Tropical flavors and fresh fruit always bring Hawaii to mind for me. Coconut, passion fruit, and pineapple are just so delicious and vibrant.
Visiting the islands is definitely on my bucket list to accomplish within this decade. I must settle for incredible homemade treats until that trip happens.
Any of these 14 recipes would look perfect on a dessert table or in a fancy restaurant. Flavor rules supreme in this collection.
You will want seconds.
1. Hawaiian Dream Cake
You make this cake incredibly tropical by swapping water for pineapple juice. The faux-cheesecake layer brings even more island taste with crushed pineapple.
I really love the thick pudding and how moist the tender cake becomes. Sweetened whipped cream lightens the whole thing up beautifully.
Toasted coconut adds a nice crunch to the top.
2. Rainbow Jello
I recall eating Jello as a child, but it never looked this cute. This dessert is simple but requires a bit of time to prepare.
You must make and set every single layer individually to get those clean lines. I adore how the creamy layer separates the colors and adds flavor.
3. Hawaiian POG Recipe
Passion fruit, orange, and guava make up the acronym P.O.G. I prefer a glass of this tropical dream over plain orange juice any morning.
Use fresh fruits if you own a high-quality blender. You can swap pineapple for the passion fruit if fresh options are scarce.
Store-bought natural juices also work well without a blender. A splash of rum turns this into one amazing cocktail.
4. Instant Pot Kulolo
Kulolo is a warm, chewy fudge that resembles pudding and utilizes taro. It typically requires hours of steaming or baking.
An Instant Pot reduces that cooking time by half. You need to grate the taro for this recipe.
Stick with brown sugar for the best flavor profile.
5. Haupia Cake
You will understand why this coconut pudding is popular in Hawaii after just one bite. It shines as a cake filling and offers a refreshing change from standard sugary frosting.
I love the clean white finish this dessert has. A layer of passion fruit or crushed pineapple in the middle creates a nice addition.
6. Copycat Guri Guri
Guri Guri functions as a fabulous hybrid ice cream. You do not need a machine to combine the cream, condensed milk, and strawberry syrup.
Stir the mixture occasionally while freezing to maintain a light consistency. Strawberry is popular, but pineapple comes in a close second.
7. Hawaiian Pineapple Poke Cake
The beauty here is that the pudding seeps in to keep things moist even if you accidentally over-bake the cake. This recipe utilizes crushed pineapples for big pops of flavor.
That fruity taste pairs perfectly with the creamy topping.
8. Hawaiian Ambrosia
This southern dessert sometimes confuses people. It is definitely delicious despite not being a salad in the traditional sense.
You get plenty of fruitiness from the mandarins, grapes, pineapple, and coconut. Cool Whip enrobes the whole thing.
Mini-marshmallows provide extra sweetness for picky eaters.
9. Chocolate Haupia Pie (Ted’s Bakery Copycat)
Haupia is a thickened coconut layer that resembles custard or pudding. Cornstarch sets it into a silky smooth texture.
A mixture of chocolate chips and this coconut haupia creates the second filling. It becomes creamy and velvety once set.
Coconut flavored whipped cream tops the slices.
10. Brown Sugar Grilled Pineapple
Grilled fruit is unfortunately quite underrated. We often seek out huge scoops of ice cream or frosted cakes instead.
Grilled fruit is actually one of the best summer desserts available. Brown sugar adds a deep flavor and helps the natural sugars caramelize.
The fruit chars and softens on the grill until it melts in your mouth.
11. Hawaiian Cheesecake Bars
I love everything about these bars. A buttery shortbread base always wins in my book.
I would happily eat the pineapple cheesecake filling straight from the bowl. The chewy coconut topping belongs on everything.
These make a scrumptious dessert that freezes well for later.
12. Passion Fruit Ice Cream
You probably know Australians love passion fruit and coconut if you have seen their recipes. Hawaii seems to share that love for similar beachy reasons.
You can find passion fruit pulp online or in certain grocery stores. It is essential to use the pulp rather than juice.
13. Coconut Macadamia Nut Bars
These buttery, chewy little bars are hard to resist. The simple shortbread base holds the toppings without distracting from the taste.
They are absolutely full of flavor. Macadamia nuts, coconut cream, brown sugar, and lemon juice make this perfect for an after-dinner treat.
14. Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread
Do not skip this recipe even if you think you have baked enough banana bread lately. I understand that many of us overdid it in 2020.
This one is on another level entirely. It features chewy coconut, crushed pineapple, and chopped cherries.
Start with super ripe bananas and toast the coconut for maximum flavor.