This coconut cream pie has a sweet and rich coconut filling on top of a tender pie crust. Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut for the ultimate dessert.
Table of Contents
Coconut Pie made from Scratch
This is the perfect pie to add to your Thanksgiving menu. It can also easily be made ahead of time so that you have one less thing to do on the big day.
If you’ve never had coconut cream pie, you are missing out! The flavors are seriously out of this world and the texture is perfectly smooth and creamy.
This recipe makes the perfect holiday dessert. What really puts it over the top is the toasted coconut. The coconut pie is made from scratch and will definitely be a show stopper.
How to make Coconut Cream Pie Filling
- Make custard. Cook the half and half, coconut milk, eggs, sugar, flour and salt in a sauce pan over low heat. Then add in the vanilla bean (scoop out the insides and add the outside casing too) and mix. Bring to a light simmer, then cook for 2 more minutes (make sure to be constantly stirring the whole time).
- Pour and chill. Remove pan from the heat and discard the vanilla bean casing. Stir in 1 cup of coconut flakes. Then pour the filling into the baked pie shell and chill until firm (at least 4 hours or overnight).
- Top and serve. Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut before serving.
Baking Tips + Modifications
- Pie crust. You can make a homemade pie crust or buy a premade pie shell. Just make sure to bake it first before you get started on making the custard.
- Whipped cream. Spread a layer of homemade whipped cream on top right before serving. You can even make a batch of stabilized whipped cream a few days in advance so that it’s already ready on Thanksgiving day.
- Toasted coconut. To take this pie up a notch, sprinkle some toasted coconut on top before serving. It adds another layer of bold coconut flavor. Simply add 1/2 cup coconut flakes to a baking sheet, then bake at 300°F for about 5 minutes (or until golden).
- Making in advance. This is the perfect pie to make ahead of time. It needs to chill at least 4 hours in advance for the custard to set, so preparing it the day before is actually ideal. I typically will make the custard, pour it into the pie shell and let it chill overnight. Then the next day, all I need to do is top with whipped cream and toasted coconut.
- Easy pudding mix version. Want to make this recipe even easier and skip the homemade filling? Use 2 boxes (3.4 ounce) instant coconut pudding mix with 3 1/2 cups milk and follow the direction on the box. Then mix in the coconut and add the toasted coconut once in the pie shell.
To store: The coconut pie will need to be refrigerated since it contains several dairy ingredients. Simply cover the pie with aluminum foil or plastic wrap (you will want to cover loosely so that the toppings don’t stick).
Will stay fresh in the fridge for about 3 days.
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Old Fashioned Coconut Cream Pie
Ingredients
- 1 cup half and half
- 13 ounces unsweetened canned coconut milk (about 1 3/4 cups)
- 2 large eggs (beaten for 30 seconds)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour or cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ vanilla bean (cut in half)
- 1 ½ cups sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 9-inch pie shell (baked)
For topping: 2 cups homemade whipped cream or thawed whipped topping
Instructions
- Combine the half and half, coconut milk, beaten eggs, sugar, flour and salt in a medium sauce pan over low heat. Scrape the insides of the vanilla bean into the mixture and toss the bean in.
- Bring to LIGHT simmer, stirring constantly being careful to not let it burn. Once it's reached a light simmer, cook for 2 more minutes or until it has turned into a custard/pudding. Taste it to make sure it's done.
- Remove pan from heat, remove the vanilla bean pod and stir in 1 cup of coconut. Pour into baked pie shell. Chill until firm, at least 4 hours (or overnight).
- Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut before serving. Add white chocolate shavings if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Desserts, Fruit Desserts, Pies + Tarts, Thanksgiving
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I made this yesterday for my Father-in-Law’s birthday party and it was a big hit. The homemade pudding was delicious and smooth and just the right texture and coconut/vanilla combo. (I didn’t have a vanilla bean so I just used a little vanilla extract- but I can only imagine how much better with an actual vanilla bean!) I felt very accomplished being able to say I made the whole thing from scratch instead of just using a boxed pudding mix. 😀 And it was just about the same amount of work! Ha ha
That is great! You should be proud to make this coconut cream pie! Way to go! Happy birthday to your father in law too!
looks good but no I didnt make it
Absolute perfection! And I loved the addition of the salt…it really made the sweetness pop!
Oh this pie was to die for so delicious and flavorful, I can’t wait to make it again for Thanksgiving!
Delicious recipe – we love it and make it for lots of occasions!
Looks great , sounds good, I’m going to try it ! Thanks
I hope you enjoy! :)
For some reason it tasted like flour and not coconut – can I ask wha brand unsweetened coconut milk you use
I usually use the Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk!
Im not a fan of coconut but this sounds like something my husband would like.
I have a serious weakness for coconut desserts! This pie looks amazing!
I use this recipe for almost every holiday and Carry- in at work. It’s the best! Thank you so much!!
YUM!!! I love this delicious version!!!
This is such an amazing creampie! Looks really good!
wow! How creamy this pie is! My kind od dessert!
I love making pies! I can’t wait to make this one for my family!
One of my all time favorite pies! I love that the filling is made from scratch!
Having as many dishes as possible made ahead of time saves my sanity during the holidays. This looks fantastic!