This Homemade Coconut Cream Pie is as creamy and dreamy as they come, and just perfect for your holiday dessert table!
When I was young, we spent the majority of our holidays celebrating with family in my parents’ hometown.
There were, of course, traditional Italian dishes to be shared…lasagne, baked pastas, cutlets, meatballs and more. But there was also a special dessert that my dad’s sister, Addie, would bring along.
Actually, if my memory serves, it was two desserts – Banana Cream and Coconut Cream Pies.
Over the years I’ve often thought about those pies, and even imagined that if she wanted to, she could have opened her own little pie shop. Her desserts were as pretty as any that you’d see in a French pâtisserie, and as delicious, too.
Her pies stood tall with the creamiest custard fillings and flakiest crusts.
I love thinking back to the days when we’d all squeeze into Gram and Gramp’s cozy dining room to have dessert; the memory of ending our holiday on this sweet note fills me with joy.
Now, let’s skip ahead, ohhhhh about forty years, to the day my auntie gave me her recipe… T’was a very good day!
Her recipe card has been resting in my most cherished recipe book, the one that contains many hand-written recipes from my parents, until now.
So. If you’re scratching your head wondering what to make for dessert this year, this Coconut Cream Pie will have your guests swooning. I promise.
Fluffy as a snowball and sweet as the pastel-colored ribbon candy that my grandmas would set out year after year, this pie hits all the right holiday notes…
You will love it!
I’d like to take this moment to wish everyone a warm and wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! I’ll be taking some time away to enjoy the season with our family but will return after the holidays with new recipes to capture the coziness of winter.
Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!
Annie
XO
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Homemade Coconut Cream Pie
- Category: Dessert
Description
This Homemade Coconut Cream Pie is as creamy and dreamy as they come, and just perfect for your holiday dessert table!
Ingredients
- 9-inch baked pie shell (you can use ready-made or my pie crust recipe)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 cups hot milk
- 3 egg yolks, beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2 cups grated coconut
- 1 cup cold heavy cream
- 2 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the pie shell and let it cool completely.
- Heat the milk to just hot.
- In the meantime, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt. Gradually add it to the milk, stirring until smooth.
- Bring to a boil, stirring over medium heat; boil for 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir half of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, then combine that with the rest in the saucepan.
- Cook, stirring over low heat until it boils and is thick enough to mound (from a spoon), about 10 minutes.
- Turn mixture into a bowl and stir in your extracts and half of the coconut.
- Place wax paper directly on the filling; refrigerate for 1 hour.
- After it chills, turn in to the cooked and cooled pie shell.
- Refrigerate for 2 – 3 hours, covered.
- In the meantime, in a medium mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute.
- Spread pie with whipped cream and top with remaining coconut.
- Serve.
{Recipe inspired by my Aunt Addie… Thanks, Aunt Add! xo}
CIAO!
OMG you are so right about the pies, except there was chocolate too! I am pinning this pie, it looks delectable and beautifully perfect! YUM!!
Awhhh! You’re right! I miss chocolate pie! Thank you, Kim!!
Gah!! Fell in love with this on Insta! Coconut Cream Pie has to be one of the best ever!! This is amazing! Happy New Year!! Take care.
Why thank you, Stacey!! Happy New Year, my friend!
Hi, Annie.
First of all, I want to greet you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Your Homemade Coconut Cream Pie is so pretty! I can’t stop staring at it!!
Thank you so much, Joe! Happy New Year!
I love coconut desserts..not the ones with coconut milk as much as the ones with real coconut goodness! This pie looks amazing..The filling looks so yummy!
Thank you, Deepika! Happy New Year, my friend! 🙂
It might be overstated, but it’s true. Family recipes are the best! My Grandma made the most amazing coconut cream pie, and this is looking mighty close to that heavenly dish! Hope you had a great Christmas Annie! XO
It’s what it’s all about! Wishing you and your sweet family a very Happy New Year! XO
oh my that looks so so good Annie! Happy New Year and best wishes for 2018 🙂
Thank you, Manali! Happy New Year, my friend!
One of my all time favorite pies and your version sounds and looks terrific. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
It’s a keeper! Thank you, Karen! Happy New Year!
I’m addicted to a few things – and one of them is coconut. I try to add it to almost every sweet recipe I make! So this pie is speaking to me! I need to make this creamy deliciousness over the holidays. I’ll just hide it in the fridge and enjoy it all to myself ;)!! Happy Holidays Annie!
Can’t resist a sprinkle of coconut on most things! 🙂 Happy Holidays, my friend!
I remember that ribbon candy! Did Aunt Addie teach you how to make pie crust too? Because that’s looks absolutely perfect! I’m definitely putting this pie on my list of holiday baking. I love coconut cream pie! How about sharing the banana one too!?!?! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your sweet family! Cheers!
Ribbon candy definitely marked the holidays! Oh yessss – her banana pie won’t be too far behind! Happy Holidays, Rachelle! Cheers! <3
What a sweet gift from your Auntie; a cherished recipe. Coconut Cream Pie is one of my all time favorites and is suited perfectly for winter celebrations. What a delight! Happiest of holidays to you and your’s my dear! Looking forward to more goodness and connecting in the new year….. xo MWAH!
Absolutely! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and Happy Happy New Year, my friend! xo
This is one of my all-time favorite pies, Annie! I love the idea of this on the holiday table – a welcome change from pumpkin pie. (though I like that too. 😉 )
They’re all good! 😉 Have a wonderful holiday, my friend!
I was planning to make apple pie for Christmas but now I think I need to switch things up and make this. Holy moly, I’m just dying over here looking at it!
Apple pies are pretty spectacular too! But I can tell you, you won’t be disappointed! 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Love to hear about those memories! This recipe is sure one to treasure. Your pie looks amazing and so perfect to stand proudly on the Christmas table! Buone Feste, Annie, to you and your family from us!!
Thank you, Nicoletta! Happy Holidays, my friend!! xo
Absolutely beautiful and pie perfection! Coconut Cream is my favourite pie. Can’t wait to try yours. Happy Holidays!
Enjoy! You will love it!! Happy Holidays, Jennifer! 🙂
Yay for Aunt Addie! This pie looks amazing and coconut cream pie has always been one of my favorites! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Annie and a very happy and healthy new year!
One of my favorites for as long as I can remember, too! Thank you, Mary Ann! 🙂
Lucky you with the family recipes 🙂 I don’t know if you know, but coconut is one of my favourite things EVER!! Love it!!!! So, this pie is basically made for me, lol. Pinning this beauty and trying. Love how easy it is and your crust is beautiful! Merry Christmas to you and your family! XOXO
I feel like a little birdie may have told me that! 😉 And yes! This is for You!! Happy Holidays, my friend! See you next year! XOXO
You would be welcomed with open arms in Southern Indiana — I think that’s their official pie down there. Now, I will admit I’m pretty partial to that pie too. I’m pinning to make later. Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo. Un abbraccio forte.
The folks of Southern Indiana have very good taste! Thank you, my friend! Happy Holidays! XO