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Cook Islands Poke (Banana Pudding)
Sweet ripe bananas baked in a creamy coconut sauce — a classic Cook Islands dessert.
Prep
10 min
Cook
45 min
Servings
6
Difficulty
Easy
★★★★★
4.7(960 ratings)#banana#coconut cream#dessert#pacific#baked#gluten-free
About This Recipe
In the Cook Islands, 'poke' refers to a sweet baked pudding made with ripe bananas (or papaya) set in thickened arrowroot and coconut cream. It is dense, fragrant, and deeply satisfying — nothing like the Hawaiian raw-fish dish of the same name. Served at every island celebration, it is pure tropical comfort food.
Ingredients
Serves 6
- 6very ripe bananas, mashed
- 400 mlcoconut cream
- 3 tbsparrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- 4 tbspsugar
- 1 tspvanilla extract
Instructions
- 1
Preheat
Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Grease a medium baking dish.
- 2
Mix batter
Combine mashed banana, coconut cream, arrowroot, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- 3
Bake
Pour into the prepared dish. Bake for 40–45 minutes until the top is golden and the centre is set.
- 4
Cool and serve
Allow to cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, sliced into squares.
Pro Tips
- →
Use very ripe, blackening bananas for maximum sweetness.
- →
The pudding firms up as it cools — do not overbake.
Variations
- •
Replace half the banana with mashed papaya.
- •
Drizzle extra coconut cream over the top before serving.
Storage
Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Serve at room temperature.
History & Origin
Poke is one of the oldest Cook Islands desserts, made from whatever fruit was plentiful. Banana poke remains the most popular version across Rarotonga and the outer islands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cook Islands poke and Hawaiian poke?
They share a name but are entirely different dishes. Hawaiian poke is a raw fish salad; Cook Islands poke is a baked sweet pudding.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (170g / 6.0 oz) · 6 servings total
Calories240kcal
Protein2g
Carbohydrates42g
Fat9g
Fiber2g
Protein2g
Carbs42g
Fat9g
Time Summary
Prep time10 min
Cook time45 min
Total time55 min
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