When was the last time you went to a luau? These classic parties are full of great music, cute costumes, and amazing food. Best of all, they’re fairly budget-friendly, and can be thrown at home with simple preparation. I know it’s not ideal luau weather right now but a tropical-themed party might be just what’s needed to beat the Winter blues!
To get the party started, I’ve compiled a list of the best Hawaiian party food recipes. These treats bring the tropics of Hawaii into your home, combining exotic flavor with your classic favorites.
Baby Frozen Tropical Fruit Bites
These bad boys combine the tropical flavor of fresh fruit with chocolate, creating the perfect, and healthy, Hawaiian party food. This recipe calls for bananas, strawberries, and pineapple, but feel free to get creative and pick and choose your own fruits.
Ingredients
- 3 medium bananas, sliced into 24 bite-sized pieces
- 12 strawberries, sliced in half
- 24 1-inch pieces of fresh pineapple
- 5 ounces of your favorite chocolate bar, chopped
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- 24 popsicle sticks
Directions
- Assemble the fruit into stacks. Press a popsicle stick through each stack and set on a parchment paper-lined baking tray. Freeze until solid, or for about 2 hours.
- Melt the chopped chocolate with the coconut oil in a double boiler or in the microwave. If using the microwave, cook in 20 second bursts, stirring in between each interval to prevent the chocolate from burning.
- Remove the fresh fruit from the freezer and dip each stack into the chocolate. Place the stacks back onto baking tray to harden. Once all the stacks are covered in chocolate, place the fruit back into the freezer for another ten minutes.
- Remove the stacks from the sheet and place in an airtight container to store in the freezer. When it comes time to eat, remove the fruit a few minutes prior to serving to allow it to come to room temperature.
Hawaiian Teriyaki Sliders
A luau is the perfect occasion to bust out the grill. For these flavorful sliders, start with your favorite burger recipe. Depending on your guests’ preferences, you can use pork, veggie, or traditional beef burgers (hint: pork goes really great with pineapple). Cook the burgers according to the recipe. On the opposite side of the grill, roast 1-inch slices of pineapple rings until they are just charred.
Place the burgers on desired bun (King’s Hawaiian rolls are my personal favorite) and top with the grilled pineapple, your favorite teriyaki sauce, and lettuce and tomato, if desired. Garnish with a paper umbrella, serve, and watch as your guests gobble this Hawaiian party food.
The Ultimate Mai-Tai
If you’re going to throw a luau, do not neglect the cocktails! With beautiful colors and flavors, Mai Tais are the quintessential Hawaiian beverage, and will pair swimmingly with the rest of your Hawaiian party food spread. This recipe makes one large pitcher, so plan accordingly if prepping for a larger or smaller group.
Ingredients
16 ounces of dark rum- 8 ounces of light rum
- 8 ounces of triple sec
- 32 ounces of orange juice
- 32 ounces of pineapple juice
- 24 ounces of sour mix (lemonade works, too)
- 8 ounces of grenadine
- Sliced limes and oranges to garnish
Directions
- Mix everything together in one large pitcher.
- Fill with chopped iced, and garnish with sliced limes and oranges, if desired.
Coconut Cream Cupcakes
If you’ve got kids at your luau, consider these coconut cream cupcakes. Start out by baking your go-to cupcake recipe; boxed is more than okay. We recommend vanilla cake, as this pairs nicely with the coconut. To make the frosting, beat 1 cup of unsalted, room temperature butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 3 cups of powdered sugar until well incorporated. Add 2 tablespoons of milk, or more if the frosting seems too dry. Beat in one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 3 ounces of shredded coconut. Frost the cooled cupcakes, and serve with sliced banana, if desired.
