31 Bengali Sweets: From Classic Favorites To Hidden Gems

Bengal is known for its famous Bengali sweets that have its own fanbase. Bengali sweets are the delicacies that you must try at least once in your life. The state of West Bengal in India is rich in culture, it is known for its traditions, monuments, Durga Puja, and delicious food. If you visit Bengal you will get an endless palate of delectable sweets and sweet dishes that will not only satiate your taste buds but also leave you wanting more.

The sweets of Bengal are mostly made with chana (cottage cheese). There are a few popular Bengali sweets that have a 500-year-old history and have been made for ages. You will be awestruck to know about the mouth-watering assortment of West Bengal sweets and Bengali dessert. It is heaven for people with a sweet tooth. Some Bengali sweets are more popular and can be found in other places of the country as well. But the authentic taste of the local delicacies has no competition. There are also many sweets that have not found their way out of the state though they deserve to be listed among the best.

In earlier days, famous Bengali sweets like Nadu, Batasa, Payesh, Pitha Puli were prepared with coconut, jaggery ‘gur’ (molasses which are mainly made from sugarcane, dates, or palm), and rice flour. But later as chana became popular, most sweets and desserts started to be made with it.

The Bengali mithai makers invented Chana(sweet cottage cheese). The famous chana mishti or sweets are Rasogolla, Sandesh, Pantua, Rajbhog, Rasmalai, and many more. Bengal sweets are an emotion that can be felt with every bite. Bengalis use Bengali desserts and sweets on every occasion like weddings, pujas, and festivals. Here we have listed some of the best Bengali sweets names to give you a taste you will never forget and will leave you drooling.

Our best Bengali sweets list includes:

• Mishti Doi
• Langcha or Lady Kenny
• Rosogolla
• Rasmalai
• Amriti
• Mihidana
• Patishapta
• Darbesh
• Chandrapuli
• Shor Bhaja
• Narkel Naru
• Pantua
• Sitabhog
• Lobongo Lotika
• Raj Bhog
• Kacha Golla
• Chanar Jilapi
• Nikuti
• Kalo Jam
• Kheer Kadam
• Joynagarer Moa
• Nolen Gur Rosogolla
• Goja
• Payesh
• Bhapa Doi
• Monohara
• Makha Sandesh
• Jalbhara Sandesh
• Bengal Gujiya
• Misti Singara / Khir er Singara
• Baked Rosogolla

Here is the list of 31 Bengali sweets that you must try at least once in your life:

1. Mishti Doi

One of the most popular desserts in Bengal is the creamy and tasty Mishti Doi. Mishti Doi is sweet curd which is a blend of thick milk and jaggery. It is available in almost all sweet shops in Bengal. It is made in earthen pots to soak the additional water and make it condensed. Chilled Bengali mishti doi is best enjoyed when consumed straight from a refrigerator.

This sweet of Bengal is known for its taste and is now available in various flavors including Mango, Chocolate, Pineapple, and lots more.

Shops famous for Mishti Doi: Laxmi Narayan Misthanna Bhandar, Deshbandhu sweets (Burabazzar).

2. Langcha / Lady Kenny

Langcha is a popular sweet found in many parts of eastern India. Langcha or Lady Kenny is made from flour and khoya. These oblong Bengali sweets are deep-fried and dipped into sugar syrup. This famous Bengali sweet has an interesting history.

It is believed that the wife of Lord Lanning, the Viceroy of Bengal in the 19th Century was impressed with this authentic Bengali sweet, and hence it is also known as Lady Kenny. It is locally known as Lengcha.

Shops famous for Langcha: Saktigarh Langcha Shop, Banchharam’s, Putiram Sweets.

3. Rosogolla

Rosogolla is the most popular sweet in Bengal. Rosogollas are an integral part of Bengal and they are inseparable. They are soft balls made from Chana/Chenna soaked in sugar syrup. They have a spongy texture and taste heavenly. When in Bengal, you can also try gorom Rosogollas (hot Rasgullas) and baked Rosogollas. You cannot miss this delectable Bengali sweet. Among the Bengali sweets names, Rosogolla is the most famous.

Shops famous for Rosogolla: Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, Chittaranjan, Mistanna Bhandar, Nobin Chandra Das, Nalin Chandra Das and Sons, Banchharam’s, K.C.Das., Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy, Putiram Sweets.

4. Rasmalai

Rasmalai is a very popular sweet dish in India. It is a sweet dish made with small sweet balls of chana (cottage cheese) soaked in malai flavored with cardamom. It is prepared with milk, sugar syrup, saffron, pistachios, and kheer. The small chana balls are cooked in simmering thick milk cream. This Bengal sweet dish is no doubt delicious.

Shops famous for Rasmalai: Putiram Sweets, Kamdhenu Sweets, Nobin Chandra Das.

5. Amriti

Amriti is a sweet of Bengali that looks similar to Jalebi. It is made with ground dal, sugar, and cardamom. Like jalebis, it is given a particular spiral shape that is then deep-fried in ghee. The curly edges of this orange sweet look fancy and it tastes really good. The name amriti is taken from Amrita, signifying ‘manna’ or the food of the gods. It can be found at any sweet shop in West Bengal and Kolkata.

6. Patishapta

Patishapta is among the best Bengali sweets, it is a crepe made with rice flour, milk, and seasonal gur with a filling made with khoya, coconut mixture, cardamom, dry fruits, and jaggery. This is made especially on the occasion of the rice harvest-related festival, Poush Sankranti. Patishapta is one type of pithe prepared seasonally on celebratory occasions Sankranti.

7. Mihidana

Among the Bengali sweets names Mihidana is not that popular, the name ‘Mihi’ means fine, and ‘dana’ means boondi. But this sweet of Bengal is mouth-watering. It is similar to bonde or boondi, the particles are fine and minute. This Bengali sweet is made with rice flour, and saffron which is mixed with water. The mixture is added to the oil with a sieve-like ladle and deep fried. These particles are then soaked in sugar syrup and drained. There are little fried sweet balls made of chana added to the final mixture.

Shops famous for Mihidana: Sen Mahashay, Gaguram Sweets, Banchharam’s, Nobin Chandra Das.

8. Shor Bhaja

Shor Bhaja is a delicious sweet Bengalis love. ‘Shor’ means malai and ‘Bhaja’ means fried. This is Bengali famous sweet that is made of deep-fried milk cream or malai. Sar Bhaja might not be well-known among the popular Bengali sweets names but it is one of the tastiest sweets that is a must-try.

There is another form of this sweet where layers of cream milk are baked to form a sweet called sarpuria. These fried or baked pieces are soaked in sugar syrup before serving.

Shops famous for Shor Bhaja: Gaguram Sweets, Banchharam’s.

9. Darbesh

Darbesh is the Bengali rendition of laddoos and is similar to them. But it has a unique texture and taste when compared to the laddoos made in the rest of the country. In Bengal, Darbesh is a boondi laddoo that is mainly eaten during festivals. You can find this Bengali sweet at any sweet shop in Bengal.

10. Chandrapuli

Chandrapuli is a crescent moon-shaped sweet from West Bengal made with cottage cheese and jaggery. Chandrapuli pitha is a traditional Bengali sweet prepared with grated coconut and khowa mixed with sugar and camphor.

11. Narkel Naru

Narkel Naru is a traditional sweet made on special occasions in Bengal. The small coconut balls are made with jaggery and coconut. The coconut mixture is sweetened with date palm jaggery or sugar. These sweet coconut balls are a delicious confection from the West Bengal, India. It is generally prepared at home during special occasions and festivities. Narkel Narus are an emotion that brings back childhood memories!

12. Pantua

Among the sweets made with chana, Pantua is a famous one. It is prepared with chena, flour, and suji. The dough is made into balls which are fried and dipped in sugar syrup. It has a very soft texture inside. These brown color sweet chana balls are called the Pantua. Do try this delectable Bengali mithai which is available in all sweet shops in Bengal.

Shops famous for Pantua: Gaguram Sweets, Banchharam’s, Putiram Sweets.

13. Sitabhog

Sitabhog is a famous sweet dish from the Burdwan area of Bengal. Sitabhog is a sweet dessert that looks like pulao. Traditionally this dish is made of maida, rice flour, ghee, sugar syrup, and tiny gulab jamun (small fried sweet chana balls). Lately, people prefer to use vermicelli instead of rice. Sitabhog is a sweet of Bengal that is not well-known outside the state.

Shops famous for Sitabhog: Gaguram Sweets, Banchharams, Putiram Sweets.

14. Lobongo Lotika

Lobongo Latika is a unique Bengali sweet that is made with khoya, maida, nutmeg powder, grated coconut, nuts, raisins, ghee, cardamom, cloves, and sugar. The mixture turns out to have a beautiful taste that will linger in your mouth. It is a traditional sweet of Bengal that is very creative in its look and taste. The unique feature is how the pastry is folded and sealed with a clove. This is a Bengali sweet name that is tough to pronounce but you should not miss out on this one.

Shops famous for Lobongo Latika: Ganguram, Putiram Sweets.

15. Raj Bhog

Raj Bhog is a type of large Rosogollas stuffed with dry fruits. They are usually yellow in color and are made with chana, sugar, and kesar. These yellow spongy soft balls are definitely lip-smacking and you cannot be satisfied by having just one.

Shops famous for Raj Bhog: Bhikharam Chandmal.

16. Kacha Golla

If you like a soft, melt-in-your-mouth kind of dessert, the Kacha gollas are for you. It is prepared with milk, curdled milk, and sugar. They are made in the shape of balls and have a powdered texture. Kacha Golla is considered one of the healthiest and easiest Bengali desserts. It is used during religious ceremonies as a prasad and also during festivals.

Shops famous for Kacha golla: Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy, Ganguram.

17. Chanar Jilapi

As the name goes, Chanar Jilapi means Jalebi made with chenna. Bengali sweets names are quite simple, this scrumptious sweet is of paneer, maida, and khoya. The soft jalebis are then dipped in sugar syrup. Chanar Jeelapi is another delish Bengali dessert that is a must-try. This soft and juicy sweet delight will melt in your mouth.

Shops famous for Chanar Jilapi: Adhar Chandra Das & Sons.

18. Nikuti

Among the list of delicious Bengali sweets, Nikuti is a combination of maida, chhena, and cardamom. The dough is shaped into oblong sweets that are deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup. At the end, they are put in a concoction of condensed milk and chilled in the refrigerator. If you have a sweet tooth, you should try this sweet-savory.

Shops famous for Nikuti: The Mother Sweets, Sree Sree Gouranga Mistanna Bhandar

19. Kalo Jam

Kalo Jaam is similar to Gulab Jamun and is made of cottage cheese and khoya. They are a delectable dessert that can be made at home. It is also available at almost all sweet shops in Kolkata. This sweet of Bengal is so scrumptious that you can’t stop devouring them once you’ve taken a bite. Kalo Jams are similar to Bengali sweet Pantua or Lady Kenny, the difference is that Kalo Jams are more fried to get that black color as ‘Kalo’ means black.

Shops famous for Kalo Jaam: Surjya Kumar Modak, K. C. Das.

20. Kheer Kadam

Kheer Kadam is a mouthwatering Bengali mithai that has a mildly sweet layer of khoya with a small juicy Roshogolla in the center. It is one of the popular sweets of Bengal. Just imagining the taste of this unique sweet will make your mouth water. It is also known by the name Ras Kadam. This is one of the Bengali sweets that is a must-try.

Shops famous for Kheer Kadam: Calcutta Sweets, Banchharam’s Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick.

21. Joynagarer Moa

This seasonally available Joynagar-er Moa is one of the tastiest Bengali sweets you will ever try. Moa is generally made with puffed rice ‘muri’ or ‘khoi’. This sweet is made with jaggery, Khoi, ghee, and raisins. The savory dry mixture is made into round balls. These moas have a remarkable taste and will melt in your mouth.

Shops famous for Joynagar-er Moa: Apurba Special Joynagarer Moyaa, Moa & More.

22. Nolen Gur Rosogolla

The Nolen Gurer Rosogulla (rasgulla) is a seasonal Bengali delicacy that is only available during winter – November to January. These Rosogollas have a distinct flavour as they are made with date palm jaggery called nolen gur in Bangla. We recommend you to try this exotic sweet that looks mouthwatering. We bet you won’t be satisfied with just one. When in Bengal, you can try other Nolen Gur dishes like Nolen Gur Payesh, Gurer Sandesh, etc.

Shops famous for Nolen Gurer Rosogulla: Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, Nobin Chandra Das, Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy.

23. Goja

Bengali Goja is a popular sweet prepared with flour and ghee. They are deep-fried and then soaked in sugar syrup. A Goja has a distinct flavor and is moist and flaky inside and crunchy on the outside. Goja is sold in sweet shops and seasonal melas.

24. Payesh

Payesh is a popular dessert recipe for Bengali festive occasions. Payesh is Bengal’s Kheer. Bongs love Payesh as it can be easily made at home and is a sweet dish that is mandatory on Birthdays. It is made with rice, milk, cardamom, dry fruits, and sugar. You can also try Gurer Payesh which is made with jaggery instead of sugar.

25. Bhapa Doi

Bhapa Doi (Steamed Curd/Yogurt) is a famous Bengali sweet dish where thick curd/ yogurt is steamed with condensed milk and a few more ingredients. In Bengali, Doi means curd and bhapa means steamed or baked. It is a kind of pudding that has a mouth-watering taste. It is garnished with dry fruits and is best enjoyed chilled straight out of the refrigerator.

26. Monohara

In the list of Bengali sweets, Monohara which is a Sandesh made of chana originates from Janai, Hooghly. It has a unique shape and is coated in sweet sugar syrup. It has a hard sugar coat outside and soft sandesh inside. There are lots of accounts revolving around Monohara’s origin. You will be amazed to know that this sweet of Bengal can be stored for a longer period of time unlike normal sweets made with chana.

Shops famous for Monohara: Kamal Moira’s sweet shop, Janai bazaar

27. Makha Sandesh

Among the Bengali delicacies and the best Bengali sweets, Makha Sandesh has a special place. Makha Sandesh is almost 100 years old. It is a soft Bengali sweet made of chenna sugar, and milk. It is available in two colors, white and brown. The white one is made of sugar and the brown one is made with Gur or jaggery. It is a Bengali sweet that can be found in rural Bengal.

Shops famous for Makha Sandesh: Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy

28. Jalbhara Sandesh

Jalbhara Sandesh is a unique Bengali sweet invented by Surjya Kumar Modak from Chandan Nagar. It has a long story behind its origin. Jolbhora is a traditional Bengali sweet that comes from the royal family, it is believed that after the marriage of the royal family of Bhadreshwar with Baidyabati when the son-in-law was going to visit his In-law, the father-in-law ordered to make special sweets to fool their son-in-law. Sweet maker Surjya Kumar Modak made a hard channa shell and filled it with rose water to mimic talsaas(palm kernels).

In the French colony of Chandannagar in a famous mishti shop of Surjya Kumar Modak, Jalbhara Sandesh was invented in 1818. The Jalbhara Sandesh is now filled with liquid nolen gur inside. Among the Bengali sweets names, Jalbhara Sandesh is mainly famous in Kolkata and nearby districts in West Bengal.

Shops famous for Jalbhara Sandesh: Surjya Kumar Modak, Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, Bhim Chandra Nag, Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy.

29. Bengal Gujiya

Gujiya is a Bengali sweet made by adding milk powder to water and then boiling it, or boiling the milk until it becomes khir. Sugar and ghee are added to it to make a concoction. The mixture is then cooled and made into small triangular shapes. It is mostly used for prasadam. Bongs in West Bengal have eaten this since their childhood. Gujiyas are hard and sweet.

30. Misti Singara / Khir er Singara

Kheer er Singara/Samosha is another sweet dish of Bengal in which instead of potato stuffing, the Singara is stuffed with kheer/Mawa. This unique delicacy is very tasty. It is crispy in the outer layer and soft inside with the kheer filling inside. The stuffed kheer Singara is fried and dipped in sugar syrup. It can be found in the sweet shops in Bengal.

Shops famous for Misti Singara: Ganguram Sweets.

31. Baked Rosogolla

Baked Rosogolla is a variant of the king of Bengali sweets. Baked Rosogollas are served in family get-togethers, usually buffets, and parties. The recipe is tricky and not as easy as other chana sweets. The preparation contains rosogollas, khoya, condensed milk, saffron, rose water, pistachios, and sugar.

Shops famous for Baked Rosogolla: Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick sweet chain.

Which one did you like the most? Let us know in the comments.