Gateau Patate

Name: Gateau Patate
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Mauritian
Ingredients: 1kg sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed; 200g sugar; 100g butter, melted; 100g desiccated coconut; 3 eggs, beaten; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 100ml coconut milk; Pinch of salt

Gateau Patate (gah-TOH pah-TAHT)

Sweet Potato Cake

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour 15 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 332 kcal

A dense, fragrant dessert cake made from mashed sweet potato, coconut, vanilla, and warming spices, traditionally baked until deeply caramelized.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 4.0g

Carbs 52.0g

Fat 12.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy ⚠ eggs

Equipment Needed

mixing bowl baking tin potato masher oven

Presentation Guide

Vessel: cake plate

Garnishes: desiccated coconut sprinkle

Accompaniments: tea, vanilla ice cream

Ingredients

1kg sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
200g sugar
100g butter, melted
100g desiccated coconut
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
100ml coconut milk
Pinch of salt

Instructions

1
Boil sweet potato cubes until very tender, about twenty minutes. Drain well and mash until completely smooth.
2
Mix mashed sweet potato with sugar, melted butter, coconut, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut milk, and salt.
3
Pour the mixture into a greased baking tin and smooth the top with a spatula.
4
Bake at 180C for forty-five minutes until the top is deeply caramelized and a skewer comes out clean.
5
Let cool completely in the tin before slicing. The cake firms up as it cools and is best served at room temperature.

💡

Did You Know?

Gateau patate is often sold at Mauritian markets wrapped in banana leaves, giving it an extra layer of tropical aroma.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

mixing bowl
baking tin
potato masher
oven

Garnishing

desiccated coconut sprinkle

Accompaniments

tea, vanilla ice cream

The Story Behind Gateau Patate

Gateau patate is a beloved Mauritian dessert that transforms the humble sweet potato into a rich, fragrant cake. Its origins lie in the Creole tradition of using locally abundant ingredients to create celebratory foods. The combination of sweet potato with coconut, vanilla, and warm spices creates a cake that is dense, moist, and deeply satisfying. It has been a fixture at afternoon tea gatherings and festive celebrations for generations across all communities.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed afternoon tea, festive occasions 📜 Origins: 19th century Creole

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!