It’s hard to say no to mithai amid the festivities, but these halwais and patisseries are sweetening Diwali with sugar-free, vegan or gluten-free treats
Methi laddoos
Kaki knows best
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Diet resolutions require painful dedication around festivities. For this writer — who hopes she’s not alone — these resolutions usually wilt
away when a Diwali faral platter is on the horizon. But mithai and desserts shouldn’t make us feel guilty. And a friendly kaki is tapping into the goodness of traditional Maharashtrian recipes to offer sugar-free, protein-rich laddoos that pack a dose of health in each bite. Patil Kaki’s dink, protein, nachni and methi laddoos are perfect for the season if you want to steer clear of refined sugar but not the sweetness.
LOG ON TO patilkaki.com
COST Rs 264 onwards
Go vegan
Milk-n-fig
The new-age halwais at Genda Phool have whipped up six vegan versions of some of their sweet specialities. These include pistachio laddoo, hazel surprise, classic cashew and gooseberry square, along with sugar-free milk-n-fig, among other treats.
LOG ON TO gendaphool.co
COST Rs 400 onwards (for a four-piece box)
Dessert-ed Diwali
Tiny chocolate mendiants
Try tiny French mendiants in a host of flavours, dig into indulgent mini bombolinis, or pick up the vegan, artisanally-crafted coconut laddoos at The Tiny Tub, Bandra. The desserts are free of added refined sugar and gluten. They also have thoughtfully curated hampers that make for binge-worthy gifts.
LOG ON TO @thetinytub.in
COST Rs 750 onwards
Barfi bonanza
Power barfi
This vegan power barfi by Bombay Sweet Shop is ideal for those who love their Diwali barfi, but not dairy. The crunchy treat contains jaggery, dates, cashews, almonds, pistachios, coconut sugar, figs, puffed amaranth, sesame, poppy and melon seeds, along with cardamom.
LOG ON TO bombaysweetshop.com
COST Rs 800 onwards (part of an assorted box of nine)
Let there be cake
Tiramisu opera
Love your cookies and cakes? Nutritionist Simran Bapu of The Paleoo Bakes has curated a healthy dessert menu at Seeds Of Life. On the menu are vegan, gluten and sugar-free versions of Belgian chocolate cake, tiramisu opera, pineapple cream cake, mixed berry pull-me-up cake, sugar-free chocolate chip cookies and cookie dough sundae.
AT Seeds of Life, Bandra and Juhu.
CALL 9653336089
COST Rs 350 onwards
Mithai magic
Gulab jamun
Traditional mithai gets a healthy spin with NOTO’s range of happy sweets that include diabetic-friendly milk cakes, rasgullas, gulab jamuns, mohanthals, motichoor laddoos, and malai pedas. Each mithai box also specifies the calories and ingredients for you to make a conscious call.
LOG ON TO eatnoto.com
COST Rs 355 onwards