30+ Best Hawaiian Desserts You Must Try
Take a sweet trip to paradise with these amazing Hawaiian desserts!
The sunny islands blend Asian, American, and Polynesian flavors into treats that will make your taste buds dance.
From creamy coconut puddings to fruity cakes, I will share over 30 Hawaiian desserts to bring joy to your table.
Why You’ll Love Hawaiian Desserts
These island sweets will win your heart with their tropical flavors and easy-going style. Many recipes use simple ingredients but taste like vacation. They bring bright colors and fun vibes to any table.
Best Hawaiian Desserts
These desserts mix tropical fruits, coconut, passion fruit, mango, pineapple, and local flavors to refresh your day. You’ll find quick no-bake options and fancy cakes to impress your friends.
Hawaiian Butter Mochi
This chewy, sweet treat makes me smile every time I bite into one. The mix of coconut milk and butter creates a bouncy texture that’s totally addictive. I love how the edges get slightly crispy while the inside stays soft. It’s like a happy hug for your mouth!
Haupia (Hawaiian Coconut Pudding)
Cool and smooth like a cloud, this coconut dessert melts on your tongue. The simple white squares or glass of cream look plain but pack big flavor. I first tried haupia at a luau and couldn’t believe how something so simple could taste so good. It’s coconut magic in every bite!
Instant Pot Kulolo
This traditional Hawaiian dessert uses taro root, brown sugar, and coconut milk. The Instant Pot makes it much easier than the old-school method. The result is dense, sticky, and uniquely delicious. It connects you to ancient Hawaiian food traditions with modern cooking ease.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
The sweet pineapple rings get all caramelized on top, making a gooey, yummy topping for the fluffy cake below. This classic brings Hawaii right to your kitchen. The mix of tangy pineapple and brown sugar creates a flavor that’s hard to beat.
Hawaiian Shave Ice
Not just regular snow cones! The ice is shaved so fine it feels like fresh snow. Topped with fruit syrups and sometimes sweetened milk, it’s the perfect cool treat. On hot days in Hawaii, nothing beats the rainbow colors and icy refreshment of this classic treat.
Hawaiian Bread Pudding
Sweet bread soaks up a mixture of coconut milk, eggs, and tropical fruits. After baking, it turns into a warm, custardy delight that makes your kitchen smell amazing. The King’s Hawaiian rolls make it extra special with their hint of sweetness.
Hawaiian Wedding Cake
You don’t have to wait for a wedding to enjoy this! Crushed pineapple makes this cake super moist. The cream cheese frosting with coconut on top takes it to the next level of yumminess. Every forkful feels like a little celebration!
Passion Fruit (Lilikoi) Bars
Tangy and sweet, these bars have the perfect lip-puckering punch. The bright yellow filling sits on a buttery crust that crumbles just right. When I first made these, my kitchen filled with the most amazing tropical smell that took me straight to Hawaii.
Hawaiian Guava Cake
The pretty pink color comes from real guava, giving this cake its tropical flavor. Soft layers topped with fluffy guava frosting create a treat that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. It’s always the star at parties with its eye-catching hue!
Hawaiian Cheesecake Bars
Creamy cheesecake meets tropical flavors in these easy-to-eat bars. The shortbread crust holds a smooth filling loaded with pineapple and coconut. They’re like a mini vacation that fits in your hand. Perfect for when you need a quick trip to paradise!
Hawaiian Cheesecake Fluff Dessert Salad
This creamy, cloud-like treat blends cheesecake flavor with tropical fruits in every spoonful. The marshmallows and chunks of pineapple create fun texture surprises. I love serving this at summer gatherings where the light, fluffy mixture disappears within minutes. It’s like Hawaiian sunshine in a bowl!
Hawaiian Poke Cake
Not the fish dish! This cake gets “poked” with holes that fill with fruity syrup. The result is a super moist cake with surprise bursts of flavor in every bite. Kids go crazy for the fun colors that peek through when you cut a slice.
Okinawan Sweet Potato Haupia Pie
The purple layer from sweet potatoes looks so cool against the white coconut haupia layer. The contrast isn’t just in looks – the earthy sweetness of the potato plays perfectly against the light coconut cream. This pie always gets “wows” when you serve it!
Hawaiian Ice Box Pie
No oven needed for this cool, creamy pie! The filling has crushed pineapple and coconut whipped into a cloud-like texture. I love making this when it’s too hot to bake. Just mix, chill, and enjoy a slice of tropical heaven!
Piña Colada Cake
Imagine a tropical vacation in cake form—pineapple, coconut, and rum flavors shine here. Fluffy layers with a creamy frosting make it a boozy (or kid-friendly) delight. Perfect for summer birthdays!
Hawaiian Layered Jello
Pretty layers of fruit-flavored jello make this dessert as fun to look at as it is to eat. The creamy layers between the jello add richness. This jiggly treat is always the star at potlucks, with kids and adults fighting over the last piece!
Guava Cloud Pie
Light as air but packed with the unique flavor of guava. The pink filling swirls into the whipped topping, creating a dreamy look. This pie tastes like the Hawaiian breeze – fresh, sweet, and unlike anything on the mainland. It’s pure island magic!
Mini Hawaiian Guava Cake
These little pink cupcakes look so cute and taste even better! The delicate guava flavor is both sweet and a little tangy. At my friend’s Hawaiian-themed party, these tiny treats disappeared faster than any other dessert. Everyone wanted the recipe!
Hawaiian Dream Dessert Cups
This no-bake dessert will impress your guests! Creamy layers and tropical fruits make these cups a perfect single-serving treat. The mix of textures from crunchy to smooth creates a fun eating experience. They look fancy but are secretly super easy to make.
Lilikoi Sorbet
The bright, zingy taste of passion fruit shines in this refreshing frozen treat. It cleans your palate and wakes up your taste buds. Nothing beats this cold, smooth scoop on a hot day. The vibrant yellow color looks like sunshine in a bowl!
Mango Coconut Tapioca Pudding
The little tapioca pearls feel like fun bubbles in your mouth. Fresh mango chunks add sweet bursts of flavor to the coconut pudding. I make this when I find perfectly ripe mangoes and want to show off their amazing flavor. It’s a spoonful of tropical happiness!
Hawaiian Ice Cream Cake
Layers of ice cream mixed with crushed pineapple and toasted coconut make a frozen treat perfect for parties. No baking is required—just assemble and freeze. My family requests this for summer birthdays instead of regular cake—it’s so delicious!
Hawaiian Ambrosia Fruit Salad
This creamy fruit mix with pineapple, coconut, and marshmallows walks the line between salad and dessert. The sweet dressing coats every piece of fruit perfectly. It’s a classic that brings back memories of family gatherings and backyard luaus. Simple but so satisfying!
Ube Mochi
The stunning purple color from ube (purple yam) makes this mochi truly special. It has the same chewy texture as regular butter mochi but with a unique, gentle sweetness. One bite and you’ll understand why purple foods are having such a moment right now!
Nutty Hawaiian Chocolate Cupcakes
Rich chocolate cupcakes get a tropical twist with macadamia nuts and a hint of coconut. The whipped ganache frosting is lighter than buttercream but just as yummy. These fancy little cakes taste like they came from a high-end bakery but are simple to make at home.
Mango Coconut Cupcakes
Chunks of fresh mango hide inside these coconut-scented cupcakes. The bright fruit flavor pops against the sweet cake base. My first attempt at these turned me into the dessert hero at our block party. They look sunny and taste even brighter!
Easy Passion Fruit Mousse
Light and airy, this mousse carries the tropical punch of passion fruit in every spoonful. The eggless recipe makes it worry-free for everyone to enjoy. The balance of sweet and tart hits just right, making it impossible to stop at just one serving!
Coconut Pineapple Banana Bread
This isn’t your regular banana bread! The added pineapple keeps it super moist while the coconut adds tropical flair. I love how the kitchen smells when this is baking – like a Hawaiian vacation right in my home. It’s great for breakfast or dessert!
Pineapple Popsicles
These frozen treats cool you down with sweet pineapple flavor. Some recipes add coconut milk for a creamy twist. Kids and adults both reach for these when the temperature rises. They taste like frozen sunshine and bring smiles with every lick!
Copycat Guri Guri
This unique frozen dessert from Maui falls somewhere between ice cream and sherbet. The creamy, fruity scoops have a light texture that’s totally addictive. Until my trip to Hawaii, I’d never tasted anything like it – now I make this copycat version to bring back happy travel memories.
Double Chocolate Hawaiian Tiramisu
This twist on Italian tiramisu uses Kona coffee and adds chocolate and tropical fruits. The coffee-soaked cake layers and creamy filling create an amazing contrast. It’s a fancy dessert that combines European techniques with Hawaiian flavors for something truly special.
Pineapple Cobbler
Warm, juicy pineapple bubbles under a sweet, buttery crust. The contrast of the hot cobbler with cold ice cream on top is pure dessert magic. This twist on a mainland classic proves that pineapple deserves to be baked into more desserts! Simple but so satisfying.
Banana Lumpia (Turon)
These crispy fried banana rolls show the Filipino influence on Hawaiian cooking. The caramelized sugar coating adds extra sweetness and crunch. I had these at a friend’s family gathering and couldn’t stop eating them. They’re simple but totally irresistible!
Final Thoughts
Hawaiian desserts bring sunshine to your table no matter where you live!
The mix of tropical fruits, coconut, and unique ingredients creates treats that stand out from mainland sweets.
I hope you try making some of these island goodies at home. They’re easier than you might think!
Many need just a few special ingredients that you can find online or at well-stocked grocery stores.
What’s your favorite Hawaiian dessert? Have you tried any of these tropical treats on a vacation or at home?
Share your sweet memories in the comments – I’d love to hear about your island dessert adventures!
