The Best Coconut Cream Pie (with Coconut Crust! And gluten free)

Crust-

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a food processor combine the unsweetened coconut and melted butter in a food processor and pulse till the coconut is fine and the mixture becomes almost like a dough that you can squish together. You’ll still be able to see the flakes, they’ll just be really small.

Pour the coconut mixture into a 9-inch pie plate and press evenly on the bottom and up the sides.

Bake for about 3 minutes and cover with a pie shield so the sides don’t bur. Bake in total around 10 minutes. You want the bottom to just be starting to turn golden but not dark or totally at all or it’ll be too crispy when you cut it.

Remove from oven and let cool completely before starting the filling.

Filling-

In a small mixing bowl whisk together the egg yolks and cornstarch. It will be thick. Set aside.

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat combine the coconut milk, cream, sugar, and salt, whisking frequently. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium low, set a timer for 2 minutes, and whisk continuously.

Take about ½-2/3 cup from the milk mixture and slowly, while whisking continuously, pour the hot milk into the egg yolks mixture. You want to add the milk slowly so it doesn’t turn your eggs into scrambled eggs.

Once all the hot liquid is mixed into the eggs, slowly pour your new egg mixture into the milk mixture on the stove, whisking continuously. It will get thick and bubbly very fast, be careful as you whisk. Whisk for about 90 seconds.

Remove from heat and add the butter, vanilla, and coconut extract. Once all of that is evenly incorporated, add the shredded coconut and stir till combined.

Pour into completely cooled pie shell and cover with plastic wrap with the plastic completely touching the top of the pie so it doesn’t form a dry film on top. The plastic wrap will easily come off the top when removed, don’t worry. Refrigerate till cold, at least a few hours. Lasts several days in the fridge.

Topping-

Right before serving, or up to a few hours before, make the whipped cream for the top. Using a hand mixer or in a stand mixer bowl, combine the whipped cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla and whip till medium peaks. Pipe or spoon the whipped cream over the cold pie and dust with toasted coconut flakes, if desired.