This Coconut Cream Pie recipe is by far the best I have ever had. The coconut custard filling is made from scratch (no pudding mixes here!) and it makes all the difference. The rich and creamy texture is full of coconut flavor. This pie is so much better than anything you can get at a store! Homemade pie always tastes best, and that couldn’t be more true with this recipe. But that doesn’t mean it’s hard to make. Even a pie making novice can put this pie together and everyone will think you put more time into it than you actually did. This pie is perfect for a family gathering or Easter dinner.
Ingredients in Coconut Cream Pie
Perfect pies start with perfect crusts. For this recipe you can either use a regular pie dough crust or a graham cracker crust. Try our homemade Perfect Pie Crust or our Perfect Graham Cracker Crust recipes. Or, give yourself a break and buy a crust at the store. Here’s what you need for the rest of the pie:
Half and half – You can find this in the milk section of the grocery store. This is one recipe where you should not substitute whole milk or any other milk. Half and half will give you the creamy pie you want.Coconut milk – A little less than one can is needed for this recipe. Find canned coconut milk in the Asian foods aisle at the store.Eggs – These eggs will bind the pie filling together and create a custard filling. Sugar – Added for sweetness!Cornstarch – This is known to be a thickener. At first it creates a crumbly texture but them makes a smooth and thick pudding like substance. Salt – Just a pinch! Toasted shredded coconut – You can use unsweetened coconut flakes for the pie filling and maybe sweetened coconut for the topping.Coconut extract – If you can’t find coconut extract, you can always substitute vanilla extract.
Topping it Off!
The topping is what makes this cream pie so delicious! It is light and tasty in every bite. This coconut pie is not complete without this creamy topping!
Whipping cream – The kind you have to whip yourself, not the pre-made frozen stuff! Find the heavy whipping cream where you get the half and half, in the milk aisle.Powdered sugar – Between a quarter to a half cup, to taste. This will help sweeten and thicken the topping. Coconut extract – Add in a hint of flavor that will take this pie to the next level!
Recipe Tips
You will love how quickly this creamy coconut pie comes together. It does have some time in the refrigerator to setup, become thicker, and have a little jiggle to it. These tips will make your coconut pie sing!
This Coconut Cream Pie takes a little time to put together, as well as at least two hours of refrigeration time for the pie to set. So make sure to plan accordingly. It’s worth every single minute of prep time, I promise!When making the whipped topping, place heavy cream in a medium bowl and use an electric mixer or hand mixer to whisk the cream, powdered sugar, and coconut extract until stiff peaks form.
Change up the Topping
A delicious variation on this recipe is to top the coconut cream layer with meringue instead of whipped topping. For a quick and easy meringue recipe, see our Lemon Meringue Pie. If you prefer meringue to whipped topping, this works beautifully on the Coconut Cream Pie.
Coconut Cream Pie with Less Sugar Option
One of our dear readers, Karen, adapted this Coconut Cream Pie recipe to make it more diabetic-friendly. These are her substitute suggestions:
Frequently Asked Questions about Coconut Cream Pie
Read More: The BEST Traditional Easter Dinner Ideas
More Recipes for Coconut Lovers
If you’re a fan of our Coconut Cream Pie recipe, try some of our other favorite coconut recipes:
Coconut Cream Cake with Coconut Frosting
Coconut Lime Cheesecake Bars
Haupia (Hawaiian Coconut Pudding)
Coconut Macaroons
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