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A rich, melt‑in‑your‑mouth Indian sweet made by curdling full‑fat milk to create fresh chenna, reducing milk into a fragrant rabri, and combining both with sugar, rose water, saffron and cardamom before shaping into soft laddus. Perfect for Diwali celebrations.
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Everything you need to know about this recipe
Milk and Sugar Ladoo, often called Rabri Ladoo, is a traditional sweet prepared during Diwali to symbolize prosperity and the sweetness of life. The use of milk and ghee reflects abundance, while the golden saffron color is associated with auspiciousness in Indian culture.
In North India, some families add khoya (reduced milk solids) for extra richness, while in Punjab, a hint of cardamom and pistachio is common. In Uttar Pradesh, rose water is emphasized, and in Gujarat, a touch of nutmeg may be used.
Authentic Rabri Ladoo is served at room temperature on a decorative platter, often garnished with saffron strands, slivered almonds, and pistachios. It is presented alongside other sweets like jalebi and ladoo varieties as part of the festive feast.
Milk and Sugar Ladoo is popular during Diwali, Navratri, and wedding celebrations. It is also offered as prasad in temples during special pujas because of its pure dairy base.
The sweet combines freshly curdled chenna with a silky rabri reduction, giving it a melt‑in‑the‑mouth texture that is softer than typical gram‑flour laddus. The blend of saffron, rose water, and cardamom adds a fragrant, luxurious flavor profile.
Common mistakes include adding too much acid at once, which makes the chenna hard; not rinsing the curds, leaving a sour taste; overheating the milk reduction, causing it to scorch; and adding sugar before the chenna is fully mixed, which can harden the texture.
Adding sugar later prevents the chenna granules from hardening. Sugar’s moisture helps keep the final laddu soft, whereas adding it too early can cause the curd particles to firm up and result in a grainy texture.
Yes. You can prepare the chenna and rabri a day ahead, keep them refrigerated separately, and shape the laddus a few hours before serving. Store the finished laddus in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
The mixture should be warm, glossy, and thick enough to hold its shape when rolled. It should feel slightly tacky but not sticky, and the color should be a pale golden hue with visible saffron specks.
The YouTube channel Chef Bhupi's Kitchen specializes in authentic Indian home‑cooking tutorials, focusing on traditional sweets, festive dishes, and practical tips for making restaurant‑quality food at home.
Chef Bhupi's Kitchen emphasizes using simple, readily available ingredients, detailed step‑by‑step explanations, and insider tricks from professional sweet makers, whereas many other channels focus on shortcuts or pre‑made mixes.
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