Makar Sankranti 2026: Warm Winter Treats, Classic Indian Sweets – Recipes

Indian winter brings traditional desserts like Til ke Laddoo, Gajar Halwa, and Til Ki Chikki. These sweets are made from seasonal ingredients like sesame seeds, jaggery, and carrots, providing warmth and comfort.

As the weather turns cooler, Indian kitchens come alive with the aromas of classic winter desserts. Whether you’re celebrating festivals like Makar Sankranti and Lohri or simply craving something sweet and comforting, three traditional recipes — Til ke Laddoo, Gajar Halwa, and Til Ki Chikki — are perfect for the season. These desserts are not only rich in flavour but also deeply rooted in cultural traditions that elevate winter gatherings.

Til ke Laddoo:

Til ke Laddoo, made from sesame seeds (til) and jaggery, is a quintessential winter sweet that keeps you warm and satisfies sweet cravings. The basic ingredients include roasted sesame seeds and jaggery melted into a sticky syrup — often enhanced with ghee and cardamom for extra richness. Once combined while warm, the mixture is shaped into round laddoos, providing a delightful blend of nuttiness and sweetness. These laddoos are especially popular during Makar Sankranti, a harvest festival celebrated across northern India, where sesame-based sweets are symbolic of warmth and nourishment in the cold season.

Gajar Halwa:

Moving from nutty sweets to creamy delights, Gajar Halwa is a classic carrot-based dessert loved across India. Shredded carrots are cooked slowly in milk and ghee until tender, absorbing the sweet, milky flavours. Cardamom and chopped nuts like almonds or cashews are often added to intensify fragrance and texture. The result is a silky, rich halwa that makes winter evenings cozier and is a staple at festive feasts and family dinners.

Til Ki Chikki:

For those who love a crunchy, sweet snack, Til Ki Chikki offers a delightful contrast. This traditional brittle candy combines toasted sesame seeds with jaggery syrup that is cooked and cooled until hard. The jaggery caramelises into the perfect texture for setting the seeds into crunchy bars that can be cut into bite-sized pieces once cooled. These crisp sweets are easy to share and make excellent treats for guests during seasonal gatherings.

All three recipes are rooted in simple ingredients — sesame seeds, jaggery, carrots, milk, ghee, and a hint of aromatic spices — but they deliver deeply satisfying results. Making these desserts at home not only lets you control sweetness and quality, but also fills your kitchen with the comforting scents of tradition and festivity.

Beyond their delightful taste, these sweets carry cultural significance. Sesame and jaggery are often associated with heat and energy, making them ideal for colder months. Til ke Laddoo and Til Ki Chikki feature prominently in festivals like Makar Sankranti and Lohri, symbolising warmth, prosperity, and community spirit. Meanwhile, Gajar Halwa remains a winter favourite that bridges age groups and regions with its universal appeal — it’s a dessert that feels like a hug in every spoonful.

Whether you’re celebrating a festival, hosting a family dinner, or simply craving a homemade treat, these recipes are delicious reminders of India’s rich culinary traditions. Embrace the season with these sweet, heart-warming desserts straight from your kitchen.