Hawaiian Dessert Ideas: Tropical Sweets to Enjoy

Hawaiian Dessert Ideas – Hawaiian desserts are a delightful fusion of tropical flavors, island traditions, and cultural influences, creating sweet treats that are both refreshing and indulgent. From the rich and creamy Haupia, a coconut milk-based pudding with a silky texture, to the beloved Malasadas, Portuguese-inspired deep-fried doughnuts dusted with sugar, these desserts capture the essence of island living. Exotic fruits like pineapple, mango, and passion fruit play a starring role in treats such as Lilikoi (passion fruit) bars and pineapple upside-down cake, adding a vibrant burst of flavor.

Shave ice, an iconic Hawaiian favorite, offers a cooling escape from the heat, often drizzled with tropical syrups and topped with condensed milk or azuki beans. The chewy and sweet Butter Mochi, made with glutinous rice flour and coconut milk, provides a unique cross between cake and mochi, while the nutty Macadamia Nut Pie offers a tropical twist on traditional pecan pie. Whether it’s the creamy decadence of Coconut Cream Pie, the comforting simplicity of Banana Lumpia (fried banana rolls), or the fruity freshness of a Pog (Passion Orange Guava) Sorbet, Hawaiian desserts bring a taste of paradise with every bite.

Hawaiian Dessert Ideas

Hawaiian desserts are a tropical delight, blending island flavors like coconut, pineapple, passion fruit, macadamia nuts, and guava with influences from diverse cultures. Here’s a comprehensive list of over 100 Hawaiian desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Classic Hawaiian Desserts

1. Haupia (Coconut Pudding)
2. Butter Mochi
3. Malasadas (Portuguese Doughnuts)
4. Shave Ice (with Tropical Syrups)
5. Lilikoi Bars (Passion Fruit Bars)
6. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
7. Macadamia Nut Pie
8. Coconut Cream Pie
9. Hawaiian Chantilly Cake
10. Guava Chiffon Cake

Tropical Fruit-Based Desserts

11. Mango Mochi
12. Papaya Sorbet
13. Passion Fruit (Lilikoi) Cheesecake
14. Coconut Pineapple Tart
15. Grilled Banana with Coconut Caramel
16. Pineapple Mochi
17. Mango Pudding
18. Pineapple-Coconut Popsicles
19. Guava Cheesecake
20. Passion Fruit Crème Brûlée

Hawaiian Cakes & Baked Goods

21. Pineapple Macadamia Nut Bread
22. Hawaiian Butter Pound Cake
23. Taro Mochi Cake
24. Ube Butter Mochi
25. Coconut Haupia Cake
26. Lilikoi Bundt Cake
27. Banana Macadamia Nut Muffins
28. Chocolate Haupia Pie
29. Hawaiian Honey Cake
30. Mango Bread

Hawaiian Donuts & Fried Treats

31. Poi Malasadas
32. Coconut Doughnuts
33. Pineapple Beignets
34. Macadamia Nut Doughnuts
35. Taro Fritters
36. Guava-Stuffed Malasadas
37. Banana Lumpia (Turon)
38. Mochi Donuts
39. Fried Coconut Balls
40. Ube Malasadas

Frozen & Chilled Desserts

41. Hawaiian Ice Cream (Coconut, Macadamia, Pineapple)
42. Passion Fruit Sorbet
43. Hawaiian Lava Flow Ice Cream
44. POG (Passion Orange Guava) Sorbet
45. Frozen Haupia Bars
46. Guava Popsicles
47. Macadamia Nut Gelato
48. Coconut Ice Cream with Toasted Macadamia Nuts
49. Lychee Jelly with Coconut Milk
50. Mango Coconut Parfait

Traditional & Cultural Hawaiian Desserts

51. Kulolo (Taro Coconut Pudding)
52. Sweet Poi Dessert
53. Laulau Sweet Rice Pudding
54. Coconut Poi Cake
55. Taro Haupia Squares
56. Hawaiian Sticky Rice with Coconut Cream
57. Banana Poi Pie
58. Coconut Rice Balls
59. Roasted Breadfruit with Honey
60. Kukui Nut Candy

Sweet Hawaiian Pastries & Cookies

61. Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies
62. Guava Cream Puffs
63. Pineapple Turnovers
64. Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies
65. Haupia-Filled Pastries
66. Lilikoi Tarts
67. Guava Danish
68. Pineapple Coconut Biscotti
69. Hawaiian Tea Cakes
70. Ginger Macadamia Nut Cookies

Hawaiian-Inspired Cheesecakes & Pies

71. Guava Macadamia Nut Pie
72. Coconut Haupia Cheesecake
73. Lilikoi Swirl Cheesecake
74. Banana Cream Pie with Coconut Crust
75. Macadamia Nut Caramel Tart
76. Pineapple Coconut Cream Pie
77. Hawaiian Sweet Potato Pie
78. Mango Passion Fruit Tart
79. Kona Coffee Cheesecake
80. Ube Cheesecake

Caramel, Candies, & Sweet Snacks

81. Hawaiian Caramel Popcorn (With Coconut & Macadamia Nuts)
82. Macadamia Nut Brittle
83. Li Hing Mui Candy (Dried Plum Candy)
84. Coconut Taffy
85. Pineapple Gummy Candies
86. Chocolate-Covered Macadamia Nuts
87. Hawaiian Honey Roasted Nuts
88. Kona Coffee Chocolate Truffles
89. Lilikoi Marshmallows
90. Tropical Fruit Leather

Hawaiian Holiday & Special Occasion Desserts

91. Christmas Haupia Log Cake
92. Hawaiian Wedding Cake (Coconut & Pineapple)
93. Pineapple Coconut Snowballs
94. Mango Sticky Rice (Hawaiian Style)
95. New Year’s Mochi Soup (Ozoni)
96. Hawaiian Banana Foster
97. Passion Fruit Soufflé
98. Guava Haupia Parfait
99. Pineapple Cheesecake Bars
100. Ube Ice Cream with Haupia Swirl
101. Lilikoi Pound Cake

Hawaiian desserts are a celebration of tropical flavors, bringing together fruity, creamy, and nutty elements to create indulgent and refreshing treats.

Recipes

1. Haupia (Coconut Pudding)

A classic Hawaiian dessert, haupia is a creamy coconut pudding with a firm, gelatin-like texture.

Ingredients:

• 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth.
2. Heat coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
3. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture while whisking continuously.
4. Cook until thick (about 5–7 minutes), stirring constantly.
5. Pour into a square pan and smooth the surface.
6. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until firm.
7. Cut into squares and serve chilled.

✅ Tip: For extra flavor, top with toasted coconut flakes!

2. Butter Mochi

A chewy, buttery, coconut-flavored treat with a crispy top.

Ingredients:

• 1 box (16 oz) mochi flour (sweet rice flour)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together mochi flour, sugar, and baking powder.
3. Add wet ingredients: Stir in melted butter, coconut milk, milk, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
4. Pour batter into pan and smooth the surface.
5. Bake for 50–60 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

✅ Tip: Store in an airtight container to keep it chewy!

3. Malasadas (Portuguese Doughnuts)

Hawaiian-style fluffy, deep-fried doughnuts coated in sugar.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
• 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3 large eggs
• Vegetable oil (for frying)
• 1 cup granulated sugar (for coating)

Instructions:

1. Activate yeast: Mix yeast, warm water, and 1 tsp sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
2. Make dough: In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt, milk, butter, eggs, and yeast mixture. Knead until smooth.
3. Let rise: Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until doubled in size.
4. Shape malasadas: Punch down the dough, roll out to 1/2-inch thick, and cut into pieces.
5. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry until golden brown (about 2 minutes per side).
6. Drain on paper towels and roll in sugar while warm.

✅ Tip: Fill with custard or jam for an extra treat!

4. Shave Ice (with Tropical Syrups)

A Hawaiian icy treat flavored with tropical syrups.

Ingredients:

• Crushed ice (use a shave ice machine or blender)
• Flavored syrups (mango, passion fruit, guava, coconut, etc.)
• Sweetened condensed milk (optional, for a creamy touch)

Instructions:

1. Shave ice into a bowl or cone until fluffy.
2. Drizzle with tropical syrups (mix multiple flavors for a rainbow effect).
3. Optional: Pour sweetened condensed milk over the top.

✅ Tip: Add fresh fruit or mochi bits for extra flavor!

5. Lilikoi Bars (Passion Fruit Bars)

A tropical twist on classic lemon bars.

Ingredients:

• Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup sugar

• Filling:

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup lilikoi (passion fruit) juice
  • 1/4 cup flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the crust: Mix flour, butter, and sugar until crumbly. Press into pan and bake for 15 minutes.
3. Make the filling: Whisk eggs, sugar, lilikoi juice, and flour until smooth. Pour over crust.
4. Bake for another 25 minutes. Let cool completely.
5. Chill, then cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar.

✅ Tip: Use fresh passion fruit for the best flavor!

6. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

A classic tropical cake with caramelized pineapple topping.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 can pineapple rings (reserve juice)
• 10-12 maraschino cherries
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Melt butter and brown sugar in a cake pan. Arrange pineapple rings and cherries on top.
3. Mix dry ingredients: Flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Mix wet ingredients: Sugar, eggs, pineapple juice, buttermilk, and vanilla.
5. Combine wet and dry ingredients and pour over pineapple.
6. Bake for 40 minutes. Cool, then flip upside down to reveal caramelized fruit.

✅ Tip: Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!