Exploring the 10 Best Sweets in Ranchi

The hometown of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ranchi, is known for its cultural significance, rich history, and picturesque views that bring people from all over India to this mineral-rich city. Ranchi is not just famous for sightseeing and metal works, though. 

Ranchi has blessed its locals and tourists with mouth-watering delicacies and simple yet delicious recipes that are loved by all. Litti Chokha, Rugra, and Chilka Roti are a few sweet cuisines that make Ranchi special to foodies. The city doesn’t disappoint people with a sweet tooth. In this post, we’ve shared the 10 most famous sweets of Ranchi that you shouldn’t miss when touring the city. Let’s take a look.

1. Thekua

Jharkhand has taken many of its popular delicacies from its neighbour Bihar. One of the most popular desserts that are as famous in Ranchi as Bihar is Thekua. Made of wheat flour, lots of ghee, and jaggery, Thekua is the city’s must-try cuisine. All the dry ingredients are mixed together before the Ghee and jaggery syrup are poured. 

To prepare the dough, you need to knead the mixture gently and keep it aside for some time. These doughs are then shaped with ice cream scoops. Thekua’s speciality is that you can give it any pattern of your choice with hands, toothpicks, or design tools. These small doughs are flattened and deep-fried before serving. Thekua is an occasional dessert, prepared mainly during Chatth Puja. 

2. Til Barfi

You may have had Til Barfi during Makar Sankranti. Well, that’s another sweet delicacy of Ranchi. It’s not just incredibly delicious and flavourful, but Til Barfil is a nutrition-rich dessert. The recipe is fairly simple. The main ingredients are jaggery and sesame seeds. 

You can prepare the syrup of ghee and jaggery, add sesame seeds, and mix all ingredients well until they blend completely. You can add green cardamom and some dry fruits. Once the mixture is ready, lay it on a flat tray and keep it aside to cool down. Cut small pieces of the mixture and garnish them with chopped almonds. 

3. Mitha Khaja

Another commonly savored Ranchi sweet is Mitha Khaja. For all religious festivals and auspicious occasions, locals in Ranchi prepare Mitha Khaja and exchange this sweet dish with their neighbours and relatives. People who have got a sweet tooth should definitely try this in Ranchi. You can also order it online or make it at home. It’s a simple deep-fried pastry-like dessert soaked in jaggery or sugar syrup. The result is a delicate and juicy sweet dish that people can’t resist. 

4. Bamboo Shoots

It’s a staple sweet in Ranchi and other cities in Jharkhand. You might wonder how the shoots of bamboo can be savored. Well, they have a unique, slightly sweet taste. It might seem just like a plant, but its rough exteriors with delicious flavors taste incredibly good. It has a lot of nutritional value since it’s a plant. Locals in Jharkhand often use bamboo shoots as a vegetable and prepare many dishes from this plant. Try this fibre-rich ingredient in Ranchi and enjoy the sweetness of the city.

5. Anarsa

A popular dessert in many states, including Bihar and Maharashtra, Anarsa is a rice-based biscuit that’s prepared during Diwali. If you are craving a sweet dish made of jaggery and rice, try this simple Ranchi recipe and treat your taste buds with this sweet delicacy. You can make it at home too. The ingredients required are rice, jaggery, Suji, ghee, and sugar. Make a smooth powder of rice, add jaggery and ghee, and mix the ingredients well. Create small doughs, coat them with Suji and sugar paste, and deep-fry them. There you go! 

6. Malpua

The list of the famous sweets in Jharkhand would be incomplete without mentioning Malpua. You may have had it, as it’s famous in different states in India. In Jharkhand, Malpua is made on Holi and other special occasions. It’s a sweet Indian version of pancake that’s incredibly soft, flavourful, and has just the right amount of sweetness. This sweet dish is rich in calories, but the taste is totally worth it. The Indian pancakes are made of flour, milk, and sugar. A thick batter is prepared, which is then deep-fried.

7. Makhana Kheer

Makhana is commonly used in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. If you are craving sweets, try Makhana Kheer in Ranchi and explore the sweet tastes of the city with this nutritional recipe. Makhane Ki Kheer is made by roasting Makhana and cashews in ghee for a few seconds. Grind Makhana and add that to the boiling milk. Add sugar and roasted cashews and stir well. The Ranchi-special Makhana Kheer is ready.

8. Chana Ghugni

Another popular Ranchi sweet is Chana Ghugni. Although it is a snack and tastes a little spicy, you can make this recipe with jaggery to add a touch of sweetness. This sweet dish is made of Chana and jaggery and is garnished with nuts and green cardamom. It is often served with the combo of Dhuska, another widely savoured delicacy in Jharkhand.

9. Kheer ka Dam

Raskadam and Kheer Ka Dam are mostly savoured in Bihar and the neighbouring state of Jharkhand. These are the most delicious and sweetest delicacies that have the perfect balance of crunchiness and softness in them. The outer portion of the dessert consists of soya, which gives it a crunchy texture, while the Rasgulla filled inside it is soft.

10. Litti Chokha With Dessert

Litti Chokha is not the sweet itself, but it’s mostly taken with a dessert. Littis are hard balls made of wheat and gram. They are dipped in Desi ghee before serving and are served with Chokha (Baingan Bharta) and papad. You can have Little Chokha with Ranchi’s famous Mitha Khaja or Thekua. 

Bottom Line

The famous recipes of Ranchi include more healthy and delicious desserts that are just mouth-watering. The city isn’t specifically famous for its food, but once you try its specialties, you will end up craving more, for sure. The desserts here are made of jaggery, ghee, and other ingredients. Order online food on Swiggy and enjoy!