This year, the festival of colors will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, with Holika Dahan (Choti Holi) being observed on Tuesday, March 3rd. Whether you are hosting a grand festive get-together or keeping it simple with family, I have put together my absolute favorite pure, Indian vegetarian Holi recipes to make your meal planning effortless. From classic North Indian staples like crispy Gujiyas and refreshing Thandai to some of our beloved South Indian festive snacks, this menu has something for everyone’s taste buds.
Browse through the recipes below, pick your favorites, and plan your cooking ahead of time. Let’s make this colorful day perfectly delicious!
1. Traditional Gujiya / Karanji
No Holi is complete without Gujiya! These crisp, flaky pastries stuffed with sweet khoya and dry fruits are an absolute crowd-pleaser. Make them a day ahead and store them in an airtight container.
👉[Get the Gujiya Recipe Here]
2. Homemade Thandai (Spiced Milk)
Cool down after playing with colors with a refreshing glass of Thandai. My homemade Thandai masala powder is packed with nuts, rose petals, and mild spices for that authentic festive flavor.
👉[Get the Thandai Recipe Here]
3. Soft & Fluffy Malpua
These Indian-style sweet pancakes soaked in sugar syrup melt right in your mouth. Serve them warm with a dollop of Rabdi for the ultimate festive dessert.
👉[Get the Malpua Recipe Here]
4. Instant Rava Ladoo (Sooji Ladoo)
Short on time? These foolproof Rava Ladoos take just 15 minutes to make. They are perfect for gifting to neighbors and friends who visit during the festival.
👉[Get the Rava Ladoo Recipe Here]
5. Crispy Punjabi Samosa
No festive gathering is complete without a plate of hot, flaky samosas! Stuffed with a perfectly spiced potato and green peas filling, these pair beautifully with sweet tamarind chutney and a warm cup of chai after a fun morning of playing with colors.
👉 [Get the Punjabi Samosa Recipe Here]
Holi Sweets recipes
Here is the list of Holi festival sweets recipes. Most of the people make some easy and simple sweets like Gujiya, Malpua, ladoo and Halwa recipes on this day.
DIY – HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK IN 3 WAYS
- Gujiya ( a must try sweet for holi festival)
- Malpua ( A must try for Holi)
- Sooji/Rava ladoo
- Coconut ladoo
- Moong dal ladoo
- Paneer ladoo
- Easy coconut ladoo
- Millet ladoo
- Besan ladoo
- Poha Laddoo
- Peanut ladoo
- Atta Ladoo
- Bread Halwa
- Easy atta halwa
- Lauki Halwa
- Corn Flour Halwa
- Bombay Karachi halwa
- Carrot halwa
- Badam Halwa
- Sooji ka halwa
- Bread rasmalai
- Easy Rasmalai recipe
- MTR gulab jamun
- Gulab jamun using milk powder
- Khoya Gulab Jamun
- Dates Nuts Roll
- Puran Poli
- Butter badusha
- Sukhdi/Gud papdi
- Maida biscuit
- Kaju pista roll
- Easy cashew almond burfi
- Easy maida burfi
- Chocolate burfi
- Coconut burfi
- Kaju katli
- Kaju lotus
- Sweet samosa (without khoya)
- Suryakala,Chandrakala
- Shahi tukda/shahi tukra
- Basundi
- 3 minutes microwave mysorepak
- Homemade chocolates recipe
Check THIS LINK for Cakes & Cookies recipes
Holi Snacks recipes
Check out some of the easy and interesting Holi snacks recipes list below.
- Whole wheat nankhatai
- Punjabi samosa
- Paneer 65
- Gobi 65
- Baby corn manchurian
- Gobi manchurian
- Vegetable manchurian
- Paneer Tikka
- Paneer cutlet
- Chilli paneer
- Low fat chivda/Cornflour mixture
- Cabbage vada
- Mixed vegetable vada
- Masala vada
- Pepper vada
- Urad dal vada
- Dabeli
- Vada Pav
- Pav sandwich
- Pav bhaji
- Potato pakora
- Hara bara kabab
- Corn cheese balls
- Dahi vada
- Spicy diamond cuts
- Samosa
- Vegetable cutlet
- Bhel puri
Click HERE for more snacks recipes
Drinks and Kheer Recipes
Click THIS POST to view my collection of 20 kheer/payesh recipes. Check out some Easy Holi drinks like Thandai and more.
- Homemade Thandai masala powder
- Thandai/Spiced milk recipe
- Aam panna
- Rose milk
- Bengali chaler payesh
- Punjabi lassi
- Phirni (Instant version)
- Fine vermicelli kheer
- Sago kheer
- Badam kheer
- Vermicelli kheer
- Sooji kheer/Rava payasam
- Coconut kheer
- Paneer Kheer
Desserts
- Fresh fruit cream
- Fruit custard
- Mango ice cream
- Custard powder icecream
- China grass/Agar agar pudding
- Milk kulfi
- Royal falooda
- Chocolate covered strawberries
- Mango sago
- No bake chocolate pinwheels
- Mango lassi
- Rose milk popsicle
Holi Foods / Lunch Menu
Holi FAQ
A: A traditional pure vegetarian Holi menu consists of a cooling drink like Thandai, sweets like Gujiya and Malpua, savory snacks like Dahi Vada and spicy Samosas, followed by a rich lunch thali with Pulao or jeera rice, Paneer and Chole.
A: If you are short on time, recipes like Rava Ladoo, Coconut Burfi, Paneer ladoo, Instant Kalakand and Instant Bread Halwa can be made in under 30 minutes.
A: Yes! Sweets like Gujiya, Ladoos, and Namak Para (diamond cuts) can be made a week in advance and stored in airtight containers.
Catch you all in my next post, Bye for now. Happy Holi !
Awesome collections of recipes dear …Love it :)
nice collections dear.. :) easy to refer..
Lovely collection…