Sugar-free desserts are not just for people who need to avoid sugar for medical reasons. There is no argument for why all of us should not try and cut out or cut down on sugar, especially if the mithai or sweet item tastes just as scrumptious minus the deadly C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ (aka good ol' sugar). Choose from these 10 that we have presented and... bon appetit!
With a little innovation our Indian sweets can be made equally palatable for those avoiding white sugar. Shumaila Chauhan shares her barfi recipe, which is nutty and nutritious. She prepares it with roasted sesame seeds and crunchy walnut that are sweetened naturally with dates or stevia.
Please find the recipe here: Sesame And Walnut Barfi
An airy and light dessert, it uses fresh orange segments, low-fat whipped cream and a natural sweetener. This creamy mousse, courtesy Bunty Mahajan, bursting with citrus flavour is a fruity treat without the sugar crash.
Please find the recipe here: Sugar-less Orange Mousse
Chef Merajuddin Ansari concocts kalakand with crumbled paneer but sweetens it with dates. Not only does this version skip the refined sugar but the dates magically add extra taste and depth, apart from calcium, fibre and energy-boosting nutrients.
Please find the recipe here: Date Kalakand
It's an absolute luxury to start the day with a morning treat that's both sweet and healthy. Try Zelda Pande's parfait that comes with nuts, fruits both dry and fresh and yoghurt.
Please find the recipe here: Muesli Yoghurt Parfait
Little balls of health that don't look that sexy but wow are they yum. You can put together Madhuri Aggarwal's laddoos in under an hour and enjoy them for weeks, if kept in the fridge.
Please find the recipe here: Chia And Walnut Laddoos
Yup, falooda doesn't need sugar either. Wellness guru Luke Coutinho's fancy take, with layers of ice cream and pudding, is both wholesome and delicious. Once again dates add the sweetness, along with fresh and dried fruit. The chia seeds can also be replaced with the equally nutrient-rich sabja or sweet basil.
Please find the recipe here: Creamy Rose Falooda
Mayur Sanap's pick-me-up bars are gluten free and satiating. All you need to do is melt the jaggery, mix it with the nuts and seeds, and voila your protein bars are taiyar in under 30 minutes.
Please find the recipe here: Protein-Packed Energy Bars
Paan Custard
Why not add a custard flavoured with paan to your sweet repertoire? Here's a really simple and not very sweet fusion recipe from Chef Varun Inamdar that incorporates walnut milk and betel leaves for their distinct pizzazz. It has no eggs and is like a payasam or kheer, but thicker. It does use 5 tbsp sugar but go ahead and substitute it.
Please find the recipe here: Paan Custard
A sweetener is used to infuse that hint of sugarinesss in these chenna balls bobbing in an inviting pool of milk. It's as simple as that and makes the cut in the taste department too -- rich, creamy without the excess sugar and calories! Perfect for health-conscious dessert lovers.
Please find the recipe here: Ras Malai
A decadent yet diabetic-friendly dessert conjured from antioxidant-rich berries and cocoa powder, dates, nuts, coconut, cocoa butter and natural sweetener honey.
Please find the recipe here: Berry And Chocolate Mousse