Hawaiian Haupia - A Vegan Coconut Pudding

For many states around the nation, August is the hottest month of the year. It's the season of last minute parties and summer potlucks before the back-to-school season begin. In Hawaiian culture, a popular dessert at luaus and potlucks is a coconut pudding. 

This recipe is not like traditional pudding that is smooth and thick, but rather solid squares similar to Jell-O. Now, you can add less cornstarch to make this a more pudding texture rather than a solid treat. But the traditional pudding in Hawaii is often served in squares. 

I found this beautiful 1960's Hawaiian retro dress that inspired me to recreate a Hawaiian recipe. Naturally, the Haupia is vegan without altering or changing the original recipe. The retro-style dress bursts in colors and with a floral design that it also reminded me of my favorite flowers, the dahlia. 

Between the colors and the shapes, it inspires vibrancy and I hoped to make something "cooling" during this peak heat of the season. To me, dahlias are the sun, a big ball  bursting with life and beauty. My inner Bohemian spirit feels alive when surrounded by color and flowers, and with the Hawaiian "aloha" spirit. 

​And in this time, the world can use more beauty and more of the Hawaiian spirit and wisdom in their life. 

Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua – (Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers.)

Ku’ia kahele aka na’au ha’aha’a –  (A Humble Person Walks Carefully So As Not To Hurt Others.)

From me to you, I wish you the best this summer and hope you can find a little bit of the Hawaiian spirit in you and in your home this summer. Stay cool! 

Cooking Notes: To make sure this recipe doesn't clump, be sure to mix the corn starch in completely. Some people also dissolve the cornstarch in water and then add it to the simmering coconut milk. I wanted a softer texture so I used 3 tbsp of cornstarch. You can also use up to 5 tbsp to ensure a very stiff jello-O consistency. 

This vintage dress and other vintage items are available on my Etsy shop, The Elizabethan Closet.

Hawaiian Haupia - A Vegan Coconut Pudding
Total Time: 15 minutes 
Makes 9 small squares 

Ingredients: 
1 can of coconut milk (do not use light)
3 tbsp cornstarch
3-4 tbsp cane sugar
pinch of salt

Directions: 
Whisk together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of coconut milk until the corn starch is dissolved. In a pot, heat up the coconut milk and dissolves the salt + sugar into the coconut milk. Once dissolved, pour in the cornstarch mixture and continue to mix and simmer for about 10 minutes. Do not boil. The mixture will thicken over time. 

From here you can pour into small dishes or ramekins or line a small pan (I used a 7x7 inch) like a bread pan or an 8x8 pan with parchment paper and pour the mixture in. Let it sit and settle in the fridge for several hours before cutting and serving. When cooled, remove the parchment paper from the pan and then cut into small squares. 

This will leave a little bit of softness/texture, so if you want it more like a jell-O consistency use up to 4 tbsp of cornstarch. For a sweeter dessert, use the four tbsp of sugar. 

Let's Connect! Here are some other coconut-based recipes listed below! 

Vegan Chocolate Brownie Bites Topped w/ Raspberry Coconut Whip

Vegan Lemon Cake Topped with Coconut Cream Frosting

Vegan Coconut Flan with Date Caramel

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