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Make delicious and healthy Oats Laddu under 25 minutes. Oatmeal, nuts, seeds, cardamoms, cinnamon and jaggery come together to make a guilt-free sweet snack that anyone can enjoy! This recipe shares 2 ways to make oats laddu aka Indian Oat Balls – with and without ghee.
Traditional Ladoo from the Indian sub-continent get a makeover resulting in these oats ladoo. Besan ladoo, Coconut ladoo and motichoor ladoo are some of the popular varieties often made during celebrations & festive season.
Most of these are loaded with sugar & ghee so if you are weight-watching or trying to eat healthy the traditional ladoos are a big NO!.
Whether you are looking forward to include more oats in your diet or trying to limit those ghee and sugar-laden sweets, these Indian style Oat Balls are just perfect for you.
These make a great snack for everyone – grown-ups, kids, toddlers and even the elderly.
About Oats Laddu
Like any other dish, these laddu can be made in many many ways. I had shared a lot of them earlier and the recipe shared here is the latest and is a no-fail recipe.
If you are making this for someone who is on a low fat diet, you can easily leave out the ghee in the recipe. The ladoos turn out slightly powdery that way but taste amazing.
For my boys, I prefer using a bit of ghee which reduces the powdery taste and keeps the ladoo softer. The entire recipe requires just 2 tbsps of ghee and makes 10 to 12 ladoos.
I have used peanuts here, you may replace them with cashew nuts, walnuts or almonds. For the seeds, I use pumpkin seeds and you can replace them with the same amount of sesame seeds.
Though you can make these only with oats and jaggery, I prefer to use nuts and seeds not only to improve the nutrition profile but also to help the ground oats bind well into balls.
When processed or ground, nuts and seeds begin to release oils and these act as a binding agent here. Jaggery, a natural unrefined sweetener is traditionally used in India to make traditional sweets.
Jaggery has a little moisture in it and that together with the nut and seed oils help to bind the oat mixture here.
Here is a picture of the oats ladoo made without ghee.
How to Make Oats Laddu (Stepwise Photos)
I made 2x recipe, so you will find double the quantities in the pictures.
1. Add 1 cup rolled oats to a pan and begin to toast them until aromatic, for 2 to 3 mins. This recipe also uses half inch Ceylon cinnamon (not cassia) which you will add here. If you have it in the ground form, you can use ¼teaspoonlater.
2. You will also need ¼cup + 2 tbsps roasted skinned peanuts (or almonds) and ¼cup toasted pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds. If you don’t have them toasted, you can roast them separately one after the other on a low to medium heat until aromatic and golden. Cool and rub the peanuts to remove the skin.
3. You will need 125 grams jaggery (grated or crushed). To make these oat balls without ghee, make sure you use traditional jaggery. If using store bought powdered jaggery, you will require to use 2 tbsps ghee later. The store bought powder has no moisture like the traditional jaggery so using ghee is essential.
4. Add the cooled rolled oats and cinnamon to the grinder or food processer.
5. You want a fine powder. Add ¼teaspoon ground cardamom.
6. Add the peanuts and pumpkin seeds.
7. Make a fine powder.
8. Add jaggery.
9. Grind/ process again to get a smooth fine powder. Taste test and add more jaggery if you want. If it is too sweet you may add more nuts, seeds or oats. If you want to make oat balls without ghee, make sure the oils from the seeds and nuts are well released. Test by taking a few tbsps of this powder to your hand and press down with your fingers, it should bind. You don’t need to test this if you want to use ghee.
Make Oat Balls without ghee
If you want to use ghee, scroll down to step 12.
10. I love adding 2 tablespoons of crushed skinned roasted peanuts. This gives a nice crunch to your ladoos.
11. Please note that these will be slightly powdery and will break down easily. So press down tight and hard. Store them at room temperature in a air tight jar for 3 weeks.
Oat ladoos with Ghee
12. Heat 2 tablespoons ghee in a pan and add 8 to 10 cashews (split open). Fry them until light golden and then add 2 tablespoons raisins. Soon they will turn plump. Turn off and remove the pan from the stove.
13. Cool down for 2 mins and then add the oat nut seed jaggery powder.
14. Mix well. And take portions of this to your palm and shape to balls. If you live in a cooler climate, you have to be fast before the ghee solidifies.
Store oats ladoo in a air tight jar at room temperature for 3 weeks.
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Recipe Card
Oats Laddu (Indian Oat Balls)
These Indian Oat Balls are guilt-free, delicious and healthy! Made with rolled oats, jaggery, nuts, seeds and ghee (optional), they are easy to make under 25 mins.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Prep Time20 minutes minutes
Cook Time5 minutes minutes
Total Time25 minutes minutes
Servings10 to 12
AuthorSwasthi
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup peanuts (skinned if possible or almonds, walnuts or cashews)
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (or sesame seeds)
- 125 grams jaggery (grated or crushed)
- ½ inch Ceylon cinnamon pieces (optional or ¼ tsp ground cinnamon)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (Elaichi powder)
Optional
- 2 tablespoons ghee (optional, read notes)
- 10 cashews (or 2 tbsps roasted peanuts crushed)
- 2 tablespoons raisins
Instructions
How to Make Indian Oat Balls
Add the peanuts to a heavy bottom pan and toast them on a medium heat until golden and aromatic. Transfer to a tray to cool down.
Add rolled oats & toast until aromatic, for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to another tray, (separate from the peanuts) and cool.
To the same pan, add pumpkin seeds and toast until they turn crisp and aromatic. Transfer to a tray to cool down. Optionally, rub off the peanuts to peel and separate the skins.
Add the rolled oats to a grinder or a food processor and grind/process to a fine powder.
Add the cinnamon, cardamom, roasted peanuts and pumpkin seeds, process until fine. Next add the grated jaggery and process/grind until well blended. Taste test and add more jaggery if you want. If it is too sweet you may add more nuts, seeds or oats.
To make without ghee
You just need to process a little longer until the peanuts and seeds begin to release enough oil so the mixture can bind. To test, take a few tbsps of this to your palm and try to bind it, pressing down hard with your fingers.
If the mixture does not bind, process a little longer or add more jaggery. Bind to 10 to 12 balls. For a crunch I add 2 tbsps crushed skinned roasted peanuts before binding.
To make with ghee
Heat ghee in a pan and fry the cashews until light golden. Add the raisins and fry until they turn plump.
Turn off and take the pan down from the stove. Let cool down for 2 mins and stir in the ground oats nut seed jaggery mixture.
It will all bind together. Take equal small portions to your palm and press down with your fingers to bind. You will be able to make 10 to 12 oat balls.
Store the oat balls in a air tight jar at room temperature and use within 3 weeks. These can also be refrigerated for longer.
Notes
- If you want to make this recipe without ghee, use traditional jaggery and not store bought powdered jaggery.
- I have always had success without adding ghee but they taste a bit powdery. If the mixture does not bind, just grind it a little longer or simply add a tablespoon of ghee.
- Adjust the quantity of jaggery to taste. If you find the mixture too sweet add more nuts or seeds.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
Nutrition Facts
Oats Laddu (Indian Oat Balls)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 128Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.001g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 22mg1%
Potassium 95mg3%
Carbohydrates 17g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 0.5IU0%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 14mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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