Coconut Creme Pie Recipe

For The Crust:

1 1/4 cup of All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) of cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 to 6 tablespoons of cold water
OR you can use a 9-inch store bought pie crust

For The Filling:

2/3 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of corn starch
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3 cups o milk
4 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons of butter
2 teaspoons of vanilla
3/4 cup of flaked coconut

For the Meringue Topping:

4 egg whites
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar
1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of flaked coconut

Directions for the crust:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Cut the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add just enough cold water (1 tablespoon at a time) until the flour mixture forms a ball.

Place on a lightly floured surface and using your hands, slightly flatten the pastry ball. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out from the center into a 12 inch circle.

Wrap the pastry circle around the rolling pin and unroll pastry into a 9 inch pie pan. Anything that is hanging over the edge of the pie pan you will want to fold under the crust and then crimp the edges.

OR you can use a store bought pie crust for thi coconut cream pie recipe.

Whether you use this homemade crust of a store bought crust, you will need to use a fork to make wholes in the pie crust before you bake it so that it will not bubble up. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes.

For the filling:

Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in a 1 1/2 quart saucepan. Stir in the milk gradually. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Stir at least half of the hot mixture gradually into the egg yolks. Pour back into the hot mixture in the saucepan. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla. Pour into pie shell.

For the Meringue Topping:

Allow egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large mixing bowl combine the egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar. Beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form (about 1 minute).

Gradually add the sugar while beating on high speed until stiff glossy peaks form (about 5 minutes).

Immediately spread on top of hot pie filling. Spread the meringue all the way to the crust to seal it so that it doesn't shrink during baking. Sprinkle the 1/4 cup of cocnut on top.

Bake pie on 450 degrees F for about 5 minutes until lightly browned. WATCH THE PIE CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT DOESN"T TAKE LONG TO GO FROM BEAUTIFULLY BROWNED TO BURNED!

Mama hopes you enjoy this coconut cream pie recipe!