Vella Puttu is a traditional South Indian sweet made using jaggery and rice flour. It is usually prepared during festivals like Gokulashtami and Navratri. This recipe has a soft, crumbly texture and a mild sweetness that makes it comforting. It’s one of those dishes that brings a rich taste and beautiful aroma.

Vella Puttu Recipe is perfect for people who prefer sweets that are not too sugary or heavy. It is made with simple ingredients and it doesn’t require much effort to prepare. Even though it’s a festive sweet, this recipe can be made on regular days when you feel like having a quick and tasty homemade snack or dessert.
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About Vella Puttu
Vella Puttu is a much-loved sweet dish with a soft, crumbly texture and a homemade taste. It is made with just a few ingredients – mainly jaggery, rice flour, cardamom, and coconut. These ingredients come together beautifully to create a sweet that feels light yet full of flavor.
Vella Puttu is a beloved treat in many households, especially during festive times. It’s not just about the taste—it’s about the memories, traditions, and the joy of sharing something homemade with others. The aroma of melted jaggery mixed with cardamom and coconut often fills the kitchen, making it a warm and inviting delight.
This recipe is also perfect for beginners. Since it doesn’t require fancy tools, anyone can try it at home. It’s a lovely way to enjoy a traditional sweet without spending too much time in the kitchen. This sweet carries the essence of tradition and comfort in every spoon.

Vella Puttu Ingredients
- Rice flour – This is the key ingredient. Adds the base texture of the dish, which is soft and crumbly once steamed. Rice flour absorbs the jaggery syrup well, making it perfect for this recipe.
- Jaggery, water – Used to prepare the jaggery syrup. It adds sweetness and richness to the dish. It’s also a healthier alternative to refined sugar.
- Ghee – Used for frying cashews and adds richness and a delicious, aromatic flavor to the dish.
- Cashews, coconut – Add a rich, nutty flavor and a crunchy texture with a mild sweetness that complements the other ingredients.
- Cardamom powder – Adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the dish. It pairs perfectly with the jaggery and coconut.
- Edible camphor – Adds a unique flavor and fragrance, often used in traditional sweets for its distinctive aroma. It’s optional, but it enhances the authenticity of the dish.
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Why This Recipe Works
- This recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients.
- It’s a simple and quick recipe to prepare.
- This recipe has a soft, crumbly texture making it tasty.
- Jaggery adds natural sweetness, a healthier alternative for white sugar.
- It has a mild sweetness and a rich, aromatic flavor.
- It’s a healthy snack recipe that can be made in advance.
- Perfect for festivals and special occasions.
How to make Vella Puttu Step by Step
1.Dry roast rice flour till it changes color to light brown. Cool down, then sprinkle water little by little and make the entire flour wet, keep mixing.

2.The mixture should hold together when you press with it with your palms and should crumble and fall when you leave it (pidicha pidikkanam vitta uthuranum). Now collect the mixture in a clean muslin cloth and tie the ends to make a bag like. Steam the mixture for at least 8-10 minutes.

3.Cool down and then crumble it with your hands to break the lumps formed. Set aside. Now start preparing the jaggery syrup, add water to crushed jaggery just till immersing level.

4.Strain to remove impurities. Then heat up the syrup in a pan. Keep water in a plate to check the consistency. Keep boiling until you reach a consistency when you pour a drop of the jaggery syrup in water it should not get dissolved.

5. It should form a soft ball. This is the correct consistency. In a teaspoon of ghee fry the cashews and keep it ready.

6.Keep the flame in sim and immediately add the cooked rice mixture. Now add ghee, cardamom powder and edible camphor. Keep mixing till it becomes dry and all the jaggery syrup is absorbed. Add coconut, ghee fried cashews, mix well and switch off.

Enjoy it hot or warm!

Expert Tips
- Rice flour – If you don’t have time to grind rice flour at home, you can use store-bought rice flour or idiyappam flour.
- Jaggery syrup – It’s important to cook the jaggery syrup until it forms a soft ball in water for best results.
- Steaming – Steaming the rice flour mixture is essential for the perfect texture. Make sure to steam it thoroughly to avoid lumps.
- Frying – Frying the cashews in ghee adds a rich, nutty flavor that enhances the overall taste of the Vella Puttu.
- Sweetness – If you prefer a sweeter dish, you can add extra jaggery or extra sugar. Adjust it according to your taste preference.
- Coconut – Use freshly grated coconut for rich taste and flavor.
Serving and Storage
Vella Puttu is best served warm, allowing the flavors to blend together. You can serve it as a dessert or a sweet snack with tea or coffee.
As it has coconut, it does not keep well in room temperature for more than a day. You can store it in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator. Simply warm it up before serving.
FAQS
1.Can I use regular rice flour instead of store-bought flour?
Yes, you can use regular rice flour, but store-bought flour gives a smoother texture.
2.Can I substitute jaggery with sugar?
Yes, you can use sugar but jaggery gives a richer flavor and is a healthier alternative.
3.What can I use instead of edible camphor?
Edible camphor adds a unique flavor, but you can skip it.
4.Can I add other nuts?
Yes, you can add other nuts like almonds or pistachios, but cashews are the most commonly used.
5.How do I know if the jaggery syrup has reached the right consistency?
The syrup should form a soft ball when dropped into water. If it dissolves, you need to boil it further. If it is hard then the stage has passed and it has over cooked which will make the puttu hard.
6.Is this recipe kid-friendly?
Yes, it is a kid-friendly recipe. You can skip edible camphor and add more nuts.

If you have any more questions about this Vella Puttu Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this Vella Puttu Recipe? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Vella Puttu Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rice flour (You can use store bought rice flour / idiyappam flour too)
- 1/3 cup jaggery
- 2 tablespoon coconut
- 5 cashews broken
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 1 tiny pinch edible camphor
- 2 teaspoon ghee
- 1/4 cup water for jaggery syrup + as required for rice flour mixture
Instructions
- Dry roast rice flour till it changes color to light brown. Cool down, then sprinkle water little by little and make the entire flour wet, Keep mixing.
- The mixture should hold together when you press with it with your palms and should crumble and fall when you leave it(pidicha pidikkanam vitta uthuranum).
- Now collect the mixture in a clean muslin cloth and tie the ends to make a bag like…
- steam the mixture for at least 8-10 minutes.
- Cool down and then crumble it with your hands to break the lumps formed. Set aside.
- Now start preparing the jaggery syrup, add water to crushed jaggery just till immersing level.
- Strain to remove impurities. Then heat up the syrup in a pan. Keep water in a plate to check the consistency.
- Keep boiling until you reach a consistency when you pour a drop of the jaggery syrup in water it should not get dissolved.
- It should form a soft ball.This is the correct consistency.
- In a teaspoon of ghee fry the cashews and keep it ready.
- Keep the flame in sim and immediately add the cooked rice mixture. Now add ghee, cardamom powder and edible camphor.
- Keep mixing till it becomes dry and all the jaggery syrup is absorbed.Add coconut, ghee fried cashews, mix well and switch off.
- Serve Vella Puttu hot / warm.
Notes
- Rice flour – If you don’t have time to grind rice flour at home, you can use store-bought rice flour or idiyappam flour.
- Jaggery syrup – It’s important to cook the jaggery syrup until it forms a soft ball in water for best results.
- Steaming – Steaming the rice flour mixture is essential for the perfect texture. Make sure to steam it thoroughly to avoid lumps.
- Frying – Frying the cashews in ghee adds a rich, nutty flavor that enhances the overall taste of the Vella Puttu.
- Sweetness – If you prefer a sweeter dish, you can add extra jaggery or extra sugar. Adjust it according to your taste preference.
- Coconut – Use freshly grated coconut for rich taste and flavor.
Selvarani Ganesan
So cute miniature dolls……and painting too……New recipe for me…gng to trt sharmi
Rashida Shaikh
I bump here to see those cute miniatures, lovely.
Divs
those toys are way beyond cute! 🙂 have always loved puttu. this is a mouth watering twist with jaggery! must try!
Sharon Johnson
Very cute miniature toys!!!
Ramya Venkateswaran
Mom too make this cute ones.authentic puttu
Vaishnavi
This is a very yummy putti but takes lot of time n effort to make….stunning effort. The dolls are very cute. Would love to learn these. Can you please make of post of this when ur mom makes it next time?
Latha Somu
Mam it's so nicely just did so yummy dnt stop doing this so finally did it ?
Anu Kavya
Beautiful Miniature dolls and delicious puttu
prema
loved your Tamil comment –pidicha pidikkanam vitta uthuranum. Can imagine my Paati saying it to me.
This is a wonderful old world dessert. will definitely give it a try. Thanks for the recipe.
traditionallymodernfood
Love those works created by your mom:-) during navartri I wait for friday to taste this puttu. Looks delicious
Jeya krish
Sharmi, your recipes and the way you present it are just wonderful. Every time I try your recipe, it comes just perfect. you are such a blessing for Mittu and she must be really proud for having u as a mom!! Thanks 🙂 Keep going!!
Vidhya
Can the recipe be made with the readymade puttu podi that we get in shops instead of rice flour? Please clarify.
Sharmilee J
Yes you can try with puttu podi or idiyappam flour