Favorite Coconut Cream Pie -- Basic
Basic Coconut Cream Pie
Servings: 8
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 9 inch pie crust store-bought or recipe below
Filling:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch (for a stiffer pie, add 1 more teaspoon)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 egg yolks lightly beaten
- 2 cups milk whole milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla paste
- 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut plus an extra 1/2 cup for toasting
Topping:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Have your baked pie crust ready. Prepare filling.
- In a heavy non-stick 3 quart saucepan, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and salt.
- In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the milk, then whisk the egg yolk mixture into the cornstarch mixture.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook until mixture begins to boil, whisking often. When mixture boils, boil and whisk constantly for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter, vanilla and coconut. Immediately pour the filling into the baked pie crust, press a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap onto the surface and let cool for 20 minutes at room temperature.
- Place in refrigerator to chill for 3 hours or more. At some point, toast the extra coconut (see note at bottom)
- When the pie has chilled, prepare whipped cream topping. In a large bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla beat until peaks are stiff. Spread over top of pie. Sprinkle with toasted, cooled coconut.
- To toast coconut, lay it on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 5 minutes or until edges turn brown. Stir every 2 minutes or so.
Notes
For a larger coconut cream pie, use the amounts below. You'll have enough for a deep dish 9 inch or 10 inch.
Larger Pie Measurements
In a separate bowl, stir together ice water, egg yolk and vinegar. Pulse flour mixture four or five times or until mixture appears chunky. Pour the egg yolk mixture in a thin stream through the feed tube, pulsing constantly, until mixture forms several large chunks and almost gathers into a ball. Spread a large sheet of plastic wrap on the counter. Empty mixture onto the plastic wrap and press into a 1 inch thick disc. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for one hour. Unwrap the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a 12 inch circle. Fold the circle in half, then fold in half again, and place the point in the center of a 9 inch Pyrex pie plate. Carefully unfold the dough and fit it into the pan by nudging it gently into the pan without stretching it. Trim the excess pastry to a ½ inch overhang. Fold the edge back under itself toward the side of the pan, and pinch the double thickness to make a high-standing rim. Flute it by pinching it at ½ inch intervals to make a zigzag pattern. Chill the lined pie plate for another hour. Adjust oven rack to center position. Preheat to 400 degrees F. Place a large square of foil or parchment over unbaked pie crust and press gently over the bottom and sides. Fill the shell with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges of the pastry just begin to brown. Remove from the oven and carefully lift out the foil and weights. Prick the bottom of the pastry evenly with a fork, return to the oven and continue baking until golden brown and cooked through - 10 to 15 minutes more. Let cool completely before filling.
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch plus 2 teaspoons
- Pinch of salt (optional)
- 3 large egg yolks
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 1/2 tablespoon butter
- 3/4 cup flaked coconut
- 1 cup all purpose flour (130 grams)
- 1/3 cup cake flour (40 grams)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut-up
- 1/4 cup ice water
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
In a separate bowl, stir together ice water, egg yolk and vinegar. Pulse flour mixture four or five times or until mixture appears chunky. Pour the egg yolk mixture in a thin stream through the feed tube, pulsing constantly, until mixture forms several large chunks and almost gathers into a ball. Spread a large sheet of plastic wrap on the counter. Empty mixture onto the plastic wrap and press into a 1 inch thick disc. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for one hour. Unwrap the dough and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a 12 inch circle. Fold the circle in half, then fold in half again, and place the point in the center of a 9 inch Pyrex pie plate. Carefully unfold the dough and fit it into the pan by nudging it gently into the pan without stretching it. Trim the excess pastry to a ½ inch overhang. Fold the edge back under itself toward the side of the pan, and pinch the double thickness to make a high-standing rim. Flute it by pinching it at ½ inch intervals to make a zigzag pattern. Chill the lined pie plate for another hour. Adjust oven rack to center position. Preheat to 400 degrees F. Place a large square of foil or parchment over unbaked pie crust and press gently over the bottom and sides. Fill the shell with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges of the pastry just begin to brown. Remove from the oven and carefully lift out the foil and weights. Prick the bottom of the pastry evenly with a fork, return to the oven and continue baking until golden brown and cooked through - 10 to 15 minutes more. Let cool completely before filling.