Pineapple Cheesecake with Haupia Sauce
Photo: James Carrier
Yields Makes 10 to 12 servings
Mark Okumura, executive pastry chef at Alan Wong's Hawaii Regional Cuisine Marketplace in Honolulu, as well as the Pineapple Room, gives cheesecake a triple tropical twist with pineapple, coconut (haupia), and macadamia nuts.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Cut pineapple in half crosswise. Cut 1 portion into 4 equal slices. Finely chop remaining portion.

Step 2
2

In a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over high heat, stir brown sugar and rum until sugar is dissolved. Add pineapple slices; cook, turning once, until liquid is boiling rapidly and fruit is slightly darker, about 4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer glazed pineapple slices to a rimmed plate. Cover and chill. Add chopped pineapple to frying pan; stir often until fruit is slightly darker, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 3
3

In a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, sour cream, granulated sugar, and eggs until blended. Stir in chopped pineapple- brown sugar mixture. Pour cream cheese filling into cool macadamia crust.

Step 4
4

Bake in a 350° oven until center barely jiggles when cake is gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cake cool to room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours, then cover and chill until cold, at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.

Step 5
5

Meanwhile, rinse frying pan, wipe dry, add coconut, and stir over medium-high heat until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Pour into a small bowl; when cool, cover airtight.

Step 6
6

Arrange glazed pineapple slices on top of the cheesecake; sprinkle with coconut. Cut cheesecake into wedges, transfer to plates, and spoon about 2 tablespoons haupia sauce around each portion.

Ingredients

 1 peeled, cored pineapple (about 1 lb.)
 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
 2 tablespoons rum
 3 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese
 1/2 cup sour cream
 2/3 cup granulated sugar
 3 large eggs
 1/2 cup sweetened shredded dried coconut

Directions

Step 1
1

Cut pineapple in half crosswise. Cut 1 portion into 4 equal slices. Finely chop remaining portion.

Step 2
2

In a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over high heat, stir brown sugar and rum until sugar is dissolved. Add pineapple slices; cook, turning once, until liquid is boiling rapidly and fruit is slightly darker, about 4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer glazed pineapple slices to a rimmed plate. Cover and chill. Add chopped pineapple to frying pan; stir often until fruit is slightly darker, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 3
3

In a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, sour cream, granulated sugar, and eggs until blended. Stir in chopped pineapple- brown sugar mixture. Pour cream cheese filling into cool macadamia crust.

Step 4
4

Bake in a 350° oven until center barely jiggles when cake is gently shaken, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cake cool to room temperature, about 1 1/2 hours, then cover and chill until cold, at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.

Step 5
5

Meanwhile, rinse frying pan, wipe dry, add coconut, and stir over medium-high heat until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Pour into a small bowl; when cool, cover airtight.

Step 6
6

Arrange glazed pineapple slices on top of the cheesecake; sprinkle with coconut. Cut cheesecake into wedges, transfer to plates, and spoon about 2 tablespoons haupia sauce around each portion.

Pineapple Cheesecake with Haupia Sauce

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