Food & Cuisine

Top 10 Indian Sweets (Mithai) Everyone Loves

From festival thalis to wedding feasts, Indian sweets (mithai) are the heart of every celebration. These iconic Indian sweets span deep-fried syrupy classics, milk-rich barfis and regional royal specialities loved across the country. Here are the top 10 Indian mithai everyone loves, ranked by popularity, iconic status and timeless flavour in 2026.

1

Gulab Jamun
Pan-India

Often called the king of Indian sweets, gulab jamun is the most ordered dessert in Indian restaurants by a wide margin. Soft deep-fried khoya (milk-solid) balls are soaked in warm rose- and cardamom-scented sugar syrup until melt-in-the-mouth tender. It is the undisputed favourite at weddings, festivals and family functions across India.

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Photo: Sapra5379 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
2

Jalebi
North India

Jalebi is the most recognised fried Indian sweet, made by piping fermented maida batter into hot oil in bright orange spirals, then soaking them in sugar syrup. Crisp, juicy and sticky, it is a beloved street-food breakfast, often paired with rabri or hot milk. Crunchy on the outside and syrup-filled inside, it is a festive and winter staple.

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Photo: Gpkp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
3

Rasgulla
West Bengal / Odisha

Originating in eastern India, rasgulla is a soft, spongy ball of chhena (fresh cottage cheese) cooked in light sugar syrup. Its airy texture and refreshing, mild sweetness have made it one of the most loved Indian desserts internationally. West Bengal and Odisha have both claimed its origin, and it even carries a GI tag.

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Photo: HrichikHv · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
4

Kaju Katli
Premium / Pan-India

Kaju katli is considered the most premium of all Indian mithai, made from finely ground cashews, sugar and ghee. The smooth, diamond-shaped slices are often topped with edible silver leaf (vark) and are the go-to gift box during Diwali and weddings. Its delicate, melt-in-the-mouth texture makes it a crowd favourite.

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Photo: najeeb shaik · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
5

Gajar Ka Halwa
North India

A winter favourite that evokes instant warmth and nostalgia, gajar ka halwa is made by slow-cooking grated carrots with milk, ghee, sugar and dry fruits. This creamy, rich dessert is a cornerstone of North Indian cuisine, served hot during festivals and cold evenings. Best enjoyed fresh with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Photo: AmanAgrahari01 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
6

Rasmalai
West Bengal

Rasmalai features flattened chhena patties soaked in thickened, sweetened saffron-and-cardamom milk, garnished with chopped pistachios and almonds. Soft, spongy and luxuriously creamy, it is a festive showstopper that combines the lightness of rasgulla with rich rabri. It remains one of the most ordered Bengali desserts in restaurants worldwide.

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Photo: Shaharbano · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
7

Ladoo (Besan / Motichoor)
Pan-India

The round ladoo is India's most auspicious sweet, offered first at temples and celebrations as a symbol of good fortune. Popular varieties include besan ladoo, made from roasted gram flour and ghee, and motichoor ladoo, formed from tiny fried boondi pearls bound in syrup. No festival or wedding is complete without a box of ladoos.

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Photo: Nandhinikandhasamy · Wikipedia/Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
8

Soan Papdi
Pan-India

Soan papdi is a flaky, cube-shaped sweet with a light, layered, cotton-candy-like texture made from gram flour, ghee and sugar. Flavoured with cardamom and garnished with pistachios and almonds, it is one of the most widely gifted mithai during Diwali. Its crumbly melt-in-the-mouth bite makes it instantly recognisable.

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Photo: Neil.loamas · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
9

Mysore Pak
Karnataka

Mysore pak is a famous South Indian sweet that originated in the royal kitchens of the Mysore Palace. Made from gram flour, ghee and sugar, it has a rich, buttery flavour and a crumbly, porous texture that melts on the tongue. It is a signature offering during Diwali and South Indian weddings.

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Photo: Charles Haynes · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
10

Peda
Mathura / North India

Peda is a soft, fudge-like sweet made from thickened khoya, sugar and cardamom, shaped into small flattened discs. The famous Mathura peda is closely tied to Lord Krishna temple offerings and pilgrimage towns. Its rich milky taste and long shelf life make it a popular prasad and gifting sweet across India.

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Photo: Prashant Sahu · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0