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Coconut Cream Pie

By Lauren Allen on April 20, 2019, Updated October 8, 2019

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Easy old-fashioned Coconut Cream Pie is homemade with a creamy coconut pudding filling and whipped cream topping. This AMAZING Pie is a crowd favorite.

I look for any excuse to make my favorite pie recipes.  Lemon Sour Cream Pie and Triple Berry Pie will always be my favorite but my husband loves this Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake Pie.  Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of them! One taste of this Coconut Cream Pie and you’ll never be able to enjoy a store-bought version again!

A slice of coconut cream pie on a white plate with a fork.

Coconut Cream Pie

I grew up in a big family, with a HUGE extended family. We’re talking like 30 cousins, just on my mom’s side of the family. Needless to say, each Easter and Thanksgiving includes just about every Homemade Pie option under the sun!

I was so accustomed to it that I thought all families had dozens of pie choices at their Thanksgiving party.  I feel like no matter how many people there are at the party, you’ve still got to have a bunch of pies, right? I like to try a small piece of a few different kinds.

This coconut cream pie is a classic, old-fashioned recipe that deserves a seat at any party! The homemade filling is incredible, with the perfect texture and flavor that’s not overly sweet. I can’t wait for you to try it!

What is Coconut Cream Pie Made of?

The ingredients in coconut cream pie include:

  • A pre-baked baked Pie crust.  I’d highly recommend my EASY Perfect Pie Crust, over a tasteless store-bought crust. I’ve included step-by-step photos at the bottom of the pie crust recipe for how to blind-bake the crust for recipes that call for a pre-baked pie shell, like this coconut cream pie recipe.
  • Coconut. Shredded sweetened coconut flakes, or use unsweetened, if you’d rather.
  • Unsweetened coconut milk. This can be found in a can in the asian food isle at your local grocery store..
  • Half and half 
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Cornstarch
  • Egg yolk
  • Cream cheese
  • Vanilla
  • Coconut extract
  • Whipped cream and toasted coconut. For topping!

A whole homemade coconut cream pie with one slice removed.

How to Toast Coconut:

I love to toast the coconut before adding it to the pie filling and topping. Toasting coconut adds a really great depth of flavor and “nuttiness”. I’ve found the simplest way to toast coconut is on the stovetop.

  • Add desired amount of coconut to a large skillet.
  • Cook over medium-low heat, stirring and tossing frequently, until the flakes are mostly golden brown. Watch it closely because once it starts to toast it goes quickly. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
  • Store toasted coconut in an airtight container or jar for up to one month. This is a great step to do ahead if you want to save time.

Overhead photo of a skillet with toasted coconut and a wooden spoon.

How to Make Coconut Cream Pie:
  • Make the filling. Combine coconut milk, 1 cup half and half,  sugar and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a near boil.
  • Make a cornstarch slurry.  Mix 1/2 cup half and half and cornstarch.
  • Temper the egg yolks.  Slowly add the hot mixture to the egg yolks, making sure the eggs don’t cook.  Add egg yolks and cornstarch to the pan.
  • Finish the pudding. Remove it from the heat and add in cream cheese, vanilla extract and coconut extract.  Stir in coconut.
  • Pour into pie crust. Pour mixture into baked pie crust.
  • Cool. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 2 – 3 hours. Top with whipped cream and the toasted coconut.

Six process photos for making the filling for coconut cream pie and pouring it into a baked pie shell.

How to store coconut cream pie:

Store coconut cream pie in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Coconut cream pie with a spoonful of whipped cream being spread on top next to another photo of the completed pie with toasted coconut sprinkled on the whipped cream.

CONSIDER TRYING THESE HOMEMADE PIES:
  • Cherry pie
  • Lemon Sour Cream Pie
  • Pumpkin Pie with Caramel Pecan Topping
  • Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake Pie
  • Key Lime Pie
  • Chocolate Cream Pie
  • Oreo Cheesecake Pie
  • Lemon Chiffon Pie
  • Banana Cream Pie

A slice of coconut cream cake with a bite taken out of it.

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A slice of coconut cream pie on a white plate with a fork.

Coconut Cream Pie

Easy old-fashioned Coconut Cream Pie is homemade with a creamy coconut pudding filling and whipped cream topping. This AMAZING Pie is a crowd favorite.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 3 hours
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 304kcal
Author: Lauren Allen

Video

Ingredients

  • 1 9-inch pre-baked pie crust *
  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut , toasted, divided
  • 14 ounce can canned unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1 1/2 cups half and half divided
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 3 ounces cream cheese , diced
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract , to taste

For Topping:

  • fresh whipped cream , lightly sweetened
  • shredded sweetened coconut , toasted

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan combine coconut milk, 1 cup half and half, granulated sugar and the salt. 
  • Set mixture over medium heat, and bring mixture nearly to a boil, stirring occasionally. 
  • Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl whisk together remaining 1/2 cup half and half and cornstarch until well blended. 
  • In another small mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks. Slowly pour 1/2 cup of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly (to temper the eggs).
  • Pour egg yolk mixture and cornstarch mixture into saucepan, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring vigorously, for 2 - 3 minutes. 
  • Remove from heat and add in cream cheese, vanilla extract and coconut extract; stir until well blended.
  •  Stir in 1/2 - 3/4 cup coconut, reserving the rest for topping on the finished pie.
  • Pour mixture into baked pie crust. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 2 - 3 hours.
  • Top with whipped cream and the toasted coconut.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes

*You could also use graham cracker crust or Vanilla Wafer Crust
Recipe adapted from Cooking Classy.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 177mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1.7mg
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Have you tried this recipe?!

RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.

 

*I originally shared this recipe November 2014. Updated April 2019.

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Dessert· Easter· Pie· Special Occasion· Thanksgiving
28 Comments

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Comments

  1. Annette says

    November 25, 2014 at 9:18 am

    This looks absolutely perfect! Pinned!

    Reply
  2. Kara says

    November 25, 2014 at 9:40 am

    Oh gosh, every one of these pies looks amazing!! It’s been ages since I made coconut cream pie, I need to give this recipe a try. Yum!

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      November 25, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      Thanks Kara! Hope you like it!

      Reply
  3. Becky @ lovetobeinthekitchen says

    November 25, 2014 at 11:32 am

    This looks so pretty and delicious!

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      November 25, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      Thanks Becky! It’s so yummy!

      Reply
  4. Barbara MACEY says

    November 16, 2016 at 9:50 am

    Like Kara, I’ve not made a Coconut Pie for a few years but will definitely give this one a try. It looks “soul soothing!”

    Reply
  5. Wanda Dreeszen says

    May 20, 2017 at 2:50 pm

    This coconut cream pie is fabulous. My mother-in-law enjoys it and she is an awesome cook. Thank you for posting and making my husband smile also.

    Reply
  6. Amanda says

    July 24, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    What size coconut milk can do you use?

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      July 26, 2017 at 1:23 pm

      A 13.5 oz can 🙂

      Reply
  7. Joyce Graflund says

    November 26, 2017 at 9:07 pm

    Does each serving really contain 3,704 calories?

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      November 26, 2017 at 9:19 pm

      Each serving is about 300 calories (if you’re serving 12 slices)

      Reply
  8. David says

    February 26, 2018 at 8:07 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely the BEST, I have been making a Coconut Cream Pie for over 30 years with great results, but had to try this one. Made it twice now and my wife really loves it. I’d give it 9 out of 5 stars if i could.

    Just one problem I have family members that cannot have the corn starch; what would you suggest to substitute. I’m a little concerned how flour might impact texture, etc.

    Thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      March 17, 2018 at 7:46 pm

      Hi David,
      I am so glad you enjoyed the cake! Thanks for the comment!
      Cornstarch might by a little tricky to subsitute in this recipe. Here is a website that has some suggestions you could try!
      http://www.myrecipes.com/how-to/cooking-questions/constarch-substitutes

      Hope that helps!

      Reply
    • Laura says

      March 28, 2018 at 12:29 pm

      Hi David,

      I use arrowroot instead of corn starch in all of my recipes. It works very well. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Aussie says

    January 13, 2019 at 12:36 am

    I have a pie chilling in the fridge as I type this. The hot crème pat tastes eggy and vanilla-y (absolutely delicious), so I hope that as it cools the coconut flavour comes through more. (I used 1/2tsp essence)

    I baked my own shell – my standard unsweetened shortcrust using 1/3 butter, 2/3 baking margarine. Will wait to see what this one is like sweetness-wise and if it’s not too sweet I’ll make another one with my sweet shortcrust (100% butter, 1tbsp icing sugar, 1 egg + 50/50 lime juice/water) and see how it goes.

    Before baking the shell I baked my second cherry pie using your recipe since the first one was so delicious and everyone who tried it concurred. Our poor orchardists have been having a bad season with less than 50% of the crop saleable due to hail and rain, but on the plus side second-grade cherries are cheap, plentiful and perfectly good for baking with – nobody can see the scars and splits once they’re baked!

    Next on my list though is your key lime pie. I just need to track down some of them or juice here in Australia (we call them West Indian Limes) but they’re rather hard to come by so I’m probably going to have to resort to buying a case of juice off Amazon. I lived in the USA for a couple of years and developed a real fondness for American pies – especially key lime!

    Reply
    • Lauren Allen says

      January 13, 2019 at 10:38 am

      I’m so flattered you’ve enjoyed to many of my pie recipes! Thanks for sharing your experience!

      Reply
  10. June says

    January 29, 2019 at 7:52 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for the clear and easy instructions, Mine turned out fantastic!

    Reply
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Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos. Read More
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