Haupia facts for kids
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| Type | Pudding |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Hawaii |
| Main ingredients | coconut milk, pia or cornstarch |
Haupia is a yummy, traditional Hawaiian dessert. It's made from coconut milk and is often served at special Hawaiian parties called luaus. People in Hawaii also enjoy it at other local get-togethers. Since the 1940s, haupia has become a popular topping for white cakes, especially at weddings. Even though it's a type of pudding, haupia feels a lot like gelatin dessert. It's usually cut into small blocks and served that way.
Contents
The Story of Haupia
Traditional Ingredients
The first Hawaiian recipes for haupia used heated coconut milk. This was mixed with ground pia. Pia is a plant also known as Polynesian arrowroot. It helped the mixture get thick.
Modern Changes
Today, it can be hard to find pia starch. So, many modern recipes use cornstarch instead. This makes it easier to prepare haupia at home.
How it's Made Today
In a typical modern recipe, you mix coconut milk, sugar, and a little salt. Then you add arrowroot or cornstarch. This mixture is heated until it becomes thick and smooth. After that, it's poured into a rectangular pan. It cools down, just like gelatin, and then it's ready. Traditionally, it's cut into small blocks. These blocks are often served on squares of ti leaves.
Haupia's Relatives
Haupia is very similar to a European dessert called blancmange. Both are creamy, sweet dishes thickened with starch.
Fun Ways to Enjoy Haupia
Haupia Pie
A popular way to eat haupia is in a pie. The haupia forms one layer in a pie crust. Often, there's another layer on top. This second layer might be chocolate or purple sweet potato.
Haupia Flavors
Sometimes, other coconut desserts might be called "haupia flavored." But if they use unflavored gelatin instead of cornstarch, they aren't true haupia. In Hawaii, McDonald's even sells "Haupia Pies." They are similar to their famous apple pies.
