9 Tasty Haitian Desserts You Need to Try

Last time, we traveled to Haiti to discover the top 20 Haitian savory dishes (if you haven’t read that article, you should do so). Today, the stars are Haitian desserts. 

Haiti has unique cooking techniques and practices that make its traditional foods rich in taste and flavor. However, there are few desserts in Haitian cuisine as we prefer our savory dishes. 

Nevertheless, there are some traditional desserts such as potato bread, tablets, and Haitian butter cake with a nice sweet icing, which is often eaten on birthdays or weddings .

Do you have a sweet tooth? Well, here we discover the 10 favorite desserts of Haitians. 

1. Pain Patate (Sweet Potato Bread)

Pain patate is certainly the favorite dessert of most Haitians. It’s pudding-like, banana bread texture and the mixture of sweet potato and spices that accentuate the flavor, makes this dish a dessert that is suitable for all occasions, whether it is a dinner with family or friends, a wedding or simply an afternoon with your special person.

2. Dous Kokoye

If you visit Haiti, the chances are small that you won’t run into a dous kokoye vendor. This is a boiling mixture of coconut milk, milk, coconut, sweet spices, and sugar. It is rich in flavor and the tantalizing aroma permeates the house when it is being cooked.

It is smooth and rich in flavor. If you are looking for a snack that is easy to make, dous kokoye is the one for you.

3. Akasan

This is a traditional Haitian drink that has the consistency of a thick milkshake. It is a sweet drink that is very popular with Haitian locals, who consume it a lot.

The consistency is of a pudding made with corn flour, evaporated milk, and spices. The main spices are vanilla, cinnamon, and anise. Traditionally, Haitians drink akasan for breakfast, just warm, accompanied with rolls.

4. Pain Mais

Just like pain patate (Haitian corn bread), pain mais has a banana bread texture. However, it is made with corn flour, sugar, banana, vanilla, and milk. 

5. Rapadou

Rapadou is an artisanal brown sugar made using traditional methods. It is produced exclusively from cane juice. The local recipe includes cane juice, cinnamon, and ginger. A few pinches of black coal ash are sometimes added.

Some consider this a medicine for heartburn, but it remains one of Haitians’ favorite desserts.

6. Beignet Haïtien

Beignets are usually eaten during the Haitian carnival. During this cultural event, there are musical parades, floats, costumes, confetti, and lots of food. Haitian carnival beignets are prepared and sold at carnival by street vendors.

The recipe for Haitian Beignet is simple and they taste like heaven. So, if you plan to visit Haiti during Mardi-Gras, make sure to try this wonderful snack.

7. Doukounou

Doukounou is a dish inherited from our ancestors the Tainos. It is from the same family as tamales. However, it is sweet.

It is prepared with corn flour, milk, sugar, cinnamon, raisins, vanilla extract, and beaten eggs. The raisins are traditionally wrapped in fresh banana leaves and steamed.

Before unwrapping, the pudding is allowed to cool and is then served at room temperature with a vanilla-cinnamon sauce.

8. Rum Raisin Ice Cream

Haiti evokes topical heat, and rum. The heat means ice cream and the favorite flavor here is rum raisin. Haitians especially appreciate the national ice cream made with milk, vanilla, sugar, and the special rum barbancourt, our heritage.

9. Konfiti (Jam)

If you are looking for a Haitian dessert that you can incorporate into your daily diet, grapefruit jam is the one for you. It is prepared by washing the peel of the grapefruit to remove the bitterness, and boiling it in sweet water and spices until the water is reduced. Grapefruit jam can be eaten on toast in the morning for breakfast.

Related: Most Popular Foods in Haiti

Related: Unmissable Haitian Christmas Dishes

Shamma Geste

Shamma is a Haitian law student and translator. She enjoys learning new languages and trying new recipes from around the world.