I love the Indian custom of making sweets for festivals. Those who visit this Site often, know of my weakness for sugary treats. So, while I never need an excuse to indulge, if a legitimate one comes along, you won't catch me missing out on the opportunity!

Here are just a few of the sweets I will make for Christmas this year. Before you are totally shocked at my 'sugar fest', let me say, I will share them with friends and family. Not only is that the traditional Indian way, it means, I will have the pleasure of making them, but won't end up eating too many. Here they are...

• Quick and Easy Milk Barfi
• Chocolate Walnut Fudge
• Besan Ka Laddoo (pictured above)
• Coconut Barfi

_{Image © 2009 Petrina Verma Sarkar, Licensed to About.com}

A favorite Indian Christmas sweet, Marzipan is made in to all manner of shapes, the most popular being fruits. What you can do with it is practically limitless, since you can mix food colour into portions of Marzipan as you knead or even paint on the shapes once you've made them, using a regular artist's paint brush!

I once knew a girl who used to make Marzipan Shapes (pictured at right) by the kilo and then fill them in little gift bags to give to friends as presents over the festive season. Now that is what I call spreading the joy!

_{© Photographer: Myrthe Krook | Agency: Dreamstime.com}

My friends Ian and Charlene had their first baby, Max, five months ago. He is utterly gorgeous with his mop of unruly curls and beautiful grey eyes! Not surprisingly, Charlene is smitten. So in love is she with her son, that though he has still not started on solids, she is already planning what she will make 'for him' for Christmas! While she does not intend for him to eat any of the goodies she will painstakingly prepare, they are her way of marking and making Max's first Christmas, extra special.

So, what will you do to make the Christmas season special for you and your family? If you're like me, food will figure high on the list! I would love to hear what traditions you have and what you will cook over the festive period. Do use the Comments link below to share.

I for one, will soon get started, cooking up my family's favorite Christmas Sweets and Snacks. We actually make an event of it, with the kids joining in the preparations. It's messy but it sure is fun and becomes the stuff memories are made of.

_{© Photographer: Jan Couver; Agency: Dreamstime.com}

My Mom has cut, chopped and soaked masses of candied peels in rum ages ago, in anticipation of Christmas cake-making time! I can't get over the fact that it's that time of year again! Days just seem to have flown by!

Anyway, time aside, nobody makes Christmas cake like my Mom. It is among the most anticipated foods in our huge family! When she bakes it, the house is filled with the delicious smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Mom is always happy to pass on her recipe but somehow, no matter who makes it or how accurately they follow the recipe, it is never as good as hers. I may be biased but how can you blame me? Mommy is always best eh?!

If you haven't already started, now is the time to bake your Christmas cake.

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