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Jamaican Inspired Sweet Potato Pudding

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This Sweet Potato Pudding is inspired by a Jamaican recipe I grew up eating. Sweet potato, coconut milk, and fragrant spices make this the perfect pudding for any occasion. 

half eaten sweet potato pudding in baking dish with blender to the side


 

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One of my favorite Jamaican treats is a slice of sweet potato pudding. I didn’t get it every day, desserts were limited in our household growing up, but when I got it, it was amazing. 

I also love the fact that this recipe is vegan! No eggs, no milk, no butter.

You’re probably wondering why in the world I named this recipe Jamaican Inspired Sweet Potato Pudding. I did that for a few reasons:

  • Traditional Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding does not use the orange sweet potato typically found in US grocery stores. The sweet potato used in the traditional recipe has a white or light yellow flesh with a red outer skin. You can find it in most international grocery stores under the name “batata.” The batata potato is much firmer when made into pudding, making it easier to slice and serve that way. My recipe is more of a pudding-like consistency. If you’re looking for a recipe using batata potatoes, try this Jamaican Sweet Potato recipe
  • The traditional recipe calls for grating the sweet potato on the side of a box grater with the smallest holes. I’ve done it that way but prefer to use my blender for a smooth consistency. Plus it’s much easier. 
  • I use canned coconut milk as it’s easier than using block coconut or fresh coconut. 

Now that I’ve cleared that up, let’s get into how to make this yummy pudding.

How to make Sweet Potato Pudding

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. We need it nice and warm to bake in. 

Then, you’ll grab 2 lbs of sweet potato. Wash, peel, and chop your sweet potato into large chunks. Then add the sweet potato to your blender with the coconut milk. Blend until your mixture is smooth. I tend to do 2 batches to ensure the mixture is blended smooth and there are no large chunks. 

Once your sweet potato and coconut milk are blended, add the puree to a large bowl. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, allspice, and nutmeg to the bowl and stir to combine.

sweet potato puree with sugar and spices in a bowl

Then add in your flour and stir to combine. I add the flour in my sifting it in but don’t stress if you don’t have one of these fancy tools. Sometimes I just skip the sifting as well. 

Then pour the mixture into an 8×8 baking dish.

sweet potato mixture in 8x8 baking dish

Place in preheated oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick entered in the center comes out clean. 

baked sweet potato pudding in baking dish

Cool and serve and enjoy.

Pro tip: This recipe is good when eaten right away but is even more amazing when served the next day. 

Eat it as is or top with a scoop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 

sweet potato pudding in glass jar with a scoop of ice cream in front of blender

Looking for more Caribbean recipes? Try these out:

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4.34 from 6 votes

Jamaican Inspired Sweet Potato Pudding

This Sweet Potato Pudding is inspired by a Jamaican pudding I grew up eating. Sweet potato, coconut milk, and fragrant spices make this the perfect pudding for any occasion. 
Course Dessert
Cuisine Caribbean
Keyword jamaican sweet potato pudding, sweet potato pudding
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 10 people
Calories 391kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs raw sweet potato peeled and chopped
  • 13.6 oz can coconut milk
  • 1 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Dash of browning optional
  • 2 1/2 cups flour

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add sweet potato and coconut milk to blender. Blend on medium speed for 30 seconds or until sweet potatoes are pureed.
  • Place puree in a large bowl and add the remainder of the ingredients and stir.
  • Pour into an 8×8 baking dish and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until pudding is set and toothpick entered in the center comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool in baking dish and enjoy 🙂

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 477mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 12870IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3mg
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Recipe Rating




Gracie

Wednesday 30th of March 2022

When eating the sweet potato pudding the next day, how should you warm it up and for how long?

Thank you.

Tanya

Friday 1st of April 2022

Hi Gracie, I use the microwave in 30 seconds increments until it's warmed through.

Wintress

Wednesday 7th of October 2020

My grandmother used to make something similar to this. Just no coconut milk and she added eggs.

Andrew

Wednesday 1st of July 2020

I made this for my wife last week. She loves it

Dee

Wednesday 1st of January 2020

Ooops that DEFINITELY DOES NOT LOOK LIKE JAMAICAN (Emphasis on the WORD JAMAICAN) Sweet Potato pudding...it might be a sweet potato pudding from another country BUT IT SURE AIN'T JAMAICAN...TRY AGAIN

Emma

Monday 15th of January 2024

@Tanya, Tanya you really got her there you put her in her place.... Sincerely, Emma

Elaine

Sunday 24th of September 2023

@Tanya, girl you told her. Maybe next time she will read before criticizing. I love your recipes although I haven't tried them yet. But believe me I am going too. I just ran across your website on Pinterest trying to find something different and new.

Andrew

Wednesday 1st of July 2020

@Dee, it's 100% Jamaican. You can decide how moist you want it. Also the recipe calls for a half cup of the custard( coconut milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, pinch of cinnamon) to be thrown on pudding halfway thru the baking process. I use 1 cup and sometimes 1 and a half cup to make it moist. It's 100 percent vegan. There are several jamaican sweet potato pudding recipe on the internet like this. It all depends on how moist you want the pudding. This guy pudding looks moist and it looks great. Great with ice cream. My wife wants me to make this once a week. It makes her feel full and she doesn't eat much after she eats this pudding. This baker is on point. It looks delicious and I am 100% Jamaican.

Notoya Foster

Thursday 16th of April 2020

No I am a jamaica I like it so you are wrong okay

Tanya

Wednesday 1st of January 2020

Hi Dee, Ooops, it looks like you didn't read the word "Inspired" in the title of the recipe or anywhere in the post where I mention that this recipe is INSPIRED by Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding. By definition, the word inspire means "to influence." So you are correct, this sure isn't traditional Jamaican Sweet Potato, as I never said it was...Try again.