Triple Coconut Cream Pie
By: Sheri Wetherell
Published: October 6, 2008

Imagine...it's the holidays and you and your guest have all stuffed your bellies to bursting point on delicious fare. But wait...there's always that one little spot in the corner of everyone's tummies that miraculously have room for one more course.
Dessert.
If the only sound you want to hear after your boisterous holiday dinner are sublime moans, then here is the pie to do just the trick.
Triple Coconut Cream Pie
Adapted from Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen
For the coconut pastry cream:
2 cups milk
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
2 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
For the pie:
2 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the coconut pie shell: see recipe and instructions below.
Combine the milk and coconut in a saucepan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add both seeds and pod to the milk mixture. Heat over medium-high heat until it almost comes to a boil.
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and flour until well combined. Temper the eggs (keep them from scrambling) by pouring a small amount of the hot milk to the egg mixture while whisking. Then add the warmed egg mixture to the saucepan. Whisk over medium-high heat until the cream thickens and begins to bubble. Continue to whisk until very thick, about 5 more minutes.
Remove from heat and add the butter, whisking until it melts. Remove the vanilla pod (I like to gently rinse it off and put it in sugar for later use!).
Transfer the cream to a bowl and place over a bowl of ice water. Stir occasionally until chilled. Once cooled, place a piece of plastic wrap over the surface of the cream to prevent a crust from forming. Refrigerate until completely cooled (it will thicken as it cools).
Once chilled, fill your pre-baked pie shell with it, smoothing the surface. Using an electric mixer whip the heavy cream with the sugar and vanilla on medium speed. Gradually increase speed to high until stiff peaks form. Spoon or pipe the whipped cream over the entire surface of the pie.
For the garnish, sprinkled toasted coconut chips and shaved white chocolate curls (use a vegetable peeler to create the curls).
Coconut Pie Shell
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup ice water, or more as needed
In a food processor, combine the flour, coconut, diced butter, sugar, and salt. Pulse to form course crumbs. Gradually add the water while pulsing. Use only as much water as needed for the dough to hold together when gently pressed between your fingers. You don’t want to work the dough with your hands; you just want to make sure the dough is holding. The dough will be quite loose.
Place a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter and dump the coconut dough on top. Pull the edges of the wrap around the dough, forming a rough flat round. Chill for 30 minutes to an hour before rolling.
Once chilled, unwrap the dough and place onto a lightly floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 1/8-inch thick circle. Add more flour if the round sticks to the surface. Trim to a 12- to 13-inch circle.
Transfer dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Ease the dough into the plate. Take care to not stretch the dough as it will shrink during baking. Trim any excess dough to a 1- to 1 1/2-inch overhang. Turn the dough under the edge of the pie plate and flute the edge with your finger. Chill at least one hour before baking. This will help prevent shrinkage during baking.
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a sheet of foil or parchment paper in the pie shell and fill with pie weights (or dried beans) to prevent bubbling. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden. Remove the pie weights and foil and continue to bake another 10-12 minutes, or until the bottom of the crust has golden brown patches. Allow to cool before filling.
Note: The dough can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, or in the freezer for a few weeks.

Comments:
Deborah
October 7, 2008

I love coconut, and this sounds like heaven!
Maris

This looks absolutely professional! The only pie I've ever made is apple, and even that I haven't quite mastered.
ashley

Oooooooooooooooh.. Yummmmmmmmmm!!
Looks Fabulous!  Super recipe, Thanks for sharing it :)
grace

this. is. phenomenal.  regular coconut pie is yummy, but a coconut-laced crust?  pure awesomeness. :)
Kate

When one scrolls through foodie blogs on a daily basis, there is always that one moment when you stop, take a sharp breath, say "Oh man" and then need to be alone with yourself and a cigarette -- even if you don't smoke.  This pie was "that moment" for me today.  Bravo.
Sheri Wetherell

Haha! That's awesome, Kate, thanks!
Lynda

This looks amazing! I've saved the recipe and am going to try it as soon as I can. Thanks for sharing it.
holly

what a looker!
I want some right now!
Peter

This reminds me of proper coconut cream pie one used to get at a diner when younger.
Homemade, rich topping and rolls down the tongue.
Randy

Hi, first let me say that this pie looks like a contest winner and I can 't wait to make it and see how good it tastes.I am no chef and only a self taught cook ,I have really raised my passion to be a chef this last year but have been experimenting my whole life. My latest trials have been putting a cup of  mixed dried fruit in a food processor and then adding a shot of rum or whiskey and a 1/3 cup of brown sugar and letting it sit an hour and then folding it into cookie batter of choice such as oatmeal or tea cookies.give this a try some time . Randy