The colourful festival of the year– Holi is due to be celebrated on 29th March 2021. The festivities are all about colours, togetherness, and sweets. Sweets are the mainstay of the Holi festival. Before the festivities, homemakers stir love into a variety of traditional delicacies that are relished on the Holi.
There is a tradition of gifting sweets and desserts to one another as a token of Holi wishes and greetings. We have prepared a list with all the items that will be appreciated as a Holi gift by your dear ones. Not just the names, we have mentioned for you some recipes and pro tips.
1. Gujiya:
When it’s Holi, how can Gujia be far behind? Gujia is a Holi festival treat relished by youngs and adults, equally. The traditional Mawa Gujia is a fried dumpling made with semolina and stuffed with a mixture of sweetened khoya and dry fruits and fried in clarified butter (ghee).
Because of the popularity of fusion flavours, even Gujia is available in many different flavours like Kesar Gujia, Nutella and Nut Gujjias, Gujiyas with chocolate filling, Baklava Gujia, Oats and Dates Gujia. Gujia with a twist taste no less delicious and exotic than the traditional ones and are readily available with sweet shops. If this year you want to try making gujiya at home, then here is the recipe for you…..
- Saute Mawa (khoya) in a pan with butter until golden brown.
- Once the mawa gets cooled, add dry fruits, powdered sugar, cardamom and mix well.
- Knead the dough with water and maida
- Roll it into 4-inch diameter. Place filling and seal the sides with maida-water slurry
- Cut the edges with a gujiya maker.
- Deep fry the gujiyas until golden brown
- Dip the gujia in sugar syrup and garnish with pistachios
2. Thandai:
Thandai is the staple drink of Holi. Without this cooling and refreshing drink, Holi would remain incomplete. So, prepare Thandai and serve it to everyone. You can handcraft Holi hampers and gift baskets with colours, balloons, Thandai packets, Gujia. Thandai tastes best when consumed with Gujias, fried snacks, and of course Holi-themed songs in brass glasses.
Different Thandai flavours like mango thandai, kesar-badam thandai, rose thandai are favoured by people because of different flavours in the same old traditional Thandai feel. Bhang Thandai is a way of adding fun to the Holi party, but only for adults. This is how you make traditional Thandai:
- Soak the almonds and then grind them with watermelon seeds, poppy seeds, fennel seeds, peppercorns, cardamom pods into a smooth paste.
- Add milk to a heavy bottom pan and stir it in between.
- Take two-three spoons of milk and transfer them to a glass. Add crushed saffron.
- After the milk comes to a boil, lower the heat and add thandai masala
- Mix sugar and turn off the flame.
- Add rose water and stir for the flavours to get absorbed
- Strain the thandai and add to it the solid masala collected in the sieve.
- Chill the thandai overnight and serve.
3. Cake:
A lot of people, especially the young ones love cakes more than traditional delicacies. Holi-themed cakes are quite popular among children because of their colourful appearance. Rainbow cakes, Holi poster cake, Rainbow glaze cake, Fondant Holi-themed cakes, and many more Holi-themed cakes are offered by online bakeries. From online bakeries, you can avail of Holi-themed cupcakes and jar cakes as well. Find one good online cake bakery and avail online cake delivery in Hyderabad of these colourful sweet delights. If baking at home, bake colourful cake sponges and frost them as you like.
4. Waffle Cookies:
Waffles are a thing of the past. What’s new and trending is waffle cookies. Colourful waffle cookies in authentic Indian flavours will surely colour your and your dearest one’s taste buds with joyful flavours. Order a box of Holi-themed waffle cookies in assorted flavours, add in organic Holi colours, water gun, balloons, and your Holi gift pack is ready.
5. Personalised Holi Chocolate Box:
Chocolates are perfect for every occasion. They add sweetness to the celebrations. Along with sweetness, colour the Holi celebrations of your dearest one’s sentiments with a box of personalised chocolates. Both chocolates and the box can be personalised with a picture and the name of the recipient. You can avail this gift from any online gifting store.
Happy Holi, folks!!