gato

This sweet potato pudding is a classic Haitian dessert that doesn’t have French roots. Aside from communions, Haitian culture is not particularly cake-centric; this is one of the desserts that you will reliably find at most festivities. It’s made with tropical batatas, which are white-fleshed relatives of sweet potatoes. Each family has a variation of pain patate – this one is a combination of my paternal grandma’s and my mother’s traditional versions. The recipe is customizable to your taste. If you prefer a warmer flavor, add more ginger and nutmeg. If you don’t like raisins, try another tart dried fruit. Or feel free to bake it with bananas like an upside-down cake.