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A rich, creamy coconut custard filling in a crumbly coconut cookie crust topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with toasted coconut.
We were in Vegas visiting family over Easter break this year and I couldn’t resist stopping.
One of the things I did manage to buy, was Trader Joe’s Toasted Coconut Cookie Thins. Apparently, they’re a new item at Trader Joes and have only 130 calories for 8 cookies. Now that I know that, I wish I’d bought the Meyer Lemon Thins and Triple Ginger Thins too.
On the six hour drive home, I kept my little box of cookies unopened in the front of the car with me (cookies in the backseat with the boys probably wouldn’t have made it home.) Along the way, I started to think of fun ways to bake with the cookie thins On the top of the list was coconut cream pie.
So when I got home I Googled Coconut Lime Pie and found Cooks Illustrated’s Lime-Coconut Cream Pie recipe.
I had family over for a BBQ Sunday night, so it was the perfect excuse to make coconut cream pie. My husband wasn’t too sure about Lime in his Coconut pie so I left it out.
This pie was a hit at the party, but next time I think I’ll crank up the sound and throw a little lime in my coconut.
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Coconut Cream Pie with a Coconut Cookie Crust
Ingredients
Crust
- 6 ounces Toasted Coconut Cookie Thins 1 ½ sleeves
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Filling
- 1 14 ounce can coconut milk
- 1 cup whole milk*
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 large egg yolks
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 2 pieces
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 1 ½ cups cold heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sweetened dried shredded coconut toasted in small dry skillet until golden brown
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325º. In food processor, pulse cookies and 2 tablespoons of sugar in to fine crumbs.Transfer crumbs to medium bowl and add butter; stir until well combined.
- Press crumbs evenly/firmly into bottom and up sides of a 9″ pie plate. Bake until about 10 minutes until crust starts to brown. Cool on wire rack to room temperature.
- In a medium saucepan, bring coconut milk, whole milk, ½ cup sugar, and salt to simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
- Whisk yolks, cornstarch and 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Whisking constantly, gradually pour 1 cup hot milk mixture into egg yolk mixture; whisk well to combine. Whisking constantly, gradually add yolk mixture to milk in saucepan.
- Whisking constantly, cook until it begins to boil and thicken.
- Remove from heat and whisk in butter and 1 teaspoons of vanilla until butter in fully incorporated. Stir in coconut. Pour hot filling into cooled pie crust and smooth surface; press plastic wrap directly against surface of filling and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.
- Just before serving, beat cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and ½ tsp vanilla with electric mixer until soft peaks form, 1 ½-2 minutes. Top pie with whipped cream and then sprinkle with coconut. Cut pie into wedges and serve.
Notes
More Coconut Pie Recipes:
Almond Joy Pie, Barbara Bakes
Toasted Coconut Cream Pie, Baked Bree
Coconut Cream Pie with Mascarpone-Cream Topping, Judy’s Kitchen
Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie, Everyday Insanity
Sweet Potato Coconut Pie with Marshmallow Meringue, Taste & Tell
Lib M.
This crust recipe is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for! I used the TJ’s coconut thins in a chocolate pudding, and I have been thinking about making an adaptation of the Hawaiian chocolate & coconut custard pie, and I wanted to use the TJ’s thins to make a cookie crust instead of a regular pie crust, but I wasn’t quite sure how
the thins would affect the proportions of my regular vanilla wafer cookie crust (and I don’t really have time for a trial run!). Thanks so much for this! I’m sure it will be divine!
Barbara Schieving
Thanks Lib – take a picture and tag me on Instagram. I’d love to see the pie. Sounds delicious.
Lib M.
I tried tagging your on Instagram, but for some reason, it’s not working… my filling was similar to yours, except I don’t use butter, and I used a mix of brown and white sugar to make the custard. I split the custard into two portions, and to half, I added one cup of toasted, unsweetened coconut, and to the other, I added 4 oz. or chopped dark chocolate. Then I layered them in the crust and used the leftover egg whites and a couple of tablespoons of sugar to make meringue, and then browned the meringue at 350 for about 15 minutes. It was a hit, and I think the coconut crust put it over the top! So glad I found your blog.
Barbara Schieving
Wow – it sounds fabulous. I’m BarbaraBakes on Instagram. Leave me your IG name and I’d definitely love to check it out. I’m so glad you found me too.
kristy
Gosh, I love anything with coconut. I bet this is amazing.
Hoe you’re enjoying your day, dear.
Kristy
Aimee
I feel like you should tell me how you would have incorporated lime if your husband wasn’t a scaredy cat, so I can do it. <3
Barbara
Hi Aimee! The original recipe added lime zest to the pudding before cooking it.
Kitchen Belleicious
leave it up to you to add that special touch to an already amazing pie! I love coconut cookies- genius to use them as the crust. Oh that I could have a slice of this!
cindy
Oh, my mouth is watering just reading this recipe. It has to be delicious. Whenever I visit my kids out of state we find a Trader Joes. I do love that store. Have you ever tried their graham crackers?? They are not just for kids.
Linda
ever since my son got hooked on “Gilligans Island” dvd’s his dad brought home, he has wanted me to make coconut cream pies, just like Mary Ann. Now I have no excuse not to. Thanks. (I think).
Susan
Trader Joes is such a fun place to shop! I’ll have to look for those cookies on my next visit. What an amazing pie. I love coconut!
Jamie
I personally would not have made it home with the box of those cookies still closed, but seeing what you did with them was worth the self restraint. Love coconut cream pie and this is gorgeous! And so much better with that crust!
vianney
I wish we had a trader joes. my little brother love to shop there. What a dreamy pie!
Jodie
TJ’s is the BEST! Those cookies are amazing and what a fun idea to use them in this pie! Looks delicious!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
*Whimper* I need this pie…
Juliana
Oh Barbara, this pie looks great with everything coconut 🙂 I will look for these cookies at Trader Joes…
Thanks for this delicious recipe and hope you are having a nice week!
Rocky Mountain Woman
This looks wonderful! I always stop at a Trader Joe’s when I travel and stock up. A friend told me that she heard they were considering building one in SLC! Wouldn’t that be wonderful???
Sandy @Southwestgirl
How did you know I was dreaming of a vacation? This is a beautiful coconut cream pie. I love your coconut cookie crust.
My husband is on the cream pie side of the “cream pie vs fruit pie” dessert debate. So, I think this will be his new favorite. Me? I’m on both sides, of coarse 🙂
Kalyn
Coconut Cream was my dad’s all time favorite pie and he would have loved this one. Your baking creations are amazing.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc
I must try this for my son! He would be all over this. Hope you’re well! Excited to see you in a few months
Angie@Angie's Recipes
A fantastic pie! I love anything coconut!