This post is sponsored by our friends at Natural Delights Medjool Dates. I had the unique opportunity of joining them for the date harvest in Yuma, AZ in September 2023 and learned so much about Medjool dates! All opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make Masala and Chai possible. One thing I share in common with my dad is our love for Indian sweets. Our family owns a sweet shop in Aligarh in India. If there’s one thing my dad will do, it’s keep our fridge stocked with sweets from Aligarh. Lately he’s been loving ladoos made of dates, nuts, and seeds with strong notes of ghee and cardamom. He insisted that the family recipe for Date Nut Ladoos needs to be shared on Masala and Chai, so here it is! We absolutely love Medjool dates in our family due to their natural sweetness, caramel flavor, and nutritious, heart healthy profile. They provide a long-lasting energy boost so we’ll enjoy a ladoo as an afternoon snack.
Why you’ll love this Recipe
What is a Ladoo?
Ladoo, or laddu, is a type of sweet dessert from the Indian-subcontinent and can be identified by their round shape. They come in several different variations and ingredients - usually consisting of flour, sugar, dry fruits, seeds, or ghee. Some of the most popular are motichoor ladoo, coconut ladoo, besan ladoo, and boondi ladoo.
There is no added sugar or gluten in this ladoo. The Medjool dates provide a natural caramel flavor that binds all the ingredients together. It’s a quick and easy recipe with ingredients that are most likely already in your pantry. Friends and family will enjoy it for any occasion. It’s also a nutritious, energy-boosting snack to keep in the fridge. Who doesn’t love a no-bake dessert? This recipe just requires a few minutes on the stovetop, mainly for roasting the nuts and tossing everything in ghee. These date and nut ladoos are a great source of heart healthy fats, fiber, and nut protein that will keep you fueled throughout the day.
Ladoos are typically given out during celebrations. They especially make an appearance during religious festivals associated with Ganesha, where devotees offer him ladoos.
Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions
Next, roughly chop the almonds, pistachios, cashews, and any other nuts you choose to use. Freshly grind the green cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle. Soften the Medjool dates in two ways: Pro Tip: Compact the ladoo tightly so that it doesn’t crumble at the touch. The dates will set as it cools and bind the mixture together. The aroma will be nutty and the nuts and seeds will turn a shade darker. Transfer this mixture to a plate. Set it aside while we work on the dates. As they start to warm in the pan, mash them with the back of a wooden spoon. Keep doing this until they reach a paste-like consistency. It should take around 5 minutes, and gets easier as the dates warm in the pan. At this point, add the nuts and seeds back into the pan. Don’t forget to add the freshly ground cardamom, too. Next, there’s two ways to shape the ladoos. Repeat the process with the remaining mixture. If you’re serving this for a party or religious function, a touch of edible silver leaf makes these ladoos especially gorgeous. Otherwise, they can be kept as is. You can serve them alongside other Indian desserts such as Gulab Jamun, Kheer, and Suji ka Halwa.
Variations
Dry Fruit Ladoo - A different type of ladoo, you can also add dried fruits like apricots and figs into the mixture and cut back on the amount of dates used. Nuts - Most nuts will taste great in this ladoo! Feel free to add peanuts, walnuts, pecans, etc. Seeds - Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and poppy seeds are common mix-ins. Additional mix-ins - Other healthy ingredients that can be added are dried coconut, quinoa, chia seeds. Chocolate - Feel free to drizzle chocolate on the ladoo or add chocolate chips into the mixture.
Storage Instructions
Date nut ladoos have a long shelf-life and can last in the refrigerator for up to a month in a sealed container. Allow them 10 minutes at room temperature to soften before enjoying them. Chopping vs. blending. It may be tempting to blend the nuts, but then you run the risk of grinding it into a powder which is not the ideal consistency or texture Plumping up the dates. Natural Delights Medjool Dates are dried to a certain percentage before it hits consumers, but contrary to popular belief, dates are not considered a dried fruit! They do benefit from a 10 minute soak in warm water or wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 10 seconds to soften them into juicy dates that are perfect for squishing in this recipe. Keep the date and nut mixture warm. Once the mixture in the pan cools down, it’ll be extremely difficult to make the ladoos. Work fast to make the ladoos. If it cools down, reheat the mixture in the pan for a minute or pop it into the microwave. Use a cookie scoop. Brush ghee on to a cookie scoop and use that to scoop an even amount of date nut mixture. Then roll it into an even ball in your hands. They can also be frozen in the freezer for up to 6 months. To thaw, leave them at room temperature for an 3-4 hours, or until they’ve softened.
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Recipe
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