Easy Coconut Cream Pie features a flaky pie crust, coconut custard, toasted coconut, and fresh whipped cream. It’s a coconut-lovers dream come true. Make it with a regular or gluten free pie crust.
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photos updated October 2018
So guess what. I kind of suck at making pies. BUT this easy coconut cream pie is pretty freaking awesome. It’s like a Pi Day miracle. That’s right, we’re crashing Pi day and turning it into PIE day.
Because math sucks too. Just kidding if you like math. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Pi is a math thing. It’s 3.1415blahblahblah. It goes on forever.
The math teachers go crazy for it and dress up with Pi shirts, it’s like a holiday for them. But it’s not really a holiday because holiday’s are fun and math isn’t. Just kidding, again. Sort of.
So enough with the Pi, I’m bored already. (I was a stellar math student… heavy sarcasm)
Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating on the recipe and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.
Pie crusts used to be hard for me. Even before I started baking gluten-free, they were a struggle. They never, ever, ever came out like my mom’s perfectly flaky pie crust that everyone loved. Mine came out ugly, too dark and too chewy. A fellow blogger once described their crusts as “squeaky”, that’s exactly what mine were. Luckily, those days are over.
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With lots of practice, persistence, and patience (!!), I’ve mastered my own gluten free pie crust recipe. And guys, it’s a beauty of a crust if you ask me!
You can see just how it truly is a flaky gluten free pie crust in these pictures!
If you’re like the old me and kind of struggle with pies, this recipe for coconut cream pie is a great place to start. Since you’re only baking the pie crust, you don’t need to worry about baking a crust and a filling together like with a fruit pie. Baby steps, right?
The star of this coconut cream pie is clearly the coconut because after all, it is a coconut cream pie. The coconut custard is made with coconut milk and flavored with coconut extract and toasted coconut. The whipped cream is also topped with additional toasted coconut. It’s a coconut lovers dream. It is one of my all time favorite flavors. I would be happy with coconut flavored anything and everything. But I guess I could settle for the best coconut cream pie…
How to Make a Dairy Free Coconut Cream Pie
To make this gluten free coconut cream pie dairy free too, swap the half and half with coconut milk. Then, top it with whipped coconut cream instead of regular fresh whipped cream. Be sure to follow my dairy-free notes for making a dairy free and vegan pie crust too!
Looking for more ideas to try with a 9-inch pie crust? Try my Fudge Pecan Pie, Ham and Cheese Quiche, or Bacon and Swiss Quiche! Enjoy!
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Gluten Free Coconut Cream Pie
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch pie crust (see notes)
- 1 14 oz. can full-fat coconut milk (1 3/4 C)
- 1 1/4 cups half & half (see notes for dairy free)
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup coconut flakes (sweetened or unsweetened)
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll out your chilled pie crust, place in pan and poke the bottom and sides several times with a fork. Cover with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans for blind baking.
- Bake pie crust for 20 minutes then remove the crust from the oven and carefully remove the pie weights and parchment paper. Use the parchment to lift the weights out of the shell. Return the crust to the oven and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes or until the pie crust is set and slightly browned.
- Cool completely before adding the custard.
- To make the toasted coconut, add the coconut to a dry skillet and heat on medium-low, stirring frequently, until slightly browned. Remove from heat and cool.
- To make the coconut custard, add coconut milk, half &half, eggs, sugar, cornstarch and salt. Whisk until combined. Heat over medium-low heat and whisk (almost continuously) until the custard is thick like a pudding. This step may take 20 minutes (or even longer depending on your stovetop). When the custard is thick, whisk in 3/4 cup of the toasted coconut and 1 teaspoon coconut extract. Transfer to the cooled pie shell and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard (to keep a skin from forming) but do not cover the crust.
- Refrigerate 2-4 hours.
- Before serving, use a handheld mixer to whip the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar together. Evenly spread the whipped cream over the coconut custard and top with the remaining toasted coconut.
- Leftovers must be refrigerated and are best within 3 days.
Notes
- Get my gluten free pie crust recipe here.
- You can use a regular 9-inch pie crust if you don't need gluten free.
- To make the custard dairy free, use full-fat coconut milk in place of the half & half.
- If you're not in the US, half & half is half cream half milk.
- I garnished the top of my pie with toasted coconut chips instead of the reserved toasted coconut from the recipe for photos. Feel free to do either!
Recommended Products
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Emile Henry Made In France HR Modern Classics Pie Dish, 9", White -
Silicone Baking Utensils | Wooden Handle, Balloon whisk, Slotted & Solid Kitchen Spoon, Spatula, Long Scraper and Pastry Brush, Acacia Hard Wood Handle -
Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Saucepan, 1-3/4-Quart, White
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Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Ceramic Pie Crust Weights, Natural Ceramic Stoneware
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Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating on the recipe and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.
Coconut is one of my favorite flavors, too. I’d use it a lot more often if my husband wasn’t anti-coconut. boo! This sounds amazing, though. Also, I didn’t realize there were pre-made gluten free pie crusts in the refrigerator section! I need to look into that!
Props on the pie — looks delish! I’m a fellow math wiz too btw — so this is totally my idea of math appreciation 😉
Dear Sharon, This coconut cream pie has my name written all over it. It looks spectacular. Pinning for later. xo, Catherine
Looks amazing! A perfect way to celebrate pi day!
My hubby love coconut and this is a really great recipe! PINNED to make for dessert! I would love for you to share this over at my new link party Making Memories Mondays going on now!
Cathy
I love coconut and this pie looks amazing delicious! I haven’t found the gluten-free Pillsbury pie crust in my area yet. Is it over by the other Pillsbury crusts items? Thanks for sharing your delicious looking pie, pinned! 🙂
Yes! I find it in the refrigerated section on the shelf above the regular pie crusts. It’s only in one of the grocery stores near me though.
Sharon, your pie looks delicious! it seems my pie pieces always come out funny looking too, especially the first piece. My mother in law gets every piece out perfect, I just don’t get it. Have you tried my pie crust mix yet? Gluten Free Mama’s Pie Crust Mix? You can buy the mix or see the recipe in my cookbook. It produces a delicious flaky crust. I also have tips on how to roll out GF pie crust and show you how easy it can be. Check it out on my blog. Let me know if you ever need help. Rachel.
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe…. would you believe I’ve never made Coconut Cream Pie from scratch!? So going to make this!! Hope to see you at Your Turn To Shine again tmorrow, Sharon 🙂
This was my first one 😉
Wow, this looks awesome! Thanks for linking up with Best of the Weekend!
This recipe is very similiar to one I just tried called Coconut Cream Pie bars from Willowbirdbaking blog. It is absolutely awesome, not too sweet, but rich and delicious, a coconut lover’s dream. The bars used a shortbread crust, which m,ay be easier than “baking blind” crusts – always a challenge for me. The bars added a gelatin mixture to stabilize the whipped cream which was an asset. This recipe should have the same “WOW” response from anyone who tastes it.
Sounds like a great bar 🙂
Sharon, a great way to stabalize your whipped cream for toppings and frostings is to add about 3 tablespoons
of dry instant vanilla pudding mix (or in this case use instant coconut) to the whipped cream. Mix into the whipped
cream on low speed. You might want to use a little less sugar. Your whipped cream will not collapse for hours or even the next day.
Thanks for the great tip Nancy! I’ll have to try that next time 🙂
When I saw the picture of this pie I knew I had to make it. I am a good baker but my pie filling didn’t set up. I made the exact recipe and I know I cooked it long enough. The taste was outstanding. We ate it in a bowl and it was delicious! Would someone let me know what I may have done wrong. I would like to make again but want to know what I did wrong. Thanks.
Hi Karen, it sounds like you just didn’t let the filling thicken up enough. Next time just cook it a bit longer until it’s thick and chill it for the full 4 hours or longer. Glad to hear you loved the flavor though!
I love your blog and look forward to making this pie. What do you suggest to make it dairy free?
You can try all coconut milk (full-fat) in the custard and then top it with whipped coconut cream 🙂