Mrs. Tanaka’s Sweet Potato Haupia Squares
This piece from March 2011 has been trending in our page views, so we’re reprising it here as a sweet Friday treat.
Photo: Melissa Chang
The 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 sweet and rich goodness dissolving in my mouth in every bite. People were demanding to know the recipe.
Well, you’re in luck. The woman who made the dessert, Mrs. Tanaka, agreed to share her recipe. Oh, and if you need a taste tester to let you know if you did it right or not, let me know!
Crust
- Combine 1-1/2 C flour with 4 T sugar
- Cut in 1-1/2 block butter
- Press in 9×13 pan
- Bake 325 degrees for 20–25 minutes
Filling
- Mix 8 T butter with 1 C sugar
- Add 2 beaten eggs
- Gradually mix in 2 C cooked and mashed sweet potato (purple)
- Add ½ c evaporated milk, 1 t vanilla, ¼ t salt
- Mix well. Pour onto crust. Bake 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool.
Haupia topping
- Combine ½ c sugar and ½ c cornstarch
- Stir in 1-1/2 c water
- Pour 2 frozen (12oz) Hawaiian Sun coconut milk (thawed) into nonstick pot
Add sugar mixture into pot. Stir over low heat constantly using plastic spoon until thickens. Cool slightly. Pour over pie filling. Refrigerate till firm. Cut into squares and serve.
Warning: This dessert is addicting. 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
