Coconut Ladoo with Dried Coconut & Condensed Milk

Coconut ladoo with Condensed Milk -Just three ingredients and 10 minutes- Desiccated Coconut, Sweetened Condensed Milk & Cardamom.A perfect dessert for all your festive occasions.

Coconut Ladoos are called Nayrial Laddu in Hindi. This is one dessert that's made across India in many ways.

It is a coconut fudge ball made with Indian flavors. It is a festive dessert, usually made during hindu festivals like Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, and Navratri. They have a shelf life of 1-2 weeks, especially when kept in the refrigerator.

I still remember, about 20 years back, my roommate in college bought huge jars of these handmade Ladoos, or as she called them, Nadu. We have spent quite a few semesters stress-eating these Ladoo before exams!

They are absolutely divine. Soft and melty. Perfect little bombs when you need a quick reminder of home and of course great during festive season.

Once we all went our ways, this was one thing that I missed a lot! Her mom used to add edible camphor to the Ladoos. My mouth still waters 20 years after!

Back to how to make coconut laddoos at home!

It just can't get easier than this 3-ingredient coconut ladoo recipe. You need very little ingredients, skill, and patience. So it's the perfect first dessert for someone new to the kitchen.

However, if you are up for something more challenging, try making my Besan Ladoos. They are made with chickpea flour.

This is by far the easiest Indian dessert you will make. You only need three ingredients - finely shredded coconut, condensed milk, and flavoring.

Not only that, they look so good! Especially if you roll them in some dried coconut. Like fuzzy little white fudges.

Do also try my easy but so nutritious Ragi Laddus. They are chockfull of calcium and Iron!

Why we love making Coconut Laddus with Condensed Milk

Here are all the reasons why this is my favorite Indian sweet!

• It's made with just three ingredients.
• I love love coconut! Coconut Barfi has been my choice of Indian sweet since I was little, and this is a close second!
• It's easy to make at home.
• You can make it for any occasion, change up the flavors, and it looks absolutely smashing!
• You can make it in about 5 minutes in the microwave!

This instant coconut ladoo recipe is the easiest version of coconut Ladoos.

Also, if you love coconut based desserts, you must try making this old-fashioned coconut cake. It's delish!

Ingredients for Nariyal Laddu

Here are the basic ingredients needed

• Desiccated Coconut
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Cardamom

Desiccated Coconut

This is dried, finely shredded coconut. You could make this Ladoo with fresh coconut, but that's much more work. Using desiccated dried coconut increases the shelf life and makes making the Ladoo extremely easy!

Most of the work is already done. Plus, shredded coconut is very easy to find.

The desiccated coconut we are looking at should look like a white husk. If your desiccated coconut is thicker or has larger shreds, blend it into a coarse powder using a food processor or a spice grinder.

Condensed Milk

The best thing that happened to Indian desserts. Condensed milk is also easy to find. This one ingredient gives a very rich taste and cuts down the cooking time to a fraction of what it would be if you used fresh milk.

Cardamom

This is my flavor of choice, especially for Indian desserts. You can use powdered cardamom or flavor drops.

The other way to use cardamom is to open the pod and pound the black seeds inside.

No points for guessing what I do. I chuck the whole pod inside my heavy-duty blender and make a powder. I store the powder for future use. I kid you not. It lasts me years.

How to make Coconut Ladoo with Condensed Milk

The idea is to heat everything together in a frying pan and make balls of it. Really, it's that simple.

Here is a more detailed description

Step 1: Toast the coconut

Use a nonstick pan or a heavy bottom pan to dry roast the coconut. Toast the dried coconut lightly on low heat. It further reduces the water content and releases the essential oils and flavor.

You can also buy pre-roasted coconut instead.

That said, you need to keep a keen eye on the coconut. It burns in literally 2 seconds.

Step 2: Make the Nariyal Ladoo Mixture

Switch off the heat.

Add the condensed milk and cardamom powder to the pan of toasted desiccated coconut. Use a spatula to mix it all up. Watch the video to understand exactly how.

Make sure to mix it well. All of the shredded coconut should be incorporated into the condensed milk.

Step 3: Shape the Coconut Ladoos

Spread the laddo mixture on a plate.

Start this step when the mixture is warm but cool enough to handle.

Use a tablespoon or a small ice cream scoop to portion out equal-sized laddus. I learnt this the hard way when I had five different sizes of Ladoos because I didn't measure while dividing the laddu mixture.

Cup your palm and gently roll the coconut mixture into a Ladoo.

Roll the ball into the dried coconut. I know it seems like an extra step but it does two things.

1. It makes the laddu easier to handle, especially in warm weather. The coconut mixture doesn't stick to the surface or your hands.
2. It looks so good! The fuzzy effect this step gives makes the Ladoo look amazing! Add a few slivers of nuts, and you have a crowd-pleaser at your hands!

Step 4: Decorate

Once you have rolled the Ladoos in the dried coconut, make them look extra spectacular.

Here are some ideas that I love

• Add a sliver of almond on top.
• Press a piece of green pistachio on top
• Add fresh or dried Rose petals. This is my favorite way.
• Top the Ladoos with some crushed chikki.
• Silver film or vark - This is the traditional way of decorating Indian sweets.

How to make Coconut Laddu in the Microwave

Want an even more easier way of making these laddus?

Making these Coconut laddus with condensed milk in the microwave is so easy! I have got you!

Step 1: Heat

Add the dried coconut, Cardamom powder, and condensed milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Give it a mix together.

Microwave for 30 seconds; remove and stir the Ladoo mixture. Repeat till the mixture is evenly heated. About 2-3 minutes.

Caution: Do not heat the mixture in one go. It will burn in the bottom.

Step 2: Roll

Remove the mixture from the microwave. Let it cool down enough to handle.

Apply coconut oil or little ghee to your hands so the mixture doesn't stick to them.

Using your hands, form ladoos into equal-sized round balls.

Roll it in dried coconut. Top with your favorite nut, and that's it!

Your delicious coconut ladoo is ready!

Important Notes

Here are some things about laddus that I think it's important to know

• These condensed milk laddus will harden as they cool down. They will still be soft and bite-able, but the shape will solidify once they sit for a bit.
• Rolling them in dry coconut helps them keep their shape and not be sticky. So don't skip this step. This also makes the laddus look like gorgeous fuzzy little balls!
• You can keep the laddus in a small cupcake liner. It not only looks great, but it also makes it easy to serve and eat.
• Fresh coconut ladoo- to make laddo with freshly grated coconut, you will need to dry toast the coconut for a longer time, till it's golden brown and then proceed with the same recipe.

More Flavors of Coconut Laddu

Once you master the basic laddu recipe, you can do so much with this recipe. Here are some quick flavor options off the top of my head

• Rose Coconut Ladoo- Add a dash of rose syrup, rose extract, or gulkand. Use the recipe as it is. Decorate with dried rose petals.
• Paan - Add paan flavor extract. Top the Ladoos with crushed Chikki
• Nutty - Add a mixture of crushed nuts in the Ladoo mixture.
• Coconut Til Ladoo
• Coconut Rava Ladoo
• Add edible Camphor
• Caramel
• Chocolate
• Nuts - like toasted hazelnut stuffed inside the laddu

Storing Condensed Milk Coconut Ladoo

Coconut Ladoos made with condensed milk will last for 1-2 days outside on the counter. Though in a warm and humid place, it would be just a few hours. They will last longer in a cooler place.

Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Though cooling them makes them hard. To serve, let the Ladoos come to room temperature.

More Indian Desserts

Want to try making more Indian desserts? Here are some that I suggest

Aate Ka Halwa|Kada Prashad - A special prasad made with wheat flour for Indian festivals.
Kesar Phirni - Saffron Rice Pudding - Easy pudding made with rice and milk
Ragi Laddu | Nachni Ladoo Recipe - A great super nutrient-dense option for kids & Adults containing Finger millet.
Besan Ladoo|Diwali Sweet Recipe- The most-made Indian sweet with chickpea flour, sugar, and ghee
Saffron Cardamom Cake with White Chocolate Ganache - My Indian cake
Mango Pannacotta- Easy No Bake Dessert- With Mango puree

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Here are some Common doubts and Faqs people have while making these coconut ladoos with milkmaid

Can I use Fresh Coconut to make coconut laddus?

Yes. You can use freshly shredded coconut to make these laddus. You will have to slow-roast the fresh coconut for 15 -20 minutes till it dry. This will help with the coconut laddus's texture and shelf life.

Can I use milk to make coconut laddus?

Yes, you can. Add full-fat milk and sugar to the desiccated coconut. Cook the mixture on low flame till the mixture resembles a halwa or fudge.

Is coconut Laddu good for health?

That's relative. But coconut has a lot of fiber and fat, which helps make its nutritional profile an all-rounder.

It is really good for kids.

How many calories are there in coconut ladoo?

As per my estimation, a coconut laddu made with 1 tablespoon of laddu mixture is about

Can you eat desiccated coconut raw?

Yes. You can add it to smoothies, oatmeal, and porridge.

The Laddus not shaping?

Wait for the mixture to cool and then start making the laddus. If the mixture is too soft, add a few tablespoon of dried coconut.

If the laddu mixture is too hard, add a few teaspoon of condensed milk or milkmaid to make the mixture easier to handle.

Shaping coconut laddus is relatively easier than the ragi and besan laddus.