This piece from March 2011 has been trending on our page views, so we’re reproducing it here as a Friday treat.
Photo: Melissa Chang
TThe other night at the Red Cross, I took a photo of these sweet potato haupia squares, and it caused such a stir! It tasted even better than it looks, with a rich sweet goodness that melted in my mouth with every bite. People demanded to know the recipe.
Well, you’re in luck. The woman who made the dessert, Ms. Tanaka, agreed to share her recipe. Oh, and if you need a taste tester to tell you if you’ve done it right or not, let me know!
Bark
- Combine 1-1/2 C flour with 4 T sugar
- Cut in 1-1/2 blocks of butter
- Press into a 9×13 pan
- Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes
stuffing
- Mix 8 T of butter with 1 C of sugar
- Add 2 beaten eggs
- Gradually mix in 2 C of cooked and crushed sweet potato (purple)
- Add ½ c evaporated milk, 1 t vanilla, ¼ salt
- mix well Pour over the crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. great
Topping Haupia
- Combine ½ c sugar and ½ c cornstarch
- Stir in 1-1/2 c water
- Pour 2 frozen (12 oz) Hawaiian Sun Coconut Milks (thawed) into a nonstick pot
Add the sugar mixture to the pot. Stir constantly with a plastic spoon over low heat until thickened. Cool slightly. Pour over the pie filling. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares and serve.
Warning: this dessert is addictive. Most people had at least two pieces each that night.
SEE ALSO: Where to Find Spoopy Halloween Treats on O’ahu
Melissa Chang is a longtime regular contributor to Frolic Hawai’i. @melissa808
