You deserve a ∏ (Pi) today. So how about a Chocolate Haupia Pie?
Today is March 14: 3.14. If you remember your Geometry, 3.14 is a very significant number. ∏, or “Pi” is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Science and Math geeks like to celebrate the number on March 14. And since it sounds like the word “pie”, Science and Math geeks who bake will make pies on that day as well!
Last year, we threw a big, Hawaiian-themed party at our house. Our Ultimate Hawaiian Backyard Lu’au featured many popular Hawaiian dishes as well as desserts. Our friend Melissa, who is a great baker, prepared this Chocolate Haupia pie for us. (“Haupia”, by the way, is a Hawaiian-style, coconut milk-based pudding.) It was the best!
Thankfully, Melissa and her husband Pat had photographed the pie-making process in their kitchen, and had emailed us their pics. We hadn’t posted the recipe before, so I figured Pi Day would be the perfect time to do it.
The Chocolate Haupia Pie recipe comes in two parts: a crust containing macadamia nuts, and the haupia filling.
Haupia Pie Crust Recipe
from the “Hilo Haupia Squares” recipe by Sam Choy
Ingredients
1/2 cup macadamia nuts (roasted, unsalted)
1 cup cold butter
2 cups flour
1/4 cup light brown sugar
Method
1. Heat oven to 350*F.
2. Pulse nuts in food processor till coarsely chopped.
3. Cut butter into pat-sized pieces.
4. Add butter, flour, and sugar to processor.
5. Pulse till butter is fully incorporated; it will just look like a dry, crumbly mixture.
6. Dump it into a 9×13 baking dish, and press with your hands to cover the bottom and about an inch or so up the sides of the pan.
7. Bake 15 minutes, till golden brown.
While the crust is baking, you can start making the haupia pudding for the filling.
Haupia Pie Filling Recipe
adapted from “Maika’i Favorites” by way of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Ingredients
10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2, 10-ounce cans of coconut milk (we like the Mae Ploy brand)
1-1/2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups sugar
3/8 cup cornstarch
1-1/2 cups water
Method
1. Whisk coconut milk, milk, and sugar together in a small saucepan. In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Bring the coconut milk mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry, whisking until thickened.
2. Microwave the chocolate pieces in a glass bowl on high for 1 minute. Stir to melt completely.
3. Separate half the haupia mixture into another bowl. Add the melted chocolate into the bowl of haupia.
4. Mix the chocolate and haupia together until well incorporated.
5. Pour the chocolate haupia mixture into the baked pie crust and spread it evenly over the bottom.
6. Pour the remaining haupia onto the top of the chocolate layer.
7. Chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour to set. Garnish with shaved chocolate and whipped cream.
I do hope you get to try out this chocolate haupia pie recipe. It’s really very easy to make, and the results are well worth it.
Aloha, Nate
After 2 years of drooling over this, I’m making it tomorrow for an LBJ birthday bash findraiser here in Central Texas. I have a feeling it will steal the show.
Patt,
good luck! Let us know how it goes 😉
It was a big hit at the event and my husband and sister declared it one of life’s perfect desserts.Of course, I had to make the crust twice because the first time I turned the nuts into nut butter.
Patt,
great to hear it! Thanks for the report back.
We have a local Hawaiian Cafe nearby that sells slices of this for $6.00 and if I got a good server, she made sure to give me a huge slice when I order it. Well, this morning I finally stopped drooling over your recipe and made it. It was absolute heaven and this my friend imho, is better then what’s served locally, and I’m not being biased. Thank you for the recipe. I cant wait to make more.
Lynn,
thank you for the comment and the compliments!