Festive island desserts can be a highlight of your luau.
Exotic tropical dances and music make a luau an experience, but the food makes it a party. Desserts are especially important to a party spread, adding a sweet treat at the end of a meal of favorites such as roasted pork and poi. Stay within the tropical theme by choosing luau desserts to complement the other flavors of the meal and add authenticity to the event. Does this Spark an idea?
Mango Ice Cream
Mangos add a tropical flavor to ice cream.
For a familiar treat with a tropical twist, make ice cream from scratch but add pureed mango to the mixture. Mango ice cream or sorbet purchased from the store can be substituted. If you cannot find mango ice cream, fold chopped mango chunks into softened vanilla ice cream and return the mixture to the freezer to harden. Hollowed pineapple halves or coconut shells make eye-catching bowls for serving the fruity luau ice cream.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Pineapple upside down cake is both comforting and tropical.
Even at authentic luaus in Hawaii, some shows offer desserts that are familiar to tourists, such as cake. To adapt simple cake for the tropical fare of the luau, make a pineapple upside-down cake, combining a familiar treat, cake, with pineapples, which are grown in large quantities in Hawaii. Make the cake from your own recipe or use a boxed mix.
Haupia
Haupia is a custard made with coconut cream instead of milk.
Luaus in Hawaii serve a traditional treat called haupia -- a thick custard made with coconut cream and thickened with arrowroot or cornstarch. A variation of haupia, served at Restaurant Miwa in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, incorporates haupia into a cream-cheese pie -- resulting in a rich tropical twist on everyday cheesecake.
Fruit
Fresh fruit, the simplest form of dessert, is easily adaptable to your luau menu. If you make a fruit salad, use tropical fruits such as papaya, mango and pineapple. Fill a hollowed pineapple half with the fruit salad for a tropical presentation. Fresh pineapple, papaya and mango chunks can be served with a yogurt dipping sauce, if you do not have time to make a salad of mixed fruit.
Tags: coconut cream, custard made, custard made with, familiar treat, fruit salad