Dry fruit laddu recipe – Delicious, healthy and super quick to make energy balls. These dry fruit ladoos are great for anyone looking for healthy & nutrient dense snack. Ladoos of any kind are a favorite with my kids. So I put in some effort every week to make something quick and easy. I make dry fruit laddu very often for the mid morning snack.
To make dry fruit laddu there are no particular measurements or method to follow. Just make them the way it is convenient, quick and easy for you. In this post I have shared 2 ways to make them.
Method 1 – The quickest method is to just chop the nuts and dry fruits with a knife. Knead the dates and figs well, just add the chopped nuts and roll to balls. But to follow this method, the dates and figs need to be really very soft. If you are accessible to medjool dates and figs that are not pressed then you can follow this method.
I make it this way when I am making just 4 to 5 ladoos to finish up on the same day. This method is good when you just have to make 4 to 6 ladoos.
More Ladoo recipes
Rava ladoo
Coconut ladoo
Besan ladoo
Method 2
Preparation
1. On a medium flame dry roast almonds and cashews until slightly aromatic.
2. Add pistas and toast for another 2 to 3 mins.
3. When they turn slightly golden, remove to a plate. Towards the end of roasting the almonds turn light and are easy to blend.
4. Turn off the stove and spread dates, apricots and figs in the hot pan. Please check them first for larvae or worms and deseed the dates. I used unsulphured apricots so they are discolored.
5. When they become slightly hot, turn them to the other side as well. This is just done for shelf life. Avoid roasting them for long as there will be loss of nutrition.
6. Cool all these. If using seeds, toast them in the same pan until aromatic. Set them aside.
7. I never chop the nuts or dry fruits before adding to blender. But if you do not have a blender that is strong enough then it is good to chop them. Open up the cashews and check. If you have a food processor you can also use it. I prefer my steel jars for this.
How to make dry fruit laddu
8. I usually add the dates, apricots, figs and pistachios first. Blend them in short intervals to a coarse mixture. If you have teething kids at home, then blend well. Remove the mixture to a plate.
9. Add almonds and cashews.
10. Pulse them a few times. I make a fine powder if my kid is teething.
11. Remove to a plate and add the seeds as well if using.
12. Mix up well.
13. Divide the mixture to 10 to 12 portions. Gently roll to balls.
If making for kids
I further divide each ball to 5 portions for my younger kid when I pack in the school box. These ladoos are difficult to bite into for teething kids. So small portions are easier for them to enjoy.
Store the dry fruit laddu in air tight jar.
Related Recipes
Dry fruit laddu
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- ¼ cup cashews or kaju
- ¼ cup almonds or badam
- ¼ cup pista or walnuts
- 7 to 10 dates or use more if needed
- 6 to 8 dried apricots
- 3 to 5 dried figs or anjeer
optional ingredients
- 2 tbp dried coconut or copra
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
- 1 to 2 tbsps sesame seeds or any other seeds
Instructions
Preparation for dry fruit laddu
- On a medium heat dry roast almonds and cashews until slightly aromatic. Add pistas and fry for another 2 mins. Turn off the stove. You can also do this in oven. Dry roast nuts in microwave for 1 minute on high.
- Remove to a plate to cool. Add dates, apricots and figs to the hot pan and just stir them until slightly hot. This is done for shelf life. You can also skip this to prevent slight loss of nutrition.
- If using seeds, toast them until they turn aromatic. Set these aside.
- When all of them cool down. Add dates, apricots and figs to a blender along with pistachios. Blend them to a slightly coarse mixture. Pieces of pista in the mixture is just fine. Please use steel or glass blender jars. You can also use a food processor.
- Remove to a plate and add the cashews and almonds. Pulse them a few times to get coarse mixture. If your blender doesn’t have sharp blades then it is good to chop and add them.
How to make dry fruit ladoo
- Remove the entire blended mixture to a plate. If using seeds add them now and just knead or mix well.
- Divide the mixture to 12 portions and roll to balls. Do not roll them too tight as the ladoo will turn hard. Gently shape them.
- For garnishing – roll them in fine chopped pistachios or desiccated coconut or toasted poppy seeds or sesame seeds.
- Store dry fruit laddu in airtight jar.
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
Can I use salted pistachios? Would it taste too bad?
No! Not salted one. Skip them or replace with any other nuts
Hi Swathi,
I really love the instructions you give to life long amateur cooks like me as I don’t like cooking. I am very thankful to you. I have shared ur recipes with my frds too. May god bless you and ur family with happiness:)
Can a 1 year old digest these laddos?
Regards
Sravya
Hi Sravya,
You are most welcome! Glad to know! Thank you so much for the wishes.
No these are hard to digest for a 1 year old. But it’s just fine to give a little when you are baby sitting. Soak the nuts overnight, rinse, blend to smooth with little water and add to whatever homemade baby food you are giving. Hope this helps
Thanks a lot Swasthi for the detailed reply. From which age can I give these laddos?.
I really like your ayurveda knowledge too.
Can you make a post on cookware you are using as everyone are saying not to use aluminium or nonstick cookware, also not even pressure cooker as food nutrients are lost to a major extent.
Welcome Sravya
You can give ladoos with jaggery after 10 months but in very small quantities. You want to give a full ladoo like for a snack it’s good to wait till 15 months or so. I don’t have a separate post on cookware but can help you choose. Look for 18/8 or 18/10 grade stainless heavy bottom pans, cookers and pots from good brands like Kitchenaid or WMF. But without pressure cookers life is so hard and not sure if it is true because I read it the other way that pressure cooked food retains all the nutrients. Without non-stick we can’t cook some foods so minimize and use only when needed. Hope this helps
Thanks a lot Swasthi..its very informative 🙂
Hi
Can I add pumpkin seeds to it .
If yes then what should be the quantity .
Hi,
You can use 3 to 4 tbsps. You can also add more if you like the flavor. I toast them and crush with the nuts. Hope this helps
Do the laddoos stay soft after few days of making?
Hi Sujana
They won’t harden because there is no sugar syrup used. But I think colder temperatures can harden. I keep them at room temperature -around 21 to 25 C. So they keep good. Teething kids won’t be able to eat these since they are dense & not light. If you want softer ladoos, use jaggery.
Hi!
I’m a big fan of your recipes.
If I do not get figs and apricots, can I substitute with more dates and raisins? Please let me know.
Thank you ?
Hi Vinaya,
Thank you! Yes you can use as many dates & raisins as needed to bind the mixture.
My son doesn’t eat dry fruits so I tried this recipe and it turned out awesome ?..
My son loved these laddus and couldn’t even recognise the ingredients in it . Thank u ?
Just one question as there is not much sweetness in it can I add jaggery to it
Hi Riddhi,
You are welcome! Glad to know they turned out good. Yes you can add more jaggery or even dates. With more dates the ladoos will turn out dense and kids usually don’t like if they are sticky and dense so jaggery should be fine. Thanks for sending the picture. They turned out good.
🙂
I have tried a few other recipes but mine wasn’t what I was expecting. This one is a super hit with my family!!
Everyone loves it and the instructions were perfect.
Incase anyone is wondering I used a ninja food processor and all the ingredients mixed perfectly. It came out in a ball and I just had to make the sizes I want.
Hi Nisha
Glad to know the recipe worked out well. Thanks for sending the picture. They look awesome.
Appreciate the comment.
🙂
Hi swasthi,
Can we make this laddoo for 1 year old baby?
Hi Bhavyashree
Dates and figs turn out to be very sticky and dense. Most 1 year old babies will not be able to chew and swallow it. You can try with a small quantity and please monitor. You may try these other ladoos as they turn out softer
ragi ladoo
badam ladoo. You can use a mix of any nuts you have already tried. Hope this helps.
Hii
What to do if laddu doesn’t roll, i made it but all sepreted, can you please give me suggestion
Thanks
Hi Nikki,
Put small portions of this in the blender and run the machine again. I am sure you can make good ladoos. Here are the reasons for the mixture to turn out dry:
1.Quantity of nuts more than mentioned in the recipe or quantity of dates & fig less than mentioned in the recipe.
2. Dates and figs being too dry. I use medool dates which are extremely soft & moist.
3. Dates and figs not blended enough.
Hope these help you too fix & make them good next time.
Please tell what’s the shelf life of these ladies at room temperature.
Hi Chaitali,
They usually keep good for about 3 weeks if handled carefully. But sometimes too hot & humid weather can make them taste sour. I guess the dry fruits begin to ferment.You can try keeping in separate jars like just good enough for a week. Then open the next jar. Shelf life depends on the weather conditions.Hope this helps
U r too awesome swasthi. I find it recipes authentic and yummy. Easy methods of cooking and well explained!!!
Thank you so much Sayani
Thanks for answering my queries…Which kind of fig u use..Is it easily available..bcoz I ask for figs so shopkeeper gives the pressed figs
Welcome Arpita,
They are just naturally dried figs that are sun dried and are not chemically treated. Pressed figs are processed for shelf life unless labelled clearly as “natural or unprocessed or no preservatives”. The figs I buy are easily available here in Singapore but have a limited shelf life of 1 to 2 months if stored at room temperature. So I store them at an ideal temperature between 15 to 25 C. Other temps either ferment them or inhibit fungus. They turn hard if refrigerated. If you don’t get the unprocessed ones, then just skip using and enjoy fresh ones during the season.
🙂
I make these laddoos..but I have to soak figs..without soaking figs when I grinded my mixer got some problem so I want to ask which company mixer r u using…and my second query is that in ur one recipe u said that skin of almond is not good for digestion..so if I give these laddoos to my kids continuously so is it ok or I should blanch almonds
Hi Arpita
I use ultra mixer, preeti steele mixer and national panosonic old model. I never had a problem with blending the nuts, figs or dates as well. Are you using pressed figs? They are very hard and can damage the blades as you said. The figs I use are soft and not hard.
Yes most times I blanch the almonds and use for my kids. If you are making continuously and your kids are below 6 then it is good to blanch, toast and then use the almonds. Thanks for reading.
🙂
Thanks for answering my queries…Which kind of fig u use..Is it easily available..bcoz I ask for figs so shopkeeper gives the pressed figs
It look so amazing and delicious. I cannot wait to try this at home. Great Job!!!
Thanks Alona
Breakfast recipes nd dinner recipes for my baby
I want some lunch recipes for my kid he s 3yrs old
If your kid can eat variety rice items, check this post on kids lunch recipes. If he is still eating soft foods, then try the recipes linked in from this food chart post. Hope this helps.
I tried badam milk powder in home really it’s too good my kid like very much everyday he is drinking milk due to dizziness powder thnk u so much
Hi Ramya,
Glad to know your kid loved it.
how prepaire badam milk power please tel me i have 2years baby boy
Pushpa you can check this link on how to make badam milk powder. You can give these ladoos to your 2 year old boy
U have not given quantity of jaggery. Like 1/2 kg or 250 gms. Pls let us know the quantity of it.
very very nice,i made one kg, two times, very tasty
thanks Aruna
Made this with 250 grams nuts, it tasted very delicious and nothing were left by evening. Surely a treat to make for diwali, very different from the raw dry fruits ladoo.
Thank you so much swasthi, learnt deliciousness from you.this is a keeper