Rose Sandesh - Bengali Sweet Recipe

Rose Sandesh is a colorful twist to the evergreen Bengali Sweet recipe. This no-bake easy dessert/mithai can brighten up any festival or party!

Plus, it can literally be made in 15 minutes! Save this recipe, it's a keeper!

The perfect colorful mithai!

Love rose-flavored desserts

I love adding rose flavor to desserts! I love the color and the fragrant flavor it brings to the dish, especially to a dessert!

I always have rose syrup and essence in my kitchen. This way, I can cook something up impromptu when the craving hits. 

Looking at the collection of recipes here with rose flavor in them, no one can deny my obsession with it. 

Raspberry Rose Hot Chocolate, Rose Coconut Ladoo, Strawberry Hibiscus Rose Punch, and Rose Gulkand Ice Cream are just some of my favorite recipes that you can make in rose flavor. 

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We love our mithai

Yes, as a country, we Indians love mithai which is the Hindi translation for desserts. We serve sweets on any and every happy occasion!

Sometimes we don't even need an excuse to eat something sweet! That's why all our regional cuisines have a plethora of dessert recipes and most of them are made from milk and milk products. 

I have tried to include some desserts from each Indian region on my blog. There's Paal Payasam from the south, Shrikhand from the west, Jhajhariya from the north, and now Rose Sandesh from the East of India!

If you want to check out all the desserts on Cookilicious, head over to this page. 

Delicious no-cook dessert.

What is this Bengali sweet?

West Bengal, India is known for many things and sweets or mithai is one of them. They have a myriad of sweet dishes that can make anyone go weak in their knees. 

Sandesh is one of the most popular desserts from this cuisine. This bite-sized mithai/dessert is smooth, soft, and has a fudge-type consistency. 

They are usually made from thickened milk (paneer/khoya/mawa) or chhena, which is mixed with sugar and other flavoring agents. 

It's normally white in color but now there are many varieties of Sandesh that use different flavoring ingredients that make it colorful.

Read on to know how I make this easy no-bake dessert and that too in different colors! 

Why make this

You will find many different Sandesh recipes online but this is how I make it. I prefer this Sandesh recipe because the traditional recipe is more tedious and time-consuming.

• Can be made in 15 minutes
• Needs just 4 basic ingredients plus a flavoring ingredient
• It's an easy no-bake, no-cook dessert recipe
• This dessert is worth the minimum effort and is sure to be a hit with people of all ages.
• Can be made in different colors/flavors
• No artificial color or condensed milk needed

Ingredients needed

Needs just a few basic ingredients.

Paneer - It is the main ingredient in this recipe. I have used store-bought paneer. You can use homemade paneer or chenna as well. 

Using paneer reduces the cooking time immensely. The traditional Sandesh recipe calls for making it from scratch. 

Rose syrup - I have used Rooh Afza in this recipe but you can use any rose syrup available to you. I always keep a bottle handy in my pantry because it's so good!

You can also add pure rose essence or extract and/or gulkand in addition if needed. 

Alternate flavoring ingredients that can be used are mango pulp or khus syrup. All these ingredients can be easily found in Indian grocery stores or on Amazon. 

Sugar - I prefer white powdered sugar for this recipe. Powdered sugar blends well with the paneer. 

Cardamom - Indian desserts are incomplete without the hint of cardamom flavor. Just a pinch goes a long way. 

Nuts - Feel free to use any kind of nuts for garnish.

Besides the ingredients, you just need a grater, mixing bowl, and a mixer grinder to make this easy no-bake, no-cook dessert.

Here's how to make it

One of the easiest holiday desserts to make!

As promised, this Bengali sweet recipe is mess and fuss-free and of course very delectable!

1. If using frozen paneer, transfer it to the fridge the previous night. On the next day, let it thaw over the countertop till it softens. Then grate or crumble paneer.
2. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar to it.
3. Then add cardamom powder.
4. Mix it all together.
5. Transfer the contents to a mixer grinder jar. Add rose syrup and pulse for 10 seconds or until smooth. This is just to bring the mixture together evenly.
6. Transfer the mixture back to the mixing bowl. Shape them into your desired shape and place them on a platter.

My favorite Indian sweet.

Serving Suggestions

You can shape this mixture as desired. Feel free to use different molds or shape them with your hands. Get creative! 

I shaped them as lemon-sized balls and then flattened them lightly. Place an almond or pistachio in the center.

You can also garnish them with dried rose petals to make this Rose Sandesh mithai look even more visually appealing.

Refrigerate it for 30 minutes and then serve this easy no-bake dessert with a glass of Cherry Lemon Iced Tea! It will help balance the flavors. 

The texture of this Rose Sandesh is so smooth and soft that it will melt in your mouth immediately, not to mention the tantalizing aroma of rose that will make your tastebuds tingle!

Serve this easy Indian dessert at your next house party, or on a festive occasion like Holi, Diwali, Valentine's Day, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Baby Shower, Birthdays, or Anniversaries.

I plan on serving them for Holi this year. In case you are looking for more dessert recipes for Holi, check out this roundup post. 

You can also make them 2-3 days in advance and store them in the fridge. They also make great gifts for the holidays.

Top tips, recommendations, and suggestions

Ensure that the paneer is soft when you begin the recipe. That is key. If the mixture turns dry, just add a few drops of milk. If it becomes too thin, add some more paneer and grind it until smooth. 

While I have not tried it, but Ricotta cheese is a great substitute for paneer because of its similarity in texture. You will need to cook it with condensed milk, sugar, and cardamom to get the desired consistency. 

If you don't want to use rose syrup but still want this beautiful color, you can add beetroot juice/powder or organic pink food color.

Want to use homemade paneer?

If you have the time and enthusiasm, you can prepare paneer from scratch and then use it to make this Bengali sweet. The taste is amazing when it's made using homemade paneer. 

However, in that case, cook the paneer in a pan to remove the raw flavor. It should become softer and come together to form a dough. Also, ensure that the milk you use to make paneer is full-fat.

Freshly made paneer or chenna is best for this recipe. However, even store-bought paneer is fine and that is what I always use to make this famous Bengali sweet. 

Sugar alternatives

In place of powdered sugar, you can use any other variety. However, keep in mind the color may change a bit if using jaggery powder or brown sugar.

Also, powder it first. It will then easily mix with the paneer. You may also try adding honey. But add it gradually till it reaches the desired level of sweetness. 

Alternate flavoring

Instead of rose flavor, you can give it many alternate flavorings. Add 2 tablespoons of mango pulp and make Mango Sandesh.

Similarly, you can add cocoa powder/chocolate sauce to make Chocolate Sandesh or add Khus syrup to make Khus Sandesh! The options are many, so feel free to get creative.

In fact, if you are making this dessert for a festival like Holi, then you can prepare a mix of all these flavors. It would be a visual treat for all that's perfect for this colorful festival. 

BTW, you can also make it plain without adding any flavoring. That is actually the basic recipe. 

How to store them?

You can store them in the fridge, in an airtight container. They stay well for a week. You may also freeze them if needed. Just thaw to room temperature and serve. 

Can you make it vegan?

I am yet to veganize this Rose Sandesh recipe. Since paneer is a dairy product, this mithai is not for vegans. While I haven't tried it, you can use soft tofu or sweet potato along with almond flour and coconut. 

Mash and saute them along with sugar and cardamom till they are well combined. Add any flavoring ingredient like rose syrup or mango pulp. Mix and then shape them as desired. 

BTW, you can also use paneer to make this dessert called Instant Sweet Paneer Gujiya Shells! They are yum!

More no-bake easy desserts

• Peanut Butter Oats Chocolate Bars 
• Shrikhand Milkshake
• Raspberry Date Coconut Balls
• Thandai Chocolate Bark
• Apple Pistachio Mousse
• Lemon Cream Cheese Bites
• Chocolate Rava Laddu

Serve this for Holi!

If you’ve tried this Rose Sandesh - Bengali Sweet Recipe or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how it went by commenting below, I love hearing from you!

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Rose Sandesh - Bengali Sweet Recipe

Rose Sandesh is a colorful twist to the evergreen Bengali Sweet recipe. This no-bake easy dessert/mithai can brighten up any festival or party! Plus, it can literally be made in 15 minutes! Save this recipe, it's a keeper!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, sweets

Cuisine: bengali, Indian

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 12 pieces

Calories: 138.97kcal

Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

Equipment

Mixer Grinder

Mixing Bowl

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 cups paneer
• ▢ 6-8 tablespoon powdered sugar
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
• ▢ 2 tablespoon rose syrup
• ▢ 12 Almond slices for garnish

Instructions

• If using frozen paneer, transfer it to the fridge the previous night. On the next day, let it thaw over the countertop till it softens. Then grate or crumble paneer.
• Transfer to a mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar to it.
• Then add cardamom powder.
• Mix it all together.
• Transfer the contents to a mixer grinder jar. Add rose syrup and pulse for 10 seconds or until smooth. This is just to bring the mixture together evenly.
• Transfer the mixture back to the mixing bowl. Shape them into your desired shape and place them on a platter.
• Refrigerate it for 30 minutes and then serve this easy no-bake dessert.

Notes

You can shape this mixture as desired. Feel free to use different molds or shape them with your hands. Get creative! 

I shaped them as lemon-sized balls and then flattened them lightly. Place an almond or pistachio in the center.

You can also garnish them with dried rose petals to make this Rose Sandesh mithai look even more visually appealing.

You can also make them 2-3 days in advance and store them in the fridge. They also make great gifts for the holidays.

Ensure that the paneer is soft when you begin the recipe. That is key. If the mixture turns dry, just add a few drops of milk. If it becomes too thin, add some more paneer and grind it until smooth. 

While I have not tried it, but Ricotta cheese is a great substitute for paneer because of its similarity in texture. You will need to cook it with condensed milk, sugar, and cardamom to get the desired consistency. 

If you don't want to use rose syrup but still want this beautiful color, you can add beetroot juice/powder or organic pink food color.

Want to use homemade paneer?

If you have the time and enthusiasm, you can prepare paneer from scratch and then use it to make this Bengali sweet. The taste is amazing when it's made using homemade paneer. 

However, in that case, cook the paneer in a pan to remove the raw flavor. It should become softer and come together to form a dough. Also, ensure that the milk you use to make paneer is full-fat.

Freshly made paneer or chenna is best for this recipe. However, even store-bought paneer is fine and that is what I always use to make this famous Bengali sweet. 

Sugar alternatives

In place of powdered sugar, you can use any other variety. However, keep in mind the color may change a bit if using jaggery powder, palm sugar, or brown sugar.

Also, powder it first. It will then easily mix with the paneer. You may also try adding honey. But add it gradually till it reaches the desired level of sweetness. 

Alternate flavoring

Instead of rose flavor, you can give it many alternate flavorings. Add 2 tablespoons of mango pulp and make Mango Sandesh.

Similarly, you can add cocoa powder/chocolate sauce to make Chocolate Sandesh or add Khus syrup to make Khus Sandesh! The options are many, so feel free to get creative.

In fact, if you are making this dessert for a festival like Holi, then you can prepare a mix of all these flavors. It would be a visual treat for all that's perfect for this colorful festival. 

BTW, you can also make it plain without adding any flavoring. That is actually the basic recipe. 

How to store them?

You can store them in the fridge, in an airtight container. They stay well for a week. You may also freeze them if needed. Just thaw to room temperature and serve. 

Can you make it vegan?

I am yet to veganize this Rose Sandesh recipe. Since paneer is a dairy product, this mithai is not for vegans. While I haven't tried it, you can use soft tofu or sweet potato along with almond flour and coconut. 

Mash and saute them along with sugar and cardamom till they are well combined. Add any flavoring ingredient like rose syrup or mango pulp. Mix and then shape them as desired. 

Nutrition

Calories: 138.97kcal | Carbohydrates: 7.47g | Protein: 5.47g | Fat: 9.88g | Saturated Fat: 5.66g | Cholesterol: 24.75mg | Sodium: 11.42mg | Potassium: 10.38mg | Fiber: 0.15g | Sugar: 6.39g | Vitamin A: 0.01IU | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 183.51mg | Iron: 0.17mg

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