Table of Contents
Lo LOVES pie! And we mean LOVES! He especially loves cream pies like today’s coconut cream pie recipe (one of his all-time favs!) The tropical flavors make it perfect any time of the year, but we typically make it at Thanksgiving (along with all the other classic pie recipes).
The prep for this pie is actually really simple! The filling whips up in only 15 minutes, and then it just needs to chill – so easy!
For more of Lo’s favorite cream pies, check out our: Chocolate Cream Pie, Banana Cream Pie and Sugar Cream Pie.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Tropical. The creamy coconut flavor is delicious all year long!
- A chilled treat. Because this pie needs some time to chill, it’s great for making ahead of time.
- Quick to prepare. The filling whips up in only 15 minutes! And using a store-bought crust makes it even easier.
Coconut Cream Pie Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
Coconut Pudding
- 2⅔ cups whole milk – Whole milk or half and half creates the creamiest texture, but 2% can be used in a pinch.
- 1 egg – Room temperature eggs incorporate best.
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – or add ½ teaspoon almond along with the vanilla
- 1⅓ cups sweetened coconut flakes
- 9-inch baked pie crust – use homemade or store-bought pie crust.
Whipped Topping
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – or add ½ teaspoon almond along with the vanilla
- 1 cup coconut flakes
How to Make Coconut Cream Pie
- FILLING. In a medium saucepan, whisk 2⅔ cups milk and 1 egg until completely incorporated. Add ⅔ cup sugar, ¼ cup cornstarch, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat, whisk frequently until thickened.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla then the coconut. Pour the creamy custard filling into the baked and cooled crust (store-bought or homemade).
- Place in refrigerator until chilled, a few hours.
- TOPPINGS. Whip 1 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Spread on top of chilled pie.
- To toast coconut, spread 1 cup coconut on a cookie sheet or pan. Toast at 350°F for about 2-4 minutes, until lightly golden. Sprinkle on top!
Troubleshooting Tips: Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Filling not thickening. The custard should thicken as it cooks. If, after 5-7 minutes, it isn’t thickening at all, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to a separate bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon of cold water, then mix it into the coconut custard and simmer. Allow several hours for the pie to cool and set.
Prevent a soggy crust. Add a barrier between the crust and the filling. Brush lightly beaten egg whites on the crust before baking, or sprinkle graham crackers or cornflake crumbs over the crust before adding the filling.
Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Ingredients
Coconut Pudding
- 2⅔ cups whole milk
- 1 egg
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⅓ cup sweetened flake coconut
Whipped Topping
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup coconut
Instructions
Pudding
- In a medium saucepan, whisk milk and egg until completely incorporated. Add sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Cook over medium heat, whisking frequently until thickened.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in vanilla then the coconut. Pour into a baked and cooled crust (we used Marie Calendar's store-bought crust that you bake, but you can also make your own).
- Place in refrigerator until chilled, a few hours.
Whipped Topping
- Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Spread on top of chilled pie.
- Spread your coconut on a cookie sheet or pan. Toast at 350°F for about 2-4 minutes, until lightly golden. Sprinkle on top of your pie and eat up!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Allow to cool and wrap tightly with plastic wrap and again with foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Allow to cool at room temperature for about an hour, cover loosely with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
More Like This
Cream Pies
Easy Key Lime Pie
3 hrs 40 mins
Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe
4 hrs 45 mins
Sugar Cream Pie Recipe
3 hrs 40 mins
Coconut Desserts
Collections
This recipe was originally published October 2017.
Absolutely delicious! We are very selective with coconut cream pie and this was unsurpassed in taste. My new favorite!
Yay! Love that! Thank you so much!
Best pie EVER! The only thing I changed I made a graham cracker crust.. absolutely delicious
Perfect! Love graham cracker crust with it! Thank you!
Everyone loved this recipe. Tasted great.
How long do you cook it for and how thick should it be before pouring into pie crust?
This will definitely be on the menu for Thanksgiving. It is my daddy’s favorite pie!
Can you sub coconut extract for Vanilla?
Great recipe, tasted amazing and super easy. Video was helpful
Love coconut, love this pie! I did make one small change to the recipe. Instead of all whole milk, used a can of unsweetened coconut, and made up the difference with a splash of milk. Will be making this over and over!
I meant coconut milk, not coconut. Sorry for the typo..
In a pinch, can I use a box of jell-O Coconut Pudding mix as a substitute for making the actually pudding layer?
You probably could. We love that homemade pudding, but I’m sure a Jell-O pudding could work as well.
I was never a huge pie fan – but after making this – it is one of my favorites!! So easy & SO good!!
Made this for my hubby’s birthday. He loved it!!
Amazing!
Thank you!
I could not get this to thicken. I even added a little more corn starch to it, but it’s still watery.
Well now I feel dumb. I watched the video and thought, “wow, it sure looks like she’s using more than 1/4 tsp of corn starch.” So I went back to the recipe and saw it was 1/4 CUP.🤦🏼♀️ No wonder I couldn’t get it to thicken! So I added more and I can now rate this as 5 stars! Very good if you follow the right amounts in the recipe🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
Haha I’m so glad you can rate it 5 stars now! 😉 And glad the video helped out too. Thanks for sharing. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the pie!
I make a very similar dessert around Easter. I also add 1 tsp. almond extract to the custard and 1/2 tsp. almond extract to the whipped cream. It is so luscious. I hope you will give it a try! Enjoy, thank you and Happy Easter to your beautiful family. God bless you.
The almond extract addition sounds heavenly! Thanks for the suggestion. I will have to give it a try! I hope you have a wonderful Easter too!
This pie is sooooo good!!! My new favorite!! ❤️ I have to force myself to stop eating it!! 😂
I make this frequently and it always turn out. I use a caN of coconUt milK and top it up with milk to the required amount and cook it in the microwave.
That sounds great!! I’ll have to try that!
Im Excited to make this pie altHough i cant seen to get the filling to thicken. Any tips? Ive been whisking it for about 10 min
Hmmm..it should have thickened. You added everything? I hope it worked out for you!
This is the best coconut creme pie recipe. It’s so easy to make and it taste awesome! Use your own judgment on the amount of coconut for the top of pie. Yummy ?!!!
Thank you for saying that! I am so glad you like it!
Very easy to make even if you are not a pie maker. Less THAn 15 minutes for me to fix filling.
I agree!! I am glad you tried it!! Thank you!
I’m wondering if I might replace the milk with coconut milk?
I haven’t tried it before, but you certainly could give it a try. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out if you do.
This looks fantastic! Im excited to try it! Id like to do a MERINGUE topping. Could i bake the pie with the meringue topping?
That’s a good question…I haven’t tried before. The middle goes in the fridge & isn’t baked, so not sure how’d that work.
when the recipe calls for 1cup of coconut is is sHredded coconut or can of coconut fir the pudding part
Sweetened coconut, shredded in the bag 🙂
Looks good and a way to use up extra milk.
For sure! I hope you give it a try!! Thank you so much!
We’re having a major snow storm here and wanted to bake something i know my huBby would love since he’s been outside mostnof the day snowblowing and shoveling!
It was so easy to make and looks amazing! We will have it tonight After dinner…can hardly wait to taste it! I know itll be delisHous …Thank You❤️
I sure hope it was a hit!! Thank you so much!
This is a very confusing recipe. It is out of order. Is there 2 different toppings or just one?
It’s the pudding layer, then the whipped topping layer with toasted coconut 🙂 It’s really good! Hope you try it!
I have been making this cream pie for years. This exact recipe was handed down from my grandmother. Look no further because it is the best ream pie base. It also works with PINEAPPLE (well drained) or bananas. My grandmothers topping was meringue which was fine when we were a family of five. Meringue does not last the 2nd day so now that tere are only 2 of us most of the time I just use Rediwhip. Thank You for the cream topping, it sounds deliciouS.
Glad to share 😉 Thank you for sharing that!
Hi, i am going to make this for christmas dinner, & i was just wondering.. in the whipped topping ingredients where it says “1 cup coconut, is that just using the sweetened cocnut flakes again? Or Is it something different?
Yes, sweetened coconut 🙂 Enjoy!
My husband and I have been married 26 yrs and his favorite pie has always been lemon meringue, until I made this pie. now it’s all he wants me to make! I make a graham cracker pie crust as he thinks thats the best….(i love it this way too). never lasts more than 24 hrs around here, and it’s just the 2 of us! thank you soooo much for this recipe!
LOL!! Well, I am so glad you both like it! I love graham cracker crusts too!! Thank you so much!
Can you double the recipe or will it be too much for 1 pie?
I would put it into two pie pans 🙂
This is my husband’s favorite pie. He could sit down and eat the whole thing in one sitting. This looks so much healthier and I would be very happy to make this easy pie for him. Thank you so much for the recipe.
I’d love to know what he thinks! It’s so good!
Do you think this would be good if i made ahead of time and froze it?
I haven’t tried freezing it, but I would think it should be ok 🙂
Yummy!
This is soo Indian
We stay in south indIa where we use lots of coconuts in our diet
Vl try it .
Sure hope you like it!! Thank you!
BEST PIE EVER! It’s now my husband’s favorite.
Woohoo!! Love to hear that! I am glad you both like it 🙂 Thank you!
LOVED this recipe!! Making it for the 2nd time in 2 weeks!!
Hubby always compares my desserts to his grandmother’s…. and this one made the cut! THATS saying something! 🙂
Yay!! I am glad it made the cut 🙂 Tell him thank you 🙂
This pie looks so delicious, and easy to make. I can’t wait to try it ????
It really is 🙂 Thank you so much & hope you give it a try!
Your recipe tastes wonderful, I really had a issue at Thanksgiving with one I got from a family member. I promised myself I would find a coconut pie recipe to make for Christmas. From know on this is my go to recipe.
Thank you so much! I’m glad it’s your go-to!
Can you substitute coconut milk for some of the whole milk?
I personally haven’t tried, so I’m not sure. I’m sorry I wish I knew how it would turn out. I bet it would be ok.
Thanks.
I have made this in the past and my family LOVES it! It’s easy and so good. Can you substitute 1% milk for the whole milk? Or does it need to be whole milk?
Thank you!! I haven’t tried, but I think it would be fine. I know some recipes work only with the certain milk, but it’s hard to know when it would or wouldn’t. I wish I knew for sure!
The cake looks so delicious, the layer cake is attractive. Thanks for sharing this dessert.
You are so welcome!! Thanks for stopping by!
May I ask if I can make a Meringue topping instead of Whipped Cream. I know I would have too put the pie in the oven too brown the tips of the egg whites but I just love it that way.
Yes you can use egg whites I always do
I made this pie today. It is fantastic, and it’s not fussy to make. I could eat one of these pies every day. Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe.
Thanks for stopping by, Leslie. I’m glad it was a hit!! I think I’ll be making it soon for Father’s Day since it’s one of the hubby’s FAVS! 😉
Oh my gosh, I hate making pies, but I might just have to make this anyway! (It’s the darn crust that always gets me!) I love how big and fluffy this pie is. It looks amazing!
Thank you, Melissa!! If you love Coconut I can guarantee you’ll love this. Let me know if you give it a try. 🙂
I am going to make this now but don’t have cream but do have half and half. Will this still work
Half and half has a lower fat content, so if it is really cold, it may still whip but will probably deflate pretty quickly if it does whip up. I’d suggest sticking with the cream if you can!
This pie looks delicious, Kellyn! I love coconut, but my husband hates it so I never get to make coconut desserts. I may just have to find an excuse when he’s not around to make this pie, though.
Let me know if you give it a try. My hubby LOVES coconut so he LOVES this pie, but I’m more of a chocolate person so he loves it when I cave and make his favorite. 🙂