Desserts in Bengal: A Delightful Journey for Every Sweet Lover

Bengal, a region known for its rich cultural heritage and delectable cuisine, holds a special place in the hearts of dessert enthusiasts. With a wide array of sweet delicacies, Bengal offers a tantalizing journey for every sweet lover. From traditional classics to innovative creations, the desserts in Bengal are a testament to the region’s culinary mastery and the love for all things sweet.

1. Mishti Doi

Mishti Doi is one of the most popular desserts in Bengal. Creamy and delicious, made with a blend of thick milk and jaggery this dessert is a must try. The delicate sweetness of this elegant dish makes it a quintessential dessert and you will want to keep coming back for more.

2. Roshogulla And Rajbhog

A sweet which is extremely popular not only in West Bengal but also the entite country is the Roshogulla. This soft round sweet is made out of Chenna, dipped into sugary syrup and is a delight. Its close cousin the Rajbhog is also a famed sweet, with a delicious stuffing of dry fruits, saffron and cardamon.

3. Rasmalai

Made of sugary Chenna balls soaked in Malai with a dish of cinnamon, Rasmalai is quite a delectable delight. Cooked in an aromatic concoction of sugar syrup, milk, saffron, pistachios and kheer it’s a  Bengali sweet you must not miss.

4. Shondesh

Made with condensed milk, sugar or jaggery, Shondesh is a dry Bengali sweet that can be molded in various shapes and sizes.  Shondesh is known to have many variants but the one which we would recommend is the Nolen Gurer Shondesh, made with a special kind of jaggery and it’s known to be more delicious.

5. Chom – Chom

This Bengali dessert is a hard miss in the list of must-try desserts. Oval- shaped and coated in flaked  coconuts made with chenna, koya, nuts, and cardoman it’s a quintessential sweet in many Bengali households.

6. Pantua

Pantua is the cousin of the Gulab jamun. Served on a bed of sugary syrup the darker the balls gets the tastier it is known to be. It is made with a combination of milk, sooji, khoya maida, sugar and ghee.

7. Pati Shapta Pitha

Bengal introduces us with a twist to the French crepe with the Pati shapta. This sweet crepe is made with Sooji, rice flour & maida stuffed with coconut, jaggery and dry fruits. It’s a must-have during festivals and celebrations in Bengal. This is one of the most famous desserts in Bengal.

8. Chanar Jalepi

Chanar Jalepi allows traditional jalebi to experience an exciting variant. Made with chenna khoya and flour this Bengali sweet is best enjoyed when served warm.

9. Shor Bhaja

A complex dessert made from collecting the cream of boiling milk which is made into squares and then deep fried, Shor Baja makes a lip-smacking dessert. Not known enough outside the Bengali community this is a must try dessert. It’s served with warm syrup which will elevate your taste buds.  

10. Chandrapulli

If you wish to satisfy the sweetest of your cravings Chandrapulli should be your top pick among the list of Bengali sweets. A known contender among the sweetest of sweets it is made from cottage cheese, mawa coconut and jaggery. Chandrapulli is one of the desserts in Bengal and is quite popular during the festival of Durga Puja.

11. Kalo Jam

Shaped into little spheres, these deep-fried dumplings are considered delicious by most. This is a simpler dish and is made at most Bengali households.

12. Payesh & Nolen Gurer Payesh

Payesh is Bengal’s equivalent of kheer. Made from rice and milk Payesh is a Bengali sweet popular throughout the year. Another variant made from Nolem Gur, a type of jaggery is popular during winters.

13. Mihidana

Mihidana is a grainer version of the well know Boondi. Made from powdered rice, flour and saffron blended in water which is passed through a thin sieve and deep fried.  Soaked in sugar syrup these are like tiny blasts of flavor in your mouth.

14. Kheer Kadam

Kheer Kadam is the epitome of the saying “best of both worlds”. This exotic sweet tastes like a Roshogulla wrapped in a Sandesh. The double layered dessert packs a punch making it a definite must try from the array of Bengali sweets.

15. Nikuti

When Chenna, flour, ghee is kneading together into oblong balls and deep fried, the sweet Nikuti is born. These are immersed in chilled condensed milk making them a delightful summer treat. 

16. Joynogor –er-Moa

A delicious concoction of jaggery, puffed rice and ghee shaped in a ball, Moa is perhaps one of the tastiest Bengali sweets one must try. The recipe originated in Joynagar and is enjoyed by Bengalis in winter.  DOn’t call yourself a dessert lover if you haven’t tasted this desserts in bengal.

17. Langcha

Also, know as Lady Kenny, Langcha’s are a version of the Pantua which are stuffed with raisin and coated with powdered sugar. These are known to be Lady Charollette’s favorite’s sweet from Bengal, these are named after her. This is one of the best desserts in Bengal. Please try this.

From their exquisite designs to their delectable taste, Bengali sweets are known to be a heroine in their cuisine. As you can see the area has a wide variety of sweet meats to offer. So next time don’t dive into the well- know Roshogulla but explore the vast variety of sweets offered and take your taste buds on an exciting journey.