Oats to til: Nutritionist shares 3 protein-packed laddoo recipes for winter indulgence

Try protein-packed laddoo recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth in winter.

Winter makes you crave sweet treats, doesn't it? If you're looking for healthy sweets in winter, why not try protein laddoos at home? These are healthy and tasty, appealing to both fitness enthusiasts and anyone looking to enjoy a treat.

Which is the healthiest laddu to eat in winter? (Instagram)

By Tavishi Dogra

Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust.

Career journey and experience
Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon.

From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?”

Subject expertise
With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions.

In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.

Education and professional background
Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.

Editorial Philosophy
I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.

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3 protein-packed laddoo recipes

Let’s share some protein laddoo recipes to make your special day even better.

1. Dry fruit laddoo

Imagine biting into a warm laddoo filled with the rich flavours of nuts and dried fruits. Nutritionist Shilpa Thekke shares a healthy recipe with Health Shots. It is perfect for those who enjoy sweets while maintaining a healthy diet.

Ingredients:

• 50 gm dry fruits and nuts (such as cashews, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, raisins, and dried cranberries)
• 5-10 dates
• Melted jaggery

Procedure:

1. Start by taking 50 grams of your favourite dry fruits and nuts. A mix of cashews, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios makesan excellent combination.
2. Dry-roast these nuts for about 2 minutes until they're aromatic and slightly golden. Once done, blend them into a coarse mixture.
3. Next, remove the pits from 5-10 dates and blend the dates into a smooth paste. This natural sweetener provides essential nutrients and fibre.
4. Combine the date paste with the blended dry fruit mix. If the mixture is too dry and crumbly, add a tablespoon of melted jaggery to help it bind.
5. Once everything is thoroughly mixed, shape the mixture into small, round laddoos.

2. Coconut and protein laddoo

This recipe mixes tropical coconut flavours with the muscle-building power of whey protein. Created by nutritionist Radhika Sathe, it’s for a "26-gram protein laddoo" that provides a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ingredients:

• 20 ml milk
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 1 scoop whey protein powder
• 40 grams of ground coconut

Procedure:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
2. Knead the mixture to form a dough. Adjust the consistency using more milk or protein powder as needed.
3. Once the dough is ready, shape it into small laddoos, customising the size according to your preference.

3. Oats and til laddoo

This delicious laddoo recipe is made with oats and sesame seeds. These ingredients are known as superfoods because they are healthy and rich in protein.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 2 tbsp black raisins
• 1/4 cup jaggery powder
• 1 cup soft dates
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 3-4 tbsp warm milk

Procedure:

Dry-roast the sesame seeds and flax seeds in a pan over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes to enhance their flavour, then remove from the heat.

1. In the same pan, dry-roast the oats for 4-5 minutes, until they become lightly toasted and fragrant.
2. Combine the roasted oats and the sesame-flaxseed mixture in a bowl, then let it cool before coarsely grinding it.
3. Add the jaggery powder, soft dates, and cardamom to the ground mixture and blend again until combined.
4. Transfer everything to a mixing bowl, then introduce the black raisins and warm milk. Mix well and start forming laddoos.

(Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.)