Healthy Diwali Treats: Big on Flavor, Low on Guilt!

Diwali is all about lights, love, and loads of food. But let’s be honest—we all want to indulge without feeling guilty later, right? You don’t have to choose between tasty and healthy. Here’s a list of easy, guilt-free Diwali treats that’ll satisfy your cravings without overloading on oil, sugar or calories.

Ready to dig in?

1. Baked Mathri

Love the crunch of mathris but not the deep-frying? These baked mathris are just as crispy without the guilt. Enjoy them with your evening tea.

Baked Mathri Recipe by Darshana Patel
Who doesn’t love Mathri?? I love traditional made Mathri but I tried different way
Baked Crispy Crunchy Cheesy Spicy Matri Crackers Recipe by Rumana Irfan
#Cookpad_India This snack recipe is a fusion of crackers and salty matri which is baked and flavourful.

👉 More 'Baked Mathri' Recipes here

2. Dry Fruit Jaggery Chikki

Packed with crunchy nuts and sweetened with jaggery, this chikki gives you a boost of energy while keeping things natural. Plus, no refined sugar!

Peanut Sesame Seeds Chikki Recipe by Aruna Thapar
#HFS This chikki is made with roasted peanuts, sesame, jaggery, ghee, and a hint of cardamom powder. This delicious treat is so easy, you can make it

👉 More 'Dry Fruit Jaggery Chikki' Recipes here

3. Masala Kaju

Perfect cashews with a touch of spice. You get all the flavor, but none of the oil-soaked regret. It’s the snack you’ll reach for all Diwali long.

Baked /Roasted & Salted Cashews!! Recipe by Anjali Suresh
#GA4 #week5 #cashews A very easy tasty and healthy snacking option during the festive times.
Butter Masala Kaju Dry Fry Recipe by Deepsikha Chakraborty
#diwali This is a party-perfect snack. Quick, easy and soul satisfying.

👉 More 'Roasted Masala Kaju' Recipes here

4. Grilled Paneer Tikka

Enjoy the smoky flavors of grilled paneer tikka—spiced and marinated to perfection, it’s a treat that’s both healthy and satisfying!

Grilled Paneer Tikka Recipe by Bethica Das
#reststyle - These healthy and yummy grilled paneer tikkas are very easy to make. Enjoy these restaurant style tikkas with some green chutney, sauce or mayo if you wish. These juicy paneer and the veggies accompanying them are just out of this world. To get the smoky, chargrilled effect, just grill …

👉 More 'Grilled Paneer Tikka' Recipes here

5. Baked Samosa

Yes, you can enjoy samosas guilt-free! These baked versions are crispy on the outside and filled with all the goodness you love—just minus the frying.

Baked Paneer Matar Samosa Recipe by Swati
#week3of5 Samosas have been around for almost a thousand years now, yes that’s the legacy of this yummy snack. It originated somewhere in the Middle East with triangular meat stuffed pastry being deep fried and served as a snack to the men of the house before dinner. In India samosas are usually veg…

👉 More 'Baked Samosa Recipes here

6. Air-fried Samosa

If you love gadgets, try these air-fried samosas. They’re just as crunchy and delicious as the deep-fried ones, but much lighter.

Designer airfried Rajma Samosa Recipe by Shruti Raman( legendet100)
#goldenapron3 Post 1 #indianstreet #ind4

👉 More 'Air-fried Samosa' Recipes here

7. Baked Chakli

Chakli is a Diwali must, but baking it cuts down the calories big time. You’ll still get that satisfying crunch!

Baked daal chakli Recipe by Jaya Sherekar
#boxweek8 This is very healthy and tasty chakli with high protein and

👉 More 'Baked Chakli' Recipes here

8. Baked Gujiya

Gujiya without the heavy oil? Yes, please! These baked beauties are stuffed with sweetened cocoa and khoya without all the frying- what else do we need!

Baked Chocolate Gujiya Patties Recipe by ayndrila dutta
#thc #thcweek19 #Holi2022 Holi festival is incomplete without Gujiya and this Holi I made a healthy version of this delectable sweet with chocolate Thandai powder stuffing. Check out my recipe stepwise and recreate in your kitchen

👉 More 'Baked Gujiya' Recipes here

9. Roasted Makhana Chivda

Makhana (fox nuts) are super nutritious and make for a light, crispy chivda. You’ll love how simple, with less oil and satisfying it is.

Makhana chiwda Recipe by Anjali Valecha
#GA4 #week13 #makhana A tasty treat for everyone’s taste buds for the munching times. Do make it and store and enjoy it anytime of the day..

👉 More 'Roasted Makhana Chivda' Recipes here

10. Baked Nankhatai

These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are made even better by baking instead of frying. They’re still buttery and crumbly, just a bit healthier!

Rich in Healthy Fats Almond nankhatai Recipe by DrPushpa Dixit
#hf #ghee #almonds This festive season I decided to make sweets from scratch at home and with lots of brainstorming I decided to try my hands on my favourite sweet which is obviously cookies but giving it an indian twist and making nankhatai! I soundly believe that a good Nankhatai biscuit should be…

👉 More 'Baked Nankhatai' Recipes here

11. Millet-based Pulao

For something more filling, try millet pulao. Millets are packed with fiber and nutrients, making this dish hearty and wholesome.

Bajra Pulav (Pearl millet Pulav) Recipe by Deepa Rupani
#Jan #w1 #win #week6 #cookpadindia Pearl millet , commonly known as Bajra/bajri is one of the widely grown Millet. Since the pre-historic time this millet is grown in Africa and Indian sub-continent. Pearl millet is very nutritious millet packed with Carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and antioxidant…
Proso Millet Pulav Recipe by Manisha Sampat
#Proso_Millet_Pulav #goldenapron23 #Week6 #Post2 #Proso_Millet #Pressure_Cooker_Pulav #Cookpad #Cookpadindia #Cookpadenglish #Cooksnap #Manisha_PureVeg_Treasure #LoveToCook_ServeWithLove

👉 More 'Millet Pulao' Recipes here

12. Sugar-free Almond Barfi

Craving something sweet but want to skip the sugar? This sugar-free almond barfi gives you all the richness without the sugar crash.

Dates Dryfruits Burfi Recipe by renu bhasin
#GCS #Burfi These healthy pieces of burfi make your day. It also satisfied your mouth taste & body’s requirements. No sugar or any artificial ingredient. Best combination for occasion of ganesh festival.

👉 More 'Sugar-free Almond Barfi' Recipes here

13. Oats Chivda

Chivda made with oats? You bet! It’s crunchy, light and full of fiber with oats, pumpkin seeds, melon seeds and nuts to keep you satisfied without feeling heavy.

Oats chivda Recipe by Janahvi Kulkarni
#diwali2020 Giving Indian twist to oats, diwali healthy snack recipe.

👉 More 'Oats Chivda' Recipes here

14. Ragi and Dates Laddu

These laddus combine the goodness of ragi (finger millet) and dates, offering a sweet, energy-boosting treat that’s good for your bones and your waistline.

Nachni (ragi) ladoo Recipe by Surekha Dongargaonkar
Great recipe for Nachni (ragi) ladoo.

👉 More 'Ragi and Dates Laddu' Recipes here

15. Less Oil Dahi Bhalle

Who doesn’t love dahi bhalle? This version uses less oil, so you can still enjoy that tangy, creamy goodness without overdoing it.

Soft And Spongy Dahi Bhalle In Appam Or Paniyaram Pan 2 Tbsp Oil Recipe Recipe by Rumana Irfan
#Cookpad_India So soft, spongy and yummy dahi bhalle that too non fried. Almost a 2 tbsp oil dahi bhalle or dahi vade in appe or appam or Paniyaram pan.

👉 More 'less oil dahi bhalle' Recipes here


With these healthy alternatives, you can enjoy all the deliciousness of Diwali without worrying about the post-festival sluggishness. Whether you’re baking, air-frying, or cutting down on sugar, there’s a way to treat yourself and feel good about it.

Ready to try these recipes?

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Make this Diwali big on flavor, but guilt-free!