24 Best Hawaiian Dessert Recipes To Try

For a simple and refreshing treat, try this brown sugar grilled pineapple recipe. I love acidic fruits like pineapple, and tossing them in brown sugar and cinnamon elevates the tang even more! Using a charcoal grill gives the fruit a smokey flavor. This treat pairs well with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tasting a slice of chocolate haupia pie is like biting into luscious, silky heaven. This is the perfect dessert to curb your chocolate cravings because it uses minimal ingredients. You also do not bake this dessert. I enjoy making variations of this recipe for friends, like adding coffee powder or spices.

I love coconut-based desserts like German chocolate cake or coconut cream pie. So of course, I find these nutty bars delectable, too. The gooey layers of coconut mixed with the macadamia nuts provide a fun texture. This recipe makes cookie bars, so you do not have to spend extra time scooping out dough.

Instead of chocolate pie, try making this traditional Haupia recipe instead. Haupia is the Hawaiian version of coconut pudding. Most people cut the pudding into little squares before serving it as a cute treat. To maintain the square-like shape, add extra cornstarch to the pudding mixture for firmer results.

This no-bake Hawaiian dream cake recipe is an excellent option to bring to summer potlucks or barbeques. Its coconut-forward taste pairs well with the chunks of pineapple in the center. This flavor combination reminds me of a pina colada. Add some macadamia nuts as a garnish to make this recipe more authentically Hawaiian.

What’s better than a regular slice of cheesecake? A bite-sized cheesecake bar filled with pineapple and coconut. Instead of a graham cracker crust, this recipe uses shortbread cookie dough. I like adding lemon or lime zest to this dough for a subtle pop of flavor. I think it compliments the pineapple and coconut well.

This Kulolo recipe is perfect for those who own an Instant Pot. This pressure cooker technology cuts down cooking time tremendously. Kulolo combines sugar, coconut milk, and taro for a delightful treat. Taro is a root vegetable that tastes similar to a sweet potato.

Lilko’i bars are tangy like a citrus bar, but they contain passionfruit instead. Passionfruits work beautifully in desserts because they are sweet and a little sour. They pair well with the buttery and flakey shortbread crust. Bake these bars in a 9x13-inch pan, cut, and serve.

These donuts originate from Portugal but are also super popular in Hawaii. You can eat your malasadas plain or fill them with creamy coconut custard. These donuts are best served right after frying. However, reheating them in a toaster oven the next day works well (if they last that long).

Pineapple upside-down cake is one of my family’s favorite desserts. This Betty Crocker recipe is one of the tastiest and easiest to follow. You could make your own cake batter or use a premade mix. Either way, the result is something soft and gooey.

This Hawaiian-inspired recipe is a great way to add some flair to your average banana bread slice. This incredibly moist loaf contains canned crushed pineapple and macadamia nuts. I enjoy eating mine topped with butter and pineapple preserves. I recommend trying this treat if you have a few ripe bananas in your kitchen.

This straightforward dessert packs a flavorful punch. A Hawaiian poke cake is a perfect recipe for beginners in the kitchen because it impresses a crowd while requiring simple ingredients. Crushed pineapple and pudding keep the boxed cake mix moist, while toasted coconut and chopped nuts add a nice texture.

These Hawaiian pineapple squares include a thin and crispy shortbread base, which makes the perfect crust for a zesty pineapple filling. The glaze included in this recipe makes these bars unique from others. I love that it includes coconut extract. As you may notice from the other recipes on this list, coconut and pineapple are the ultimate flavor combination.

Hawaiian flavors and Japanese techniques collide in this Hawaiian butter mochi recipe. You can find butter mochi throughout Hawaii, and now you can make it at home. This dessert gets its chewy texture from a special ingredient called mochiko flour. I like the low sweetness level of this dessert.

My favorite part about this Hawaiian guava cake is its distinct pink color. I also like that this recipe begins with a boxed strawberry cake mix, adding even more fruit flavor. The added guava juice tastes incredible within the mild strawberry cake. A cool-whip topping makes this dessert even more light and refreshing.

Your fridge does most of the heavy lifting for this Hawaiian pineapple coconut lush recipe. It’s another no-bake dessert, meaning you should prepare it the night before planning to indulge. This lush recipe contains all the typical Hawaiian flavors — pineapple, coconut, and macadamia — for the perfect bite.

I love baklava in all forms, and this Hawaiian-inspired recipe is no exception. This baklava-turned-Hawaiian dessert includes toasted walnuts, shredded coconut, and pineapple packed into individual filo cups. I like that this recipe calls for premade filo shells because homemade filo can be quite finicky.

This Hawaiian rice pudding recipe is so simple, involving cooking rice and mixing added ingredients like pineapple juice and coconut. After chilling for a few hours, I like serving this dessert topped with macadamia nuts and toasted coconut. You could definitely feed a crowd with this rice pudding by doubling or tripling the recipe.

Many earthquake cakes are chocolate-flavored, but not this recipe. Though, this Hawaiian version does include white chocolate chips for an extra sweet treat. Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen creates her cake with layers of canned pineapple, coconut, and macadamia nuts. Due to these layers, each earthquake cake bakes differently. It’s like a tasty surprise.

I love traditional monkey bread recipes as a sweet breakfast or snack. This Hawaiian-style version maintains the classic brown sugar glaze, adding layers of crushed pineapple and coconut in between the dough. The hardest part about this recipe is waiting an hour or two for it to bake.

This Hawaiian ice box pie is the perfect summertime treat because of its cool and light taste. It requires minimal effort and kitchen tools which I appreciate as someone who despises washing dishes. This recipe calls for a homemade graham cracker crust. I like adding some cinnamon to mine for extra flavor. 

Passion fruit bars are a great alternative to lemon bars because they offer more sweetness than tartness. The passion fruit puree in this recipe pairs perfectly with the buttery shortbread crust, which gets a nice golden color in the oven.

These adorable Hawaiian tarts contain tangy pineapple preserves and flakey coconut. You handmake the tart cups for this recipe, and the extra effort is definitely worth it. The pastry dough melts in your mouth. They are bite-sized, so they are perfect for parties or as a sweet appetizer before dinner. 

Tapioca pudding may not be the first thing you think of when you think of Hawaii, but this dessert is popular there. It is also a beloved treat in my household. The small tapioca pearls provide a nice chewy texture within the silky pudding. If you’ve only had store-bought tapioca pudding, I highly recommend you try this recipe. It tastes so much better when made from scratch. To make this recipe dairy-free, try using coconut milk instead of whole milk.