Pen Patat (Haitian Sweet Potato Pudding)
Local name: Pen patat
In short: A dense, moist Haitian sweet potato pudding with coconut milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, lime zest and raisins, baked until dark on top and sliceable. It takes about 1 h 35 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 10 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 35 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 260 kcal
Pen patat is a dense, moist sweet potato pudding scented with coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg and lime zest. Grated sweet potato is mixed with coconut milk, evaporated milk and brown sugar, and baked until the top is dark and the middle is soft and sliceable. Haitian families bake it for holidays and weekends, and it is often eaten as a sweet snack with coffee.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Butter a 23 cm (9 inch) square baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, melted butter, coconut milk and evaporated milk until smooth. Stir in the vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, lime zest and salt.
- Fold in the flour, then add the grated sweet potato, mashed banana and raisins. Mix until evenly combined. The batter will be loose.
- Pour into the dish and smooth the top. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, until the top is dark brown and a skewer comes out nearly clean.
- Cool in the dish for at least 1 hour. The pudding firms up as it cools. Cut into squares and serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips
- Grate the sweet potato on the fine side of the grater and stir it in right away, so it does not darken. White-fleshed sweet potatoes are traditional, but orange ones work.
- A tablespoon of dark rum stirred into the batter is a common addition for holidays. Leave it out for a child-friendly pudding.
Questions and answers
Can I make pen patat ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps for 4 days in the fridge and tastes even better the next day. Slice and rewarm briefly in the oven or microwave.
Can I freeze pen patat?
Yes, for up to 2 months. Wrap individual slices tightly and thaw overnight in the fridge.
Is pen patat the same as sweet potato pie?
They share a base, but pen patat is baked as a dense pudding with grated sweet potato, coconut milk and spices, and it has no pastry crust.
How long does it take to make Pen Patat (Haitian Sweet Potato Pudding)?
About 1 h 35 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pen Patat (Haitian Sweet Potato Pudding)?
About 260 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 36 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 260 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 130 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
