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Homemade Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

Coconut cream pie is a creamy, flavorful pie with toasted coconut, a rich center, and a lot of happiness in every bite.

This the best coconut cream pie and it’s easy to make. It’s a perfect and comforting addition to any meal, including the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

For Coconut Lovers

A slice of coconut cream pie on a plate.

Baked Coconut Cream Pie

I haven’t always been a big fan of coconut, but this is now one of my all-time favorite pie recipes.

Grab a pan, toast the coconut flakes, and prepare your tastebuds for some amazingly delicious baked coconut cream pie.

A slice of coconut cream pie recipe on a brown plate.

This pie was a massive hit at my house. The dessert recipe is super easy to make, it’s hard to mess up, and the recipe calls for just a few basic ingredients that you most likely have most of.

So, if you’re not typically a pie-cooking person, have no fear, this will turn out perfectly.

My husband even went to far as to tell me that this might just be the best pie he’s ever eaten! This is definitely one of our favorite pies around here.

The center is like a creamy coconut custard that is out of this world.

Coconut Cream Pie Ingredient Checklist

  • Sweetened coconut, toasted
  • Half and half
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Vanilla extract
  • Pie crust
  • Whipped Topping

Full printable recipe with ingredients, measurements, and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

How Do I Make The Coconut Cream Pie?

  1. Bake a pie crust in the oven until golden brown.
  2. Toast the coconut for five to six minutes in the oven on a cookie sheet. Set aside.
  3. In a medium to large saucepan, add the half and half, eggs, sugar, flour, and salt and whisk until combined and there are no more lumps.
  4. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir for a couple of minutes until the pie thickens.
  5. Remove the pie from the burner and add the vanilla extract and 3/4 cup of the toasted coconut and stir.
  6. Pour into the cooked pie crust and refrigerate for at least two hours.
  7. Top with whipped topping and sprinkle the remainder of the toasted coconut over the top of the pie. Serve.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Pie Crust

Start by baking the pie crust until it’s golden brown and set it aside.

I bought a frozen pie crust at the grocery store and used that for the pie. I do like homemade pie crust a lot better, but this was more convenient. (Homemade pie crusts are always the yummiest).

I usually poke holes in the pie crust with a fork so it doesn’t rise when I bake it, but if you have pie weights, you can use those on the bottom of the crust while it bakes, as well.

Grab the recipe for a homemade flaky pie crust with shortening and butter.

You will need a 9-inch frozen pie crust, refrigerated pie crust, or a 9-inch pie plate for a homemade crust for this recipe.

Toasting The Coconut

I forgot to take a picture of toasting the coconut, but it’s an easy task.

Spread the coconut out on a cookie sheet and toast it at 350-degrees. Open the oven about every two minutes and move it around so it doesn’t burn on one side (speaking from experience).

It took about six minutes for mine to toast in my oven. It might take a few minutes more for yours, or even a little less, so be sure to keep an eye on it, because it will burn fast.

I bought bagged shredded coconut from the grocery store, but if you can get fresh coconut, that’s even better.

Pour the half and half into a saucepan for the coconut pie.

Start the coconut pie recipe by pouring the half and half into a large or medium saucepan on medium heat on the stove top.

You can use two-percent or whole milk for this recipe, but the half and half is going to make the pie so much richer.

Adding sugar to a saucepan for pie.

Next, add the sugar to the saucepan.

Flour, eggs, and half and half in a saucepan.

Add the beaten eggs, all purpose flour, and salt to the saucepan next. Make sure you whisk the ingredients until most of the lumps from the flour are gone.

You can use a fork to whisk, but if you have an actual whisk, that will work a lot better to get rid of the lumps.

TIP: If it’s easier, you can add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix before adding to the saucepan if you’re worried about the saucepan getting scratched.

Cooked coconut cream pie filling in a saucepan

Cook the pie filling until it thickens, stirring often.

It will probably take about ten minutes to get to the thick point. Stir often because you will end up with a lot of clumps, otherwise.

Don’t be tempted to go fold laundry or do something like that because it will clump fast (speaking from experience). Just stand close by and stir on occasion and you’ll be fine.

I continued to use a whisk throughout the cooking process and that kept things from getting too clumpy.

Adding vanilla extract to coconut cream pie

Once the pie filling thickens, take it off the burner and pour the vanilla extract in and mix.

Some readers have asked if they should add coconut extract, but I think the coconut flavor is perfect in this recipe without adding it.

Adding toasted coconut to coconut cream pie filling.

Add 3/4 cup of toasted coconut to the filling and mix well.

Coconut cream pie

Pour the coconut cream pie filling into the baked pie shell. Refrigerate for at least two hours to allow the coconut filling to thicken even more and set up.

Once the pie sets up, add some whipped cream topping or Cool Whip and sprinkle the remainder of the toasted coconut on top and you’re all done!

Coconut cream pie on a plate.

Other tasty dessert recipes

  • Cream cheese brownies are decadent and chocolatey, with a sweet ribbon of cream cheese.
  • Brownie cake is a super easy dessert and always a hit at parties.
  • Southern peach cobbler is a special treat any time of year. And, you can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top for a super delicious dessert for friends and family.
  • Lemon lush recipe is another great dessert with tons of flavor.
  • Peanut butter pie is a fantastic dessert that is made with a few simple ingredients. And it’s one of those easy recipes that we all love.
  • Classic New York Style Cheesecake – this is a creamy, dense, and easy recipe for the perfect cheesecake.
  • Egg custard pie – it really doesn’t get any easier than this recipe for a great pie. Plus, it’s one of those vintage recipes that we all love and cherish.
  • Butter pecan fudge recipe is a mouthwatering delicious dessert that is perfect for the holidays.
  • Southern pecan pie cake is a great recipe for birthdays or holiday celebrations.
Coconut cream pie on a brown plate.

The Best Coconut Pie

A slice of pie on a brown plate.
A bite of cream pie on a plate.

Coconut cream pie recipe card

Check out the recipe card below, grab those ingredients, and start creating! This is one easy coconut pie recipe. And, we all love cream pies.

Then, share your comments below and share a picture of your homemade pie on the Pinterest Pin!  If you made any changes or added something different, be sure to share it with us so we can try it, too!

A slice of coconut cream pie on a brown plate. There's a fork next to the plate and the rest of the pie behind it. There's a red and white checked towel next to the pie.

Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

Yield: 8 pieces
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Coconut cream pie is a creamy, flavorful, pie with toasted coconut, a rich center, and a lot of happiness in every bite. This is one of those old family recipes that everyone loves.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut + 1/4 cup, toasted
  • 3 cups of half and half
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 9" pie shell, baked
  • 8 ounces whipped topping

Instructions

  1. Bake the pie shell according to the package directions.
  2. Spread all of the coconut out on a cookie sheet and toast for about five to six minutes on 350-degrees. Open the oven and move the coconut around every two minutes to keep the coconut from burning.
  3. In a medium to large saucepan, add the half and half, sugar, eggs, flour, and salt and mix well with a whisk.
  4. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often, until thick.
  5. Once the pie filling is thick, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
  6. Next, add 3/4 cup of toasted coconut to the pie filling and mix well.
  7. Pour the pie filling into the pie crust and refrigerate for at least two hours.
  8. Finally, spread the whipped topping on the pie filling and sprinkle the remainder of the toasted coconut on top.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 690Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 444mgCarbohydrates: 89gFiber: 3gSugar: 52gProtein: 9g

Nutrition is approximate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Grab some more delicious recipes at Julia’s Simply Southern and South Your Mouth.

Emily Crawford

Saturday 20th of August 2022

This is so good! I did a slight substitution and put 2 teaspoons of imitation coconut extract in it instead of the vanilla

Julie Pollitt

Monday 22nd of August 2022

That sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing that tip!

Shirley

Saturday 26th of March 2022

Can whipping cream be used rather then half and half?

Julie Pollitt

Saturday 26th of March 2022

I think that would be fine. It will be rich! Let me know how it tastes. :)

Zoe

Saturday 5th of February 2022

Would you be able to add meringue to this pie and toast in the oven?

Zoe

Saturday 5th of February 2022

@Julie Pollitt, thank you!!

Julie Pollitt

Saturday 5th of February 2022

Hi Zoe, yes, you could do that. I would leave the whipped topping off. Meringue is always a good thing!

Angela

Wednesday 24th of November 2021

I was hoping this would be a traditional coconut cream pie, but it tastes like vanilla pudding with some coconut thrown in, not for me. Also, it needs deep dish crust.

mich

Wednesday 24th of August 2022

@Angela, thanks for your comment; I'm going to make this, but use coconut extract vs the vanilla.

Julie Pollitt

Wednesday 24th of November 2021

Hi Angela, sorry to hear you didn't like the pie. Thanks for the heads up on the deep dish. :)

Melanie Marie Kelly

Wednesday 3rd of November 2021

Do you use the whole egg or just the egg yolk?

Wilbur

Saturday 13th of November 2021

@Melanie Marie Kelly,in my recipe you use 1 whole egg and two yolks with 2 ounces of sugar and 7 tablespoons of cornstarch, mix well and temper before you add to the milk and sugar mixture. You have to watch because it thickens very quickly, add butter and vanilla when you take filling off the heat. You can use this for coconut cream, banana cream or chocolate cream. The milk is mixed with 2 ounces of sugar, brought to almost a boil before you temper the other mix and add.

Julie Pollitt

Wednesday 3rd of November 2021

Hi Melanie, I used the whole egg, but make sure you beat them before adding them to the saucepan.

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