghee-jaggery mixture and then mix well and make balls out of it. Follow the timing and the flame at which each ingredient has to be cooked as slight extra time in cooking might alter the taste of these ladoos. You will love the intense flavour of jaggery, the mealy mouth-feel of powdered oats and the interludes of crunchy nuts in these Oats and mixed nuts ladoo recipe. These delicious healthy oats laddu scores a 10/10 on the nutrient scoreboard, as fibre-rich oats help lower cholesterol while jaggery and sesame seeds boost your iron levels. The tit-bits bound in protein which are building blocks of our cells and also omega-3 fatty acids which helps to reduce inflammation in the body and prevent the onset of other chronic disease. This easy to make snack is best had fresh, or it might turn a bit dry. So whenever you wish to cook some Healthy Snacks or some Sweet Treats for your kids, Oats and Mixed Nuts Ladoo is the perfect choice. Enjoy Oats and mixed nuts ladoo recipe | healthy oats laddu | Oats dry fruits ladoo | how to make oats laddu | with step by step photos.
low fat carrot halwa recipe | healthy gajar ka halwa | low fat Indian carrot pudding | with 14 amazing images. low fat carrot halwa recipe is a healthy gajar ka halwa. The trick to this low fat Indian carrot pudding is to use low fat milk and dates as the sweetener. Everybody loves to savour the traditional flavours of homemade mithais. If it includes a dose of good health, then it becomes all the more desirable and enjoyable, without guilt! Here is an easy way to make tasty, low calorie gajar halwa, which is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. With the rich hue of carrots, the luxuriant taste of milk and the aesthetic touch of cardamom, this low fat carrot halwa is a really irresistible treat. If you are watching weight this healthy gajar ka halwa is definitely for you. Gajar ka halwa recipe has a traditional charm that continues to please every generation of Indians! Here is a quick and healthy gajar ka halwa recipe made using the pressure cooker. Packed with fresh carrots, this classic healthy gajar ka halwa provides you with plenty of vitamin A. We have sweetened the Low-Fat Carrot Halwa with iron-rich dates and completely avoided white sugar. This not only reduces the fat but also boosts the health quotient. Each and every ingredient used to make low fat gajar ka halwa is healthy and so you can relish it without guilt. You can also try other tasty but low-fat treats like the Sugar Free Shrikhand and the Low-Fat Kulfi with Strawberry Sauce. Enjoy low fat carrot halwa recipe | healthy gajar ka halwa | low fat Indian carrot pudding with detailed step by step photos below.
A traditional mithai that everybody has a reason to like—some for the taste, some for the goodness of doodhi and milk, and some for the warm feeling it instils on a rainy day. You will get all of it in this diabetic version of the Lauki Halwa, minus the fat and the carbs. So get ready to enjoy a more healthy halwa once in a while.
Cocoa powder is a good substitute for high calorie chocolate sauce in these attractive pinwheels. Enjoy this scrumptious snack occasionally to satisfy your sweet tooth. Try to keep it for special occasions like a party and remember not to go overboard. For a variant you can try Orange Rum Cake , Soya Chocolate Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce or Date and Apple Kheer .
Relish this delicious ice-cream when fresh strawberries are in season. This rich, creamy, ice-cream is made with reduced milk, thickened with cornflour and sweetened with a sugar substitute. You will need to add less sugar substitute if the fruit you use is ripe and sweet. Taste the ice-cream mixture after you add and mix each sachet to ascertain how much you need to add. Fresh Lychees or kala jamun can also be used as an alternative to strawberries.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this cardamom-flavoured low-fat Paneer Kheer. By replacing traditional sweeteners with sugar substitute, and by doing away with unhealthy thickeners, we ward off those unnecessary carbohydrates and calories too. So, you can enjoy the rich texture and wonderful flavour of this kheer comfortably. Just make sure you add the paneer after the milk is completely cool, to avoid curdling.
Can you imagine festivals or weddings without Puranpoli? This classic sweet is a favourite across the country, called by different names and made with minor variations. If a month goes by without any special occasions, then people even go ahead and make it as a no-reason Sunday treat! For those of you who are so fond of this traditional delicacy, here is a diabetic-friendly version made with sugar substitute and minimal ghee. Chana dal, with its low glycemic index, is always a good food for diabetics to have, as is fibre-laden whole wheat flour. All in all, this is a real treat for your mind and body. The wastage that is there when the sides are cut of the circle can be all put together and used later to make rotis.
On a low-cal regime and yet yearning for phirni? This Oats Apple Phirni is an answer to your prayers! Made with coarsely crushed oats and apple, this medium-sweet phirni uses only a low quantity of sugar substitute thanks to the fruit’s natural sweetness. Further, this recipe also makes use of low-fat milk, so the calorie counter does not surge up!
The enzyme 'jamboline' present in black jamun is considered to be a boon for diabetics. That makes this rich and creamy Black Jamun Ice-cream that is made with low-fat milk sweetened with sugar substitute and thickened with 2 tbsp of cornflour instead of fattening cream..a lovely treat for the diabetic sweet tooth! It is perhaps the tastiest way to derive the benefits of black jamun although it should ideally be had raw.
This summery cheesecake is wonderful if you are looking for a dessert to be prepared well in advance. The digestive biscuits, bound with a little bit of butter, give a light and crispy texture to the crust. The cheesecake mixture is flavoured with lemon juice and zest that lends its characteristic freshness to this dessert, while the sugar substitute provides the necessary sweetness.
The aroma of apples stewed with cinnamon is just too hard to resist! The fruity and spicy aroma and flavour are guaranteed to delight the taste buds. While this combo has proved its worth in many forms ranging from pies to cakes, here we have harnessed it to make a delightfully tasty but easy dessert, which is acceptable for diabetics too! We have used whole wheat flour instead of maida and cornflour to make the pancakes, as these refined flours will raise blood sugar levels rapidly. The healthy pancakes are then stuffed with fibre-rich apples, tinged with cinnamon and a dash of lemon. Cinnamon, apart from giving the Apple Pancake an awesome flavour, is also very helpful in controlling blood sugar levels. Diabetics can enjoy the Apple Pancake as a dessert, occasionally. Do try other desserts like Coffee Mousse or Soya Chocolate Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce .
dates and oats kheer | oats and dates payasam | healthy dates and oats kheer | with 16 images. dates and oats kheer is an tasty kheer made with oats and dates, this is sure to satiate your cravings in a smart and healthy way. The oats and dates payasam does not use any sugar. Instead, dates and oats kheer derives a pleasant and balanced sweetness from dates. oats and dates payasam might not be as sweet as regular kheers but will surely strike the right chord with your taste buds! To make dates and oats kheer, heat the milk in a deep non-stick pan and bring it to boil. Add the oats and dates, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 4 minutes, while stirring continuously. You might notice small lumps forming so make sure you keep stirring and breaking up the lumps with the back of a spoon. Switch off the flame, add the cardamom powder and mix well. Serve dates and oats kheer hot or warm. See why we think this is a healthy dates and oats kheer? Oats are a great source of protein for Vegetarians. It is rich in soluble fibre (to make it good for diabetics), which helps lower blood LDL cholesterol. 1 cup of dates (90 gm) gives around 8.05 gm of fibre and will lower down the cholesterol level and will also aid in weight loss. Milk provides the required calcium. You can also try other healthy Indian desserts like the Strawberry Yoghurt and Low Calorie Gajar Halwa. Learn to make dates and oats kheer | oats and dates payasam | healthy dates and oats kheer | with step by step photos below.
Shrikhand is no longer out of reach of diabetics! This delectable Mixed Fruit Shrikhand keeps the fat in check by using low-fat curds and replacing sugar with sugar substitute. Apart from bringing in ample nutrients, the fruits also increase the fibre count of this dessert. Try and avoid peeling the fruits like pears and apples as a lot of the fibre lies just beneath the skin. **Disclaimer: It is highly recommended that this recipe be relished by diabetics only occasionally and in small quantities. This is just a mere ‘treat’ and does not qualify for a regular diabetic menu.
These dainty chenna filled lychees are sure to melt in your mouth. Choose sweet lychees to make this dessert because sharp or acidic lychees are not going to complement the filling. You can have 2 pieces at one time without feeling guilty.
Kheer has always been a part of the Indian spread. Times have changed, but kheer continues to find a special place in our meal! over time, several variations of kheer have emerged. Here I present a very healthy version, especially for diabetics a dessert made with apples and dates cooked in low fat milk and sweetened with sugar substitutes. Dates and apples impart their natural sweetness and fibre, while walnuts add crunch and taste to this kheer. Milk has abundant proteins and calcium,and the goodness of apples and dates, of course, needs no explanation!
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