I remember from my childhood that my brother used to make something very similar using coconut and condensed milk, I'm sure he used to call them coconut balls!
These are very similar to what you find inside a Bounty Bar, I did almost debate about covering them in chocolate to make little 'Bounty Balls'!
From start to finish these little guys take less then 15 minutes to make - so there is pretty much no excuse why you couldn't make your own Diwali sweets. Diwali is one of those events in the year where Indian Sweets known as Mithai is flowing freely in different varieties from ladoo, burfi which all stem from sugar, fruit/nuts/flour with or without milk with a little spice such as cardamom, cinnamon and saffron.
Ladoo are basically a ball shaped sweets. Ladoo is an omnipresent sweet, It is referred back in olden days as the Narayl Nakru in South it dates back to the time of the Chola Empire when it was a sweet that was packed for travelers and warriors as a symbol of good luck for their expeditions.
These is a fun sweet you can make with the kids, just make sure the mixture has cool enough for children's hands. You may need to keep an eye on them, as a few may disappear into the tummys.
Ingredients
200ml Condensed Milk
100g Desiccated Coconut
Pinch of Saffron
1/2 Tsp Cardamom
Additional Desiccated Coconut for Rolling
To a heavy bottom pan add the condensed milk, coconut, saffron and cardamom over medium heat.
Stir the mixture well over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
On to a grease surface tip the mixture to allow it cool for about 10 minutes or until you can handle it in your hands.
Take a small amount about a heaped tablespoon and roll into a ball. ( As you can see it's still probably too warm as my hands have gone a little red!)
Roll in to some additional desiccated coconut and allow to cool completely.
Enjoy!
Coconut Ladoo Balls - Diwali Sweets
Super quick and easy Diwali Sweet recipe
