Vegan Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
I enjoyed sweet potato pudding while growing up in Jamaica. It is easy to make, using a food processor or a blender. I must say it wasn’t as easy to make when I was growing up, but it was such a delight to eat and an appreciation of my mother’s labor of love that brings back warm memories!
Vegan Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
In Jamaica, they call this baking style “hell a top, hell a bottom, and hallelujah in the middle.” It results in a decadent pudding with a perfectly baked sweet custard top.
Nowadays, I make my version of Jamaican sweet potato pudding vegan and gluten-free. I quickly peel and chop the potatoes. Process in a food processor, add canned coconut milk, gluten-free flour, and spices, and pop it in an oven. I do a special step to get the custard topping by adding extra sweetened coconut milk halfway during baking.
This recipe is a must-try, there isn’t much room to fail if you are trying it for the first time. You will be happy you tried it! Serve it with my Jamaican Stew Peas with Dumplings and my Jamaican Sorrel Drink for a truly authentic taste of the Island.
In Jamaica, this baking style is called “hell a top, hell a bottom, and hallelujah in the middle.” The result would be a decadent pudding perfectly baked with a sweet custard top.
Nowadays, I make my version of Jamaican sweet potato pudding vegan and gluten-free. I peel and chop the potatoes.
Process in a food processor, add canned coconut milk, gluten-free flour, and spices, and pop it in an oven. I do a special step to get the custard topping by adding extra sweetened coconut milk halfway during baking.
This recipe is a must-try, there isn’t much room to fail if you are trying it for the first time. You will be happy you tried it! Serve it with my Jamaican Stew Peas with Dumplings and my Jamaican Sorrel Drink for a truly authentic taste of the Island.
How To Make Vegan Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
To make Jamaican Sweet Potato pudding, you will need a special variety of sweet potato that has white flesh with red skin. It is mainly sold in West Indian, Asian and African grocery stores. But fortunately, it’s getting more popular here in the USA and it can even be found in Walmart. Sometimes it is also sold as ‘batata’.
Pro Chef Tip
Update: I have known readers who have replaced gluten-free flours with regular all-purpose flour with great success.
Also, a reader noted that she has doubled the flour and was able to have success using American sweet potatoes. I will have to try it soon.
How to Store Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding?
I usually store mine for 1-2 days in a container with a tight-fitting lid, then refrigerate any leftovers. It also freezes well.
Other Vegan Desserts To Try
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Vegan Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potato (aka batata) *See Notes
- 1 14-ounce can coconut milk
- 1 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 teaspoon ginger freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup gluten-free all purpose flour or brown rice flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon optional
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg optional
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Custard Topping
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 pinch cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven 375℉. Grease a 9-inch round baking pan. Set aside.
- Peel sweet potatoes and roughly chop. Grate using the grater or a food processor in batches. If using a food processor or blender, add some coconut milk to help process.
- Transfer grated sweet potatoes to a large bowl, add coconut milk, coconut palm sugar, spices and salt.
- Stir in flour to form a mostly smooth batter.
- Pour batter into cake pan and bake for 45 minutes.
- Combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl and pour evenly on the top of the pudding.
- Return pudding to oven and bake for another 45 minutes or until top is golden brown.
- Delicious served alone or with coconut whipped cream.
- Please double the flour if using the regular American sweet potato variety.
this looks and sounds amazing. I am in need of tweeking a little as i’m ‘keto’ish’ and can’t use flour, but can use ‘Lupin flour, coconut flour, almond flour’ would this be okay? and to confirm, the potatoes are grated RAW, not cooked correct? I’m use to baking my sweet potatoes so wasn’t sure if i was reading the recipe correctly. and I can’t wait to try this.
Elaine, I’m thinking lupin flour would be your best bet or how about tapioca flour? Be mindful to double the flour in the recipe if using regular orange-fleshed American sweet potatoes because they are more watery and yes the potatoes are raw. I hope you enjoy it.
Hi, Michelle
I just made the pudding . Pure heaven 😋! Delicious and nutritious ,so the only problem would be not to eat it in the same day😜
Haha, Marianela, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing your feedback. I understand its hard to eat one slice :)
Thanks for the recipe.
Keep safe and faithful to His Words for soon, Jesus will come. Be strong.
Thanks again.
You are welcome my dear, many blessings and protection on you and your family.
Hi Michelle! The pudding looks amazing, can’t wait to try it! What is the best way to store this pudding once it cools? Should I put it in the refrigerator? Thank you in advance for your answer!
Violet, I usually keep mine for 1-2 days in a covered container and then refrigerate if any is left. It also freezes well.
Thanks you, Michelle!
Ok, thanks very much. Will let you know how it turns out.
Hi Michelle,
I need your help, please.
Do I purchase 2 pounds of potatoes ? Or should I measure 2 pounds of grated potatoes in a measuring cup?
Verna, this recipe is so forgiving. You could peel and grate 2 medium-size sweet potatoes and it will work.
Ok, thanks very much. Will let you know how it turns out.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. Before I make this I was wondering if I could use normal plain flour ? I’ll be using organge sweet potatoes so It seems as tho i will need to double the flour. Hope to hear back :)
Grace, yes you can and also double the flour. Hope you enjoy!
Thank you Michelle
This was absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe and your cherished memories!
Carol, I’m happy you enjoyed, thank you for sharing your feedback. I appreciate it.
I currently have this baking in the oven right now! I used the grater blade in my food processor. Hopefully the texture turns out ok. I tasted a bit of the batter and it tastes great. What is the best way to store this pudding once it cools?
Vicky, when I used my food processor I usually use the S blade with the coconut milk, scraping down the sides. I hope you enjoy it.
It’s a long time since I had proper Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding! I love the fact that there is FINALLY a healthier, non-dairy recipe from a genuine Jamaican!
Please continue to post healthier versions of beloved Jamaican recipes! My mother gets YouTube on the Roku box and I know she’d love to see some demonstrations of you making your recipes but I have noticed that some of your videos seem to go so fast! Would it be possible for you to do a demonstration of this recipe where you go step by step, while mentioning the measurements of the ingredients–just everything until it’s ready to put in the oven?
Keep up the great work!
Dawn, I’m so happy you love my sweet potato pudding recipe, it is my plan to do live recipes as soon as I get all the kinks worked out. Summertime here is so hectic and I’m doing lots of catering events etc. but as soon as I get settled down I hope to do live videos. Thank you for your encouraging words, I really appreciate them.
What can be used instead of coconut milk and sugar, for no coconut allowed in diet?
Patty instead of coconut milk, use any of your favorite plant-based milk, for example, oat milk or rice milk. Note it will taste just as good but just lack the traditional coconut flavor, which is understandable. I have used maple syrup with success and coconut sugar. I’m sure you could also blend pitted dates with the non-dairy milk in a high-speed blender until very smooth, you would just have to add enough to sweeten the pudding. You would have to taste the batter, making sure it is sweet to taste. Hope this helps.
Hi Dawn. You can slow down the speed of the YouTube videos in settings.