Calories in Indian Sweets: Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, Ladoo and More
Updated 11 November 2026 ยท By the Thali Lens team
Mithai is sugar plus fat, usually ghee, khoya or fried dough. A single piece is small, so it is easy to eat three without noticing. The table shows what one piece costs.
| Sweet | Serving | Calories (kcal) |
|---|---|---|
| Gulab jamun | 1 piece, 40 g | 150 |
| Jalebi | 1 piece, 35 g | 140 |
| Rasgulla | 1 piece | 110 |
| Rasmalai | 1 piece | 160 |
| Besan ladoo | 1, 40 g | 180 |
| Motichoor ladoo | 1 | 160 |
| Kaju katli | 1 piece, 15 g | 65 |
| Milk barfi | 1 piece, 30 g | 130 |
| Kheer | 1 katori, 150 g | 220 |
| Gajar halwa | 100 g | 270 |
Sugar in one piece
The World Health Organization advises keeping added sugar below about 50 g a day for an adult eating 2,000 kcal, and says lower is better. One gulab jamun carries roughly 15 g of sugar. Two pieces after dinner, plus sugar in tea through the day, can cross the limit.
Syrup sweets and dry sweets
Rasgulla and gulab jamun sit in sugar syrup. Pressing a rasgulla lightly before eating removes part of the syrup. Ladoo and barfi have less water, so they are denser: a 40 g besan ladoo has more calories than a 40 g gulab jamun.
Festival season
During Diwali or a wedding week the pieces come from every side. Counting exact calories is not practical. A simple rule works better: one piece at a time, eaten slowly, and not on an empty stomach.
Quick tips
- Have the sweet right after a meal, when you are already full.
- Cut large pieces in half and share.
- Kheer or fruit custard made at home with less sugar is lighter than fried sweets.
- If you have diabetes, follow the plan your doctor or dietitian has given you.
Related guides
- Calories in Chai, Coffee, Lassi and Other Indian Drinks
- High-Protein Vegetarian Indian Foods (With a Sample Day)
- How to Build a Balanced Indian Thali of About 500 Calories
- Indian food calorie chart
Values are typical estimates for home-style cooking and common serving sizes. Recipes and portions differ, so real values can be higher or lower. This page is general information, not medical advice.