Easy 5-ingredient Rose Coconut Ladoo ready in 15 minutes. No sugar syrup or candy thermometer needed. An easy, quick take on classic coconut ladoo with rose flavor.
From Navratri to Karvachauth to Halloween to Diwali...it’s all a blur. Indian festival season begins with a bang and passes by like a bullet train. As much as I love celebrating each and every festival, it gets crazy during this time of year.
Especially when Diwali rolls around. It is my favorite (though Holi is equally dear to me) time of the year, and I love to create all the Indian desserts that remind us of home. My 5-Ingredient Rasgullas, Shahi Tukda and Indian Bread pudding are family favorites. And the other day I was looking at my 3-ingredient coconut ladoo recipe with flavors in my head to give it a new twist for Raksha Bandhan this year. And these Rose Coconut Ladoo were born.
📋 Recipe at a Glance
- 🎯 Difficulty - Easy
- ⏱ Time - 10 minutes cook, 5 minutes cooling (15 minutes total)
- 🌿 Diet - Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, No-Bake
- 🫙 Equipment - Heavy-bottomed or non-stick pan
- 👨👩👧 Servings - 50 bite-size ladoos
- 🌸 Flavor – Coconut and rose
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The 3-ingredient coconut ladoo recipe is just perfect! Super easy, very quick, and absolutely delicious. But I wanted to upgrade the recipe to create something new and more fun. These rose coconut ladoos are pinkish in hue (Little V said they look like salmon balls) and have subtle notes of rose flavor that is iconically connected to beauty, freshness, and sweetness.
Nothing major changes as far as the ingredient list is concerned; the addition of rose syrup and some rose water is all you need for this Rose Coconut Ladoo recipe.
✨Why this recipe works?
- Are gorgeous for your Diwali Mithai Platter
- That pink color though…
- Are super easy to make
- Only 5-ingredients (5th ingredient is actually optional but highly recommended)
📋Recipe Ingredients
- Coconut: You can use desiccated coconut that is sold in most Indian grocery stores or shredded unsweetened coconut from the baking aisle of your grocery store.
- Condensed Milk: Condensed milk is definitely the best kept secret of the Indian Mithai/sweets world. I make several desserts that use this handy shortcut (like this saffron fudge and this instant rabdee). I have seen some homemade condensed milk recipes around, but seriously, use store-bought!
- Rose Syrup: Rose syrup is the key ingredient here. I used Roohafza, which is sold in most Indian stores and is great in milk and lemonade as well. You can also find rose syrup in most liquor stores by the cocktail mixers. If you cannot find rose syrup, grenadine would be a half-hearted replacement, but then rose water becomes an essential in this recipe.
Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients along with the quantities.
👩🍳Steps to make this recipe
Step 1: Start with a heavy bottom pan. If non-stick is your thing, use that. You want a pan that evenly distributes heat and does not burn food. Set it on medium heat on your stove.
Step 2: Crack open the pods of green cardamoms, remove seeds and powder the seeds.
Step 3: Add the coconut to the pan over medium heat. Dry roast the coconut until fragrant (not browned), add condensed milk, cardamom powder, rose syrup and rose water.
Step 4: Mix, cook, cool, form ladoos, and enjoy. I dare you to eat only one!
Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for detailed steps.
If you make these Rose Coconut Ladoos, please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram and Facebook! I love to look through your creations!!
Love – Vaishali
Rose Coconut Ladoo | Quick Indian Dessert
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 c unsweetened shredded coconut 1lb/400g bag, see notes
- 1 can condensed milk 14 oz can
- 2 green cardamoms seeds removed from pods and crushed/powdered
- 2 tablespoon rose syrup for e.g Roohafza or Cortas
- 1 teaspoon rose water optional but recommended
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicone mat, and put some room-temperature water in a bowl.
- Set a heavy-bottomed or non-stick pan on medium-low heat. Add the 4 c unsweetened shredded coconut and dry-roast it until fragrant but not browned.
- While the coconut is roasting, break apart the 2 green cardamoms pods, take the seeds out, and grind the seeds into a powder.
- Add the 1 can condensed milk and cardamom powder to the coconut and mix well. Add the 2 tablespoon rose syrup and 1 teaspoon rose water. Keep stirring until the mixture comes together, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn the heat off and let the mixture cool for 5 minutes or so.
- To form the ladoos, rub your hands with water, take about a tablespoon of coconut mixture and form it into a ball, and lay it on the cookie sheet.
- Repeat till all the coconut mixture is used up. This recipe should make close to 50 bite-size ladoos.
Notes
You can also form the mixture into burfee by pouring the coconut mixture onto a greased baking sheet, spreading it in an even layer. Refrigerate for an hour and then cut into squares. Enjoy!
Meg says
Will frozen shredded coconut from Indian stores work ?
Vaishali says
Hi meg, It will work - though it might take longer time to toast it so that it's not too wet. I hope this helps. Happy cooking!
pedja says
This looks easy-to-make cookie. It looks delicious. I need to try it out sometime. Thanks for sharing!
Vaishali says
Thanks!
Carolyn | The Organic Gypsy says
This looks amazing! That pink colour though! I want some. 🙂 Will have to try it.
Vaishali says
Thanks Carolyn. I agree that the pink is perfect!
Kevin Foodie says
Condensed milk is also the best kept secret in many Jamican dishes 😆. I am big fan of coconut. This reminds me of "coconut cake" in 🇯🇲. This sweet treat is not only delicious but is appealing. Another good recipe Vaishali.
Vaishali says
Thanks, Kevin. I'm glad you like it. Coconut is one of my favorite flavors as well.
Martina says
I have never heard of or tried this recipe before!! I can't wait to try this over the weekend. x Very timely since I ran out of new recipes to try. Thank you very much!
Vaishali says
Ha ha, Martina thanks! We all run out of ideas sometimes!!!
Meghan says
This looks absolutely delicious! I can't wait to try these!!
Vaishali says
Thanks, Meghan. I hope you enjoy these.
Somon says
I love trying new recipes and sweets are my favorite. This looks like it's pretty easy to make so I have to definitely give this a try.
Vaishali says
Thanks, Somon. Yes, an easy dessert recipe is a win win situation.