French Coconut Pie

This pie isn’t French at all. In fact, it originated in United States port cities like New Orleans, Louisiana, and was first made with ingredients from French Guiana, which is likely how it got its name.

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French Coconut Pie

Makes 1 (9-inch) pie

Ingredients

  • All-Butter Pie Dough (recipe follows)
  • cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons (24 grams) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs (150 grams), room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons (84 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • teaspoons (6 grams) vanilla extract, divided
  • ¾ cup (180 grams) whole buttermilk, room temperature
  • 2 cups (200 grams) lightly packed sweetened flaked coconut, coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup (120 grams) cold heavy whipping cream
  • Garnish: toasted sweetened flaked coconut

Instructions

  • Position oven rack in bottom third of oven. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll All-Butter Pie Dough into a 12-inch circle (about ⅛ inch thick). Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan, pressing into bottom and up sides. Trim excess dough to ½ inch beyond edge of pan, if needed. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, and salt. Whisk in eggs, melted butter, and 1 teaspoon (4 grams) vanilla until combined. Whisk in buttermilk. Stir in chopped coconut. Pour into prepared crust.
  • Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil, and reduce oven temperature to 350°F (180°C); bake until edges are set but center still has a slight jiggle and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 200°F (93°C), 40 to 45 minutes more. (The pie may puff when removed from the oven and then deflate slightly as it cools.) Let cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Just before serving, in a medium bowl, whisk together cold cream and remaining ½ teaspoon (2 grams) vanilla until thickened and medium-stiff peaks form.
  • Spoon onto pie, and garnish with toasted coconut, if desired. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

 

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All-Butter Pie Dough

Makes 1 (9-inch) crust

Ingredients

  • cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
  • ½ cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ¼ cup (60 grams) ice water, plus more if needed

Instructions

  • In the work bowl of a food processor, pulse flour and salt until combined. Add cold butter, and pulse until mixture is crumbly and butter pieces are pea-size. With processor running, add ¼ cup (60 grams) ice water in a slow, steady stream just until dough comes together. (Mixture may appear crumbly. It should be moist and hold together when pinched.) Add more ice water if needed.
  • Turn out dough onto a clean surface, and shape into a disk. Tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Let dough stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before rolling if refrigerating for longer than 1 hour.

 

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