15 Festive Recipes to Make Your Makar Sankranti Delicious

Makar Sankranti, a vibrant and joyous harvest festival celebrated across India, is synonymous with delicious traditional delicacies that bring families together. This festival, known for its cultural significance and kite-flying festivities, also marks a transition of the sun into Capricorn (Makara Rashi), symbolizing new beginnings and prosperity. If you're looking to celebrate with a feast, this guide to Makar Sankranti recipes will help you prepare delectable dishes steeped in tradition. Let’s dive into the delightful flavours of recipes for Makar Sankranti that bring the essence of this festival to life! 

Here’s a handpicked list of 15 must-try Makar Sankranti recipes to make your celebrations truly memorable and delicious.

1. Til ke laddu
2. Peanut Chikki 
3. Besan Ladoo
4. Puran Poli 
5. Sabudana Khichdi
6. Sweet Pongal
7. Rice Kheer
8. Tamarind Rice
9. Gajar Ka Halwa
10. Patishapta
11. Murukku
12. Makara Chaula
13. Ven Pongal
14. Undhiyu
15. Til Pitha

What is Makar Sankranti?

Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest season. It is observed when the sun transitions into the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara) and starts its northward journey (Uttarayan). The festival is associated with joy, gratitude, and prosperity, as people thank the Sun God for bountiful harvests. The celebration varies across regions but often includes kite flying, bonfires, and traditional dishes made with sesame seeds (til), jaggery (gur), rice, and lentils.

When is Makar Sankranti 2025?

Makar Sankranti in 2025 will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14th. As it follows the solar calendar, this festival is always observed on or around the same date every year. It's a time to prepare for the new season and indulge in some of the most flavourful traditional dishes.

Makar Sankranti Recipes:

Til Ke Laddu Recipe:

Til Ke Laddu is a traditional sweet made with roasted sesame seeds and jaggery, known for its warm, nutty flavour and chewy texture. It is a staple during Makar Sankranti, symbolizing togetherness and good health in the winter season. Packed with nutrients, these laddus are easy to prepare and perfect for festive celebrations.

• Preparation Time: 30 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Sesame seeds (til) - 1 cup
• Jaggery (gur) - 3/4 cup (grated)
• Ghee - 1 tbsp
• Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp (optional)
• Water - 2–3 tbsp

Process:

• Roast Sesame Seeds: Dry roast sesame seeds until golden and aromatic. Set aside.
• Make Jaggery Syrup: Melt jaggery with water and ghee on low heat until it reaches a softball consistency.
• Mix and Shape: Add roasted sesame seeds to the syrup, mix well, and shape into laddus while warm.
• Cool and Store: Let them cool and store them in an airtight container.

Peanut Chikki Recipe:

Peanut Chikki is a crunchy and delicious treat made with roasted peanuts and jaggery, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and nuttiness. It’s a must-have during Makar Sankranti, symbolizing the warmth and energy of the harvest season.

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• Peanuts - 1 cup (roasted and peeled)
• Jaggery (gur) - 3/4 cup (grated)
• Ghee - 1 tsp
• Water - 2 tbsp

Process:

• Roast Peanuts: Roast peanuts, peel off the skin, and set aside.
• Prepare Jaggery Syrup: Melt jaggery with water and ghee on low heat until it reaches hardball consistency (test by dropping syrup into cold water; it should snap).
• Combine and Spread: Mix roasted peanuts into the jaggery syrup. Quickly pour onto a greased surface or parchment paper and spread evenly.
• Cut into Pieces: Let it cool slightly, then cut into squares before it hardens completely.

Besan Ladoo Recipe:

Besan Ladoo is a classic Indian sweet made with roasted gram flour, ghee, and sugar, shaped into melt-in-the-mouth balls. Often prepared during Makar Sankranti, it’s a festive treat symbolizing sweetness and joy.

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Besan (gram flour) - 2 cups
• Ghee - 3/4 cup
• Powdered sugar - 1 cup
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Chopped nuts (optional) - 2 tbsp

Process:

• Roast Besan: Heat ghee in a pan, add besan, and roast on low flame until golden brown and aromatic (about 10–12 minutes).
• Cool Slightly: Allow the mixture to cool slightly (not completely).
• Mix Sugar: Add powdered sugar, cardamom powder, and nuts (if using). Mix thoroughly.
• Shape Laddus: Take small portions and roll them into round laddus using your palms.
• Cool and Store: Let them cool completely and store them in an airtight container.

Puran Poli Recipe:

Puran Poli is a soft, stuffed flatbread made with a sweet filling of chana dal and jaggery, cooked to golden perfection. A popular Makar Sankranti delicacy, it represents the rich culinary traditions of Indian festivals.

• Preparation Time: 30 minutes
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• For Dough: Wheat flour (2 cups), ghee (2 tbsp), water, and salt.
• For Filling: Chana dal (1 cup), jaggery (1 cup), cardamom powder (1/2 tsp), nutmeg powder (optional).

Process:

• Make Dough: Knead soft dough with wheat flour, ghee, and water. Rest for 30 minutes.
• Prepare Filling: Cook and mash chana dal, then cook with jaggery until thick. Add cardamom and cool.
• Assemble: Roll dough, add filling, seal, and roll out again.
• Cook: Cook on a tawa with ghee until golden.

Sabudana Khichdi Recipe:

Sabudana Khichdi is a light and flavourful dish made with soaked tapioca pearls, peanuts, and spices, perfect for fasting or festive occasions. It’s a popular recipe during Makar Sankranti, offering both taste and energy.

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Sabudana (tapioca pearls) - 1 cup (soaked for 4–6 hours)
• Peanuts (roasted and crushed) - 1/4 cup
• Boiled potatoes - 1 (diced)
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Green chillies - 2 (chopped)
• Curry leaves - 8–10
• Lemon juice - 1 tsp
• Salt - as needed
• Fresh coriander (chopped) - for garnish

Process:

• Prepare Sabudana: Wash and soak sabudana for 4–6 hours. Drain and mix with crushed peanuts.
• Cook: Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds, green chilies, and curry leaves. Sauté for a minute.
• Add Ingredients: Add boiled potatoes and sauté. Then, add soaked sabudana and salt, and cook on low flame for 5–7 minutes, stirring gently.
• Finish: Add lemon juice, garnish with coriander, and serve hot.

Sweet Pongal Recipe:

Sweet Pongal is a traditional South Indian dish made with rice, moong dal, jaggery, and ghee, flavoured with cardamom and garnished with nuts. It’s a festive highlight during Makar Sankranti, celebrating harvest and gratitude.

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Moong dal - 2 tbsp
• Jaggery (grated) - 3/4 cup
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Cashews - 8–10
• Raisins - 1 tbsp
• Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
• Water - 2 cups
• Milk (optional) - 1/2 cup

Process:

• Cook Rice and Dal: Wash rice and moong dal. Cook them together with water (and milk, if using) until soft.
• Prepare Jaggery Syrup: Melt jaggery with a little water in a pan. Strain to remove impurities and add it to the cooked rice-dal mixture.
• Combine: Mix well and cook on low flame until the jaggery blends completely.
• Add Ghee and Nuts: Heat ghee, fry cashews and raisins, then add them to the pongal. Sprinkle cardamom powder and mix.

Rice Kheer Recipe:

Rice Kheer is a creamy and delicious Indian dessert made with rice, milk, and sugar, flavoured with cardamom and garnished with nuts. It’s a festive favourite during Makar Sankranti, symbolizing sweetness and prosperity.

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/4 cup (washed and soaked for 30 minutes)
• Milk - 1 litre (full-fat recommended)
• Sugar - 1/2 cup (adjust to taste)
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Cashews, almonds, and raisins - 2 tbsp (chopped)
• Saffron strands - a pinch (optional, soaked in warm milk)
• Ghee - 1 tsp

Process:

• Cook Rice: Heat milk in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add soaked rice and cook on low flame until the rice becomes soft, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Sweeten: Add sugar and cook until it dissolves completely.
• Flavour: Stir in cardamom powder and saffron strands (if using).
• Add Nuts: Heat ghee in a small pan, fry cashews, almonds, and raisins, and mix them into the kheer.
• Serve: Let the kheer cool slightly and serve warm or chilled.

Tamarind Rice Recipe:

Tamarind Rice is a tangy and flavourful South Indian dish made with tamarind pulp, cooked rice, and aromatic spices. It’s a popular festive recipe, especially during Makar Sankranti, symbolizing simplicity and tradition.

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• Cooked rice - 2 cups
• Tamarind pulp - 3 tbsp
• Sesame oil - 2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - 8–10
• Dry red chilies - 2
• Green chillies - 1 (chopped)
• Chana dal - 1 tbsp
• Urad dal - 1 tbsp
• Peanuts - 2 tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Asafoetida (hing) - a pinch
• Salt - as needed

Process:

• Prepare Tamarind Sauce: Dilute tamarind pulp in 1/2 cup water. Heat sesame oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, dry red chillies, and green chillies. Sauté for a minute.
• Add Spices: Add chana dal, urad dal, peanuts, and sauté until golden. Stir in turmeric powder, asafoetida, and tamarind pulp. Cook until the mixture thickens.
• Combine with Rice: Add the tamarind mixture to the cooked rice. Mix well and adjust the salt.
• Serve: Garnish with roasted peanuts if desired and serve warm.

Gajar Ka Halwa Recipe:

Gajar Ka Halwa is a must-have dessert during Makar Sankranti, made with fresh winter carrots, milk, ghee, and jaggery or sugar. This sweet delight perfectly complements the festive spirit and the joy of harvest celebrations.

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• Grated carrots - 1 kg
• Full-fat milk - 1 liter
• Ghee - 3 tbsp
• Sugar - 1 cup (adjust to taste)
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Cashews, almonds, and raisins - 2 tbsp (chopped)

Process:

• Cook Carrots: Heat ghee in a pan, add grated carrots, and sauté for 5–7 minutes.
• Simmer with Milk: Add milk to the carrots and cook on low flame until the milk reduces and thickens, stirring occasionally.
• Sweeten: Add sugar and mix well. Continue cooking until the mixture thickens further and leaves the sides of the pan.
• Add Flavour and Nuts: Stir in cardamom powder. Garnish with fried cashews, almonds, and raisins.
• Serve: Serve warm or chilled for a delicious dessert.

Patishapta Recipe:

Patishapta is a traditional Bengali dessert that is popular during festivals like Makar Sankranti and Poila Boishakh. It originates from the rich culinary heritage of Bengal, where it is prepared as part of the Pithe Parbon (a festival of rice-based sweets). The dish symbolizes the agrarian roots of Bengal, using ingredients like rice flour, coconut, and jaggery, all harvested fresh during the winter season.

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• For Batter: Rice flour (1/2 cup), maida (1/4 cup), semolina (2 tbsp), milk (1 cup).
• For Filling: Grated coconut (1 cup), jaggery (1/2 cup), cardamom powder (1/4 tsp), ghee (1 tsp).

Process:

• Make Filling: Cook coconut and jaggery in ghee until thick. Add cardamom and cool.
• Prepare Batter: Mix rice flour, maida, semolina, and milk into a smooth batter.
• Cook Crepes: Pour batter onto a greased pan and cook until edges lift.
• Add Filling: Place filling in the centre, roll, and cook for a minute.
• Serve: Enjoy the delicious Patishapta warm!

Murukku Recipe:

Murukku is a crispy and spiral-shaped South Indian snack made from rice flour and lentil flour, flavoured with spices. It’s a popular festive treat during Makar Sankranti, loved for its crunchy texture and savoury taste.

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice flour (2 cups)
• urad dal flour (1/2 cup)
• butter (2 tbsp)
• sesame seeds (1 tsp)
• cumin seeds (1 tsp)
• asafoetida, 
• salt, water, and oil for frying.

Process:

• Mix all ingredients into a soft dough.
• Shape spirals using a murukku press.
• Fry in hot oil until golden and crisp.
• Cool and store in an airtight container.

Makara Chaula Recipe:

Makara Chaula is a traditional Odia dish made with uncooked rice, grated coconut, jaggery, and milk, and it is offered as prasad during Makar Sankranti. It symbolizes gratitude and simplicity, celebrating the fresh harvest of the season.

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• Raw rice - 1 cup (washed and soaked for 2–3 hours)
• Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
• Chopped bananas - 1/2 cup
• Jaggery - 1/4 cup (grated)
• Chhena (fresh cottage cheese) - 1/4 cup
• Black pepper - 1/2 tsp (crushed)
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp
• Milk - 1/2 cup

Process:

• Prepare Rice: Wash and soak the raw rice, then drain the water. Keep the rice uncooked and raw as per tradition.
• Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine raw rice, grated coconut, bananas, jaggery, chhena, black pepper, and cardamom powder.
• Add Milk: Pour milk into the mixture and mix gently until well combined.
• Serve: Offer as prasad (sacred offering) during Makar Sankranti or enjoy as a festive dish.

Ven Pongal Recipe:

Ven Pongal is a savoury South Indian dish made with rice and moong dal and flavoured with ghee, black pepper, and spices. It’s a comforting and festive dish, often prepared during Makar Sankranti as a symbol of gratitude for the harvest.

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Moong dal - 1/4 cup
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Black pepper - 1 tsp (crushed)
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Ginger - 1 tsp (grated)
• Green chillies - 1–2 (chopped)
• Cashews - 8–10
• Curry leaves - 8–10
• Water - 3 cups
• Salt - to taste

Process:

• Cook Rice and Dal: Wash rice and moong dal. Pressure cook them together with water and salt until soft and mushy.
• Prepare Tempering: Heat ghee in a pan, fry cashews until golden, and set aside. In the same pan, add cumin, black pepper, ginger, green chillies, and curry leaves. Sauté for a minute.
• Combine: Add the tempering to the cooked rice and dal mixture. Mix well.
• Garnish: Top with fried cashews and serve hot with coconut chutney or sambar.

Undhiyu Recipe:

Undhiyu is a traditional Gujarati mixed vegetable dish cooked with winter vegetables, spices, and methi muthiyas (fenugreek dumplings). It’s a festive favourite during Makar Sankranti, symbolizing the richness of seasonal harvests.

• Preparation Time: 30 minutes
• Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• Mixed vegetables (3 cups)
• fenugreek leaves (1/2 cup)
• besan (1/2 cup)
• grated coconut, spices (turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala), jaggery, lemon juice, oil, and sesame seeds.

Process:

• Make Muthiyas: Mix fenugreek leaves, besan, and spices into a dough. Shape into dumplings and fry.
• Prepare Vegetables: Marinate mixed vegetables with spices, coconut, jaggery, and lemon juice.
• Cook: Layer vegetables and muthiyas in a pan and cook covered on low flame for 30–40 minutes.
• Serve: Garnish with coriander and serve with puris or rotis.

Til Pitha Recipe:

Til Pitha is a traditional Assamese rice flour pancake filled with a sweet sesame and jaggery mixture, dry-roasted to perfection. It’s a festive delicacy prepared during Makar Sankranti, symbolizing warmth and togetherness.

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice flour (2 cups)
• sesame seeds (1 cup)
• jaggery (3/4 cup)
• water

Process:

• Make Dough: Mix rice flour with water to form a soft dough.
• Prepare Filling: Roast sesame seeds and mix with jaggery.
• Shape Pithas: Roll dough into discs, add the filling, and fold.
• Cook: Roast on a tawa until golden.

Makar Sankranti is not just a festival; it’s a celebration of culture, tradition, and togetherness. The variety of Sankranti recipes prepared during this time reflects the diversity of Indian culinary heritage, bringing unique flavours from different regions. From sweet to savoury, these Sankranti special recipes are not only delicious but also hold cultural and seasonal significance, symbolizing gratitude for the harvest and the joy of sharing meals with loved ones. As you celebrate this auspicious festival, let these recipes add warmth and flavour to your gatherings, making your festivities truly unforgettable. 

Here's wishing you a joyous and flavourful Makar Sankranti filled with love, prosperity, and delightful feasts!