Millets are powerhouses of nutrients and health benefits. They are known to improve digestion, heart health, blood sugar levels, manage weight and much more. They are, in fact, the current keyword trending in the health and nutrition world. Have you heard about them, but don't know how to consume them? A convenient way is to substitute regular flour with millet flour. You can then use them to make different types of food items, including desserts. We have listed down some yummy sweet dishes you can make with millets like jowar (sorghum), ragi (finger millet), and bajra (pearl millet).
Also Read: Make Nutritious Millets Bhakri Using These Kitchen Secrets - Nutritionist Shares
Here Are 14 Easy Recipes For Millet Sweet Treats You Need To Try:
Millet Cakes:
1. Ragi Dark Chocolate Cake
This finger millet chocolate cake is too good to miss. Photo Credit: iStock
You can never go wrong with a chocolate cake. Now you can give the classic version a unique twist by using ragi flour to make the batter. You just need a handful of ingredients for this dessert. Find the full recipe here.
2. Bajra Carrot Cake
Another classic we enjoy is carrot cake. But this version uses bajra flour as the base. Doesn't that sound fascinating? Flavoured with cinnamon, ginger and walnuts, this cake can be topped with a special cream cheese frosting for extra decadence. Here's the recipe.
3. Ragi Banana Cake:
Bananas always lend desserts a wholesome yet indulgent flavour. This recipe combines the goodness of ragi, bananas, oats and jaggery to make a nutrient-packed cake. Complete recipe here.
4. Jowar Banana Cake
You can use different millets to bake a banana cake. Photo Credit: iStock
You can also use jowar to make a mouth-watering banana cake. This one is rather higher in calories than the others on this list, as it contains more butter and cream. But the millet flour does add to the nutritional value. This recipe also includes a yummy salted caramel sauce you can top the cake with. Read it here.
5. Ragi Coffee Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Another flavour we love to add to our cakes is coffee. Coffee, chocolate and cake is a combination that is nothing short of heavenly. This ragi cake recipe has not only a coffee twist but also a special chocolate ganache. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
Other Millet Desserts:
1. Ragi Malpua
Malpuas are traditional pancake-like delicacies commonly made during festivals. They have many varieties and are often drenched in sweet syrup before serving. This ragi malpua is equally festive and satisfying. It is filled with the goodness of coconut, cardamom, honey and melon seeds. Here's the full recipe.
2. Bajra Crepe
If you want something truly decadent, go for these millet crepes. Although made with bajra flour, the recipe uses a fair amount of butter, cream and chocolate. Save this one for a special occasion, but be sure to savour it! Complete recipe here.
3. Bajra Tartlets With Fruit Custard
This is another interesting bajra sweet treat that you should not miss. Homemade millet tartlets are filled with yummy custard and fresh fruit pieces to get an irresistible dessert. If you're looking to impress, this one will do the trick. Here's the recipe.
4. Jowar Apple Crumble
Try this millet apple crumble for a unique treat. Photo Credit: iStock
Give classic apple crumble a desi twist by making it with jowar. Healthy yet as tasty as the original, this dessert is sure to wow. It also contains oats and walnuts, which give the crumble a wonderful texture. Complete recipe here.
Millet Cookies And Laddoos:
1. Ragi and Buckwheat Cookies
These gluten-free cookies require ragi flour, buckwheat flour (kuttu ka atta), butter, almond powder and brown sugar. That's it! 5 simple ingredients are then turned into a nutritious snack that kids, as well as adults, will love. Here's the recipe.
2. Ragi Cookies
If you don't have/ want to use buckwheat, opt for this recipe. However, you will need an egg for this one. These ragi cookies have a ginger-cardamom flavour and are sweetened with khaand. Click here for the full recipe.
3. Ragi Oats Laddoo
Photo Credit: iStock
We usually consider laddoos festive treats, but who says you cannot relish them otherwise? Choose the right ingredients and they can actually make for a healthy snack/ dessert. This ragi oats laddoo is a great example. It also contains dates, cashews and white sesame seeds - making it all the more wholesome. Find the recipe here.
4. Ragi Coconut Laddoo
Another ragi laddoo we recommend is this one, especially if you love the flavour of coconut. Interestingly, this sweet treat also contains peanuts. These millet laddoos can be ready in under 30 minutes. Full recipe here.
5. Jowar Laddoo
Jowar is another millet suitable for laddoos. You can use only 3 ingredients to make this delicacy: jowar flour, ghee and dates or jaggery. Simple yet delicious, these laddoos are high in protein and fibre. Click here for the recipe.
Try these recipes soon and let us know your favourite!
Also Read: 10 Tasty And Healthy Millet Snack Recipes You Need To Try ASAP