coconut cream pie with crumb crust

 

Want to hear a story?

It happened about 7 years ago.  I was in college and getting ready for an event I was coordinating for my Intervarsity chapter...pie night. :-)  It was going to be a great night.  We had a pie eating contest, pie baking contest, and, as an officer, I was getting pied in the face!

Knowing that I was just going to end up covered in whip cream and chocolate pudding, I didn't bother fixing my hair or putting on makeup.  I got dressed in the absolute worst clothes that I owned.  My friends curiously tried to stop me...for some strange reason, they kept encouraging me to curl my hair or apply a bit of mascara.  Ha!  I knew better.  I was having none of that.

After dinner, a friend and I were walking back to my room holding the coconut cream pies that I had baked for that night's competition.  When I opened my door, I was greeted with such a surprise that I almost dropped my pie!  My boyfriend (now husband) was standing in the middle of the room dressed to the nines.  He had driven the 8 hours from his university just to come see me.

And I was wearing no makeup, unflattering clothes, and...well...we won't even talk about my hair.

As excited as I was to see him, I couldn't just ditch pie night.  So, we grabbed my pies and headed out.  I participated in the pie eating contest, covering my face with chocolate pudding.  I got pied in the face, getting whip cream all up my nose.  And then, it was time for the pie contest.  I presented my coconut cream pies to the judges...and won first place!

My boyfriend enjoyed watching the love of his life get covered in sugary treats, but he really loved the pie tasting.  I think that coconut cream pie was the first pie of mine that he had ever tasted.

We got back to my dorm room later that night, my hair all matted with whip cream and my face still smudged with chocolate pudding.  Oh, I looked like a real catch, let me tell you.  And then...would you believe it...

He dropped down on one knee and proposed!

I said no (seriously!), we dated for three more years, and then we got married in 2007.  But here's my point: would anyone ever consider proposing marriage to someone atrociously dressed and covered in chocolate pudding and whip cream?  Nope, I'm convinced it was the coconut cream pie that won his affections.  I think it will win yours, too.

Coconut Cream Pie with Crumb Crust
Crust:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup cold butter
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1/4 t. salt

Mix together flour, salt, and powdered sugar.  Add vanilla and butter; using a pastry cutter, cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles crumbs.  Spray pie plate with cooking spray and then press crumbs into bottom and up the sides.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Pie Filling: 

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 T. cornstarch
• 1/4 t. salt
• 2 cups milk
• 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 2 T. butter
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1/4 t. coconut extract
• 3/4 cup flaked coconut, divided 

In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt.  Gradually stir in milk.  Cook and stir over medium high heat until it begins to bubble (stir continually so it doesn't burn!).  Cook and stir for 2 minutes and then remove from heat.  Stir a moderate amount of hot mixture into yolks.  Immediately whisk the yolks into the hot mixture; cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Add butter, vanilla, coconut extract, and 1/2 cup of flaked coconut.  Pour into baked and cooled pie crust.  Spread meringue on top of pie, sealing to the edge of the pastry, and sprinkle with remaining flaked coconut.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.  Cool.

Meringue:

• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 t. vanilla
• 1/4 t. cream of tartar
• 6 T. sugar

Beat egg whites with vanilla and cream of tartar till soft peaks form.  Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff and glossy peaks form and all sugar has dissolved.