Chocolate modak made with just 4 ingredients – mawa, sugar, cocoa and very little ghee for greasing. These chocolate modak are a super delicious treat for kids and grownups alike. They taste like the real milk chocolate because they are made with milk solids, known as mawa. Steamed modak with coconut jaggery stuffing, are the traditional dumplings made during the Hindu festival, Ganesh Chaturthi. These chocolate modak are a variation of the traditional version but made in a completely different way.
Chocolate modak
Rich tasting, delicious with deep flavors of chocolate make these chocolate modak an excellent treat for the festive season. They can be made in numerous ways. The idea is to make the dumplings chocolate flavored by either using cocoa, cacao or chocolate.
Over the years I have tried making these chocolate modak in different ways with biscuit crumbs, milk powder, flour, chocolate etc. But my kids love this one with mawa and cocoa powder for the rich and intense deep chocolate flavor.
Mawa also known as khoya, koa is milk solids which is got after cooking down the milk until all of the liquid is reduced to solids. This is used in various kinds of sweet preparations like Gulab jamun, ladoos and burfi.
It can be made at home but is labor intensive so most of us use the store bought mawa which is available in Indian stores. I have used the store bought mawa for this recipe.
Making these chocolate modak is very easy and can be made even by beginners. You just need to melt the mawa and cook it with sugar. Then mix in the cocoa powder and cool it. Then shape small portions of the mixture to modaks using a mold.
If you do not have a mould then simply roll to chocolate balls or you may shape it to modak with your hands. Use a small to medium sized mould to make these. I used a very big mould, so got very big ones.
I haven’t stuffed anything in the modak, but you may stuff chopped nuts if you prefer.
More recipes for the festive season – Vinayaka Chavithi Recipes and Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes
How to make chocolate modak
1. I have used about 3 ½ cups grated mawa and this weighs about 320 grams. If you want to make a small batch you may halve the recipe. Grate or crumble mawa. Use mawa that has come to room temperature. Do not heat up mawa that is very cold from the freezer, this sometimes may impart a bitter taste.
2. Add 1 cup sugar. If you have brown sugar, use it. It enhances the flavor of chocolate / cocoa. I used 2 tbsps more as we love these on the sweeter side. If you use white sugar the color of your modak may not be the same as mine. So add more cocoa powder later.
3. Mix together and begin to melt on a low heat.
4. Keep stirring consistently. If you have used white sugar the color of your mixture will be white.
5. When the mawa and sugar begins to melt, the entire mixture turns gooey. Add 1 tsp ghee at this moment. This is to prevent the mixture from sticking up to the pan.
6. Continue stirring and cooking.
7. The mixture thickens and leaves the sides of the pan. At this stage you can also check by taking little mixture and roiling to a ball. It will be very hot be careful. Then add 2 ½ tablespoons cocoa in 2 batches. Stir well to prevent lumps. If you have used white sugar you may need to add more cocoa to get the deep color as mine.
8. Switch off the stove.
Shaping
9. Cool it a bit. This takes some time to cool down.
10. When the mixture is warm to slightly hot, grease your palm and knead it well for about 2 minutes. This helps to make the mixture smooth and glossy.
11. Grease the mould and stuff in small portions of this mixture. You can also stuff some nuts or chocolate chips in the center.
12. Remove from mould.
Arrange chocolate modak in a serving tray. These keep good at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.
You may like to check these modak recipes
Steamed modak
Rava modak
Sesame modak
Fried modak
Dry fruits modak
Recipe card
Chocolate modak
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 3 ½ cups mawa grated, about 320 grams
- 1 cup sugar (+ 2tbsp sugar optional)(brown sugar tastes best)
- 2½ tablespoons cocoa powder (use good quality, more if using white sugar)
- 1 tablespoon ghee or any fats for greasing
Instructions
- Grate mawa. Grease your pan and begin to heat mawa and sugar on a low to medium flame. Both begin to melt and the mixture turns gooey.
- Keep stirring and continue to cook until the mixture thickens. This may take about 5 to 8 mins depending on the thickness of your pan and the intensity of the flame.
- Add 1 tsp ghee and stir well. You will begin to see the mixture leaving the sides of the pan.
- Add cocoa powder and stir very well until both are combined.
- Switch off the heat and transfer to a plate. Cool this completely before we mould to chocolate modak.
- When the mixture is warm begin to knead it until it turns glossy and uniform. This take just about 2 mins or even lesser. The mixture at this stage should not be sticky and must hold shape well.
- Grease the mold with ghee and stuff a generous amount of the mixture to the mould. Press it very well and open the mould.
- Remove the chocolate modak and place it on a plate.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Chocolate modak recipe first published in September 2016. Updated and republished in September 2021.
Wonderful recipe, thank you! Could you please advise me how I might make modak that is white on the outside with a tender chocolate filling inside?
Thank you again so much for sharing your knowledge!!
Hi Erin,
I have the white modak recipe here. Just make the dough for outer covering and skip making the stuffing. Place a few frozen pieces of chocolate inside the modak and follow the recipe. Hope this helps.
Nice recipe… Can you stuff it with peanut butter? And what else can you use to mold? Would a silicone mat work?
Thank you!
I don’t think so. I have a similar recipe. You can check it here modak recipe. I also have a dry fruit and nut stuffed one here – dry fruits modak
Awesome thanks senju parthean supera vandhadu explanation super thank you mam
Hi can you pls tell me sugar in grams?.
It will be around 200 grams
Yum
Hi..it looks really yummy. For ow many days we can store it in normal room temperature? I am going to try this..plz reply asap
Hi Pradeepa,
Thank you. Most mawa sold in the market has preservatives added to them so they keep good for anywhere from 3 to 4 days at room temperature. But again it may depend on the brand. If refrigerated they stay good for 2 to 3 weeks.