Coconut Cream Pie Bluebonnet Cafe Recipe 44

Steps:

• Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Reserve egg whites for a meringue topping or discard. Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt and milk. Cook mixture over medium to low heat, stirring constantly. After mixture bubbles ups and thickens, cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Beat egg yolks slightly. Gradually stir 1 cup of hot mixture into yolks, being careful not to scramble the yolks. Return the egg mixture to saucepan; bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla; stir until butter is melted. Add the coconut and mix. Pour mixture into a baked 9-inch pie crust. Allow pie mixture to cool. Top with whipping cream.

Steps:

• For the pie crust: Pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow cornmeal mixed with bean-size bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 4 to 5 times until the dough forms a ball. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.)
• Transfer the dough to a work surface. Form the dough into a disk, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Roll the dough on a lightly-floured surface into a 12-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie pan and trim the edges, leaving about an extra inch hanging over the edge. Tuck the overhanging dough underneath itself to form a thick edge that is even with the rim. Flute the edge as desired. Freeze the pie shell for 30 minutes.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Put a piece of parchment paper or foil over the pie shell and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake on a baking sheet on the center rack until the dough is set, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and lift the sides of the parchment to remove the beans. Continue baking until the pie shell is lightly golden brown, about 10 more minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
• For the filling: Whisk together the egg yolks, 1/4 cup of the milk and the cornstarch in a medium bowl until smooth and well combined. Stir together the remaining 3/4 cup milk, the half-and-half, sugar and kosher salt in a large saucepan. Heat over medium heat until barely simmering. Temper the egg yolks by slowly pouring the hot milk and cream into the egg yolks while continuing to whisk. Pour the custard back into the pan and place over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the custard is very thick and smooth, about 5 minutes; it will be the consistency of a pudding. (If the filling has scrambled a bit, or doesn't look smooth, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a separate bowl before adding the coconut.) Stir in the butter until melted, then stir in the vanilla and shredded coconut. Spread the filling into the cooled pie crust. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pie and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
• For the meringue: Add the egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and kosher salt to the bowl of a stand mixture fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk to combine. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture feels very hot to the touch. Transfer the bowl to the mixer and add the vanilla. Whisk on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the pie and gently mound the meringue on top of the filling. Use an offset spatula to completely cover the filling and meet the crust all around the edges. (This will completely seal in the filling and help prevent weeping.) Use the offset spatula to form swirls and peaks in the meringue. Toast the meringue using a kitchen torch or broil in the oven until golden brown, keeping an eye on the meringue if broiling. Sprinkle all over with toasted coconut and serve.

Steps:

• To make the crust, combine the flour, salt, cold butter, and cold shortening in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the butter and shortening are the size of small peas. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Add the coconut water and rum 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork to mix. When the mixture can be squeezed into a ball, wrap it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Grease an 8-inch pie pan. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer the dough to the pie pan. Trim the edges and fold the dough under itself; crimp the crust. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Prick the bottom and sides of the pie dough with a fork. Line the dough with parchment paper or aluminum foil and weigh it down with pie weights or dried beans (see Editor's Note). Bake until the edges of the crust are golden and the bottom of the crust is just beginning to color, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven, carefully remove the foil and beans, and set aside.
• Combine the coconut milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup toasted coconut, and the scraped vanilla bean seeds and pod in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil and remove from the heat.
• Whisk the remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the cornstarch. Whisk the eggs and egg yolk together in a large heat-proof bowl; whisk in the milk and the cornstarch mixture. Gradually pour the hot coconut milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return the custard mixture to the saucepan.
• Cook the custard over medium heat, stirring constantly with a spatula or wooden spoon. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. The mixture will thicken. Remove the pan from the heat and discard the vanilla bean pod. Whisk in the butter. Pour the custard into the cooled pie crust. Chill the pie for 1 hour.
• Place a mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill. Whip the cream on high speed until it begins to thicken; gradually add the confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice. Continue beating until stiff. Pipe or spread the cream onto the chilled pie and sprinkle with the remaining toasted coconut.

Steps:

• To make the pie crust: Combine the water and vinegar and refrigerate to make sure it's extra chilled. Keeping everything cold and working quickly are the keys to flaky pie crust.
• Place the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and give it a good stir. Add the butter cubes, and using your fingers, a fork, or a pastry blender, break the butter up into the flour. You should end up with a coarse, gravel-like mixture. Add the water and vinegar mixture about a tablespoon at a time, stirring with a fork and your hands until the dough comes together.
• Cut the dough into two equal pieces, and shape them into round, flat disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This dough actually became hard as a rock in the refrigerator when I left it in overnight, and needed to thaw on the counter for a while, so you might not want to leave it in the refrigerator much longer than 30 minutes.
• You only need half of the dough for this pie crust, but I always make a full batch. That way I can keep half in the freezer and be able to make another pie, or a quiche, without as much work.
• To partially bake the pie crust, roll out one disk on a lightly floured surface to a circle about 1/8 of an inch thick. Wrap the crust around your rolling pin to transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Carefully stretch the dough into the plate, pressing gently into the corners. Trim and crimp the edges, and place it in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F Line the pie shell with parchment paper, and fill the pie sheet with pie weights or dried beans, then bake for about 20 minutes, or until the dough is dried, but not brown. Scoop out the pie weights and let the shell cool.
• To make the filling: Preheat the oven to 350°F Spread the coconut out on a baking sheet and toast for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice. It'll burn easily, so keep an eye on it. Once it's golden brown, transfer the coconut to a plate to cool. Scatter all but 2 tablespoons of the coconut on the bottom of the partially baked pie shell.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla. Gradually add the sugar and coconut milk, mixing until completely blended. Whisk in the heavy cream and the half and half, but don't beat too vigorously, as you don't want the custard to have bubbles. Gently pour the mixture into the pie shell over the toasted coconut.
• Bake the pie in the middle of the oven for 55 to 60 minutes. The filling will puff up around the edges, and the center should be firm. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
• To make the whipped cream topping: Whip the cream with an electric mixer or stand mixer at medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
• Remove the chilled pie from the refrigerator, and mound the whipped cream on top, spreading it to the edges to make a slightly domed shaped. Garnish with the remaining toasted coconut, and serve chilled.

Steps:

• To make Custard: In heavy saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, an salt.
• Slowly stir in the half-and-half until smooth.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.
• Lower heat to maintain simmer and cook, stirring constantly 2 to 3 minutes.
• Place egg yolks in a bowl and slowly whisk 1 cup of hot cream into them.
• Pour mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and just begins to"steam", 4 to 5 minutes.
• Do not let boil.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in butter and vanilla until smooth.
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl.
• Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and cool on a wire rack.
• When cool, gently fold in the coconut.
• Chill for 1 hour.
• Make the whipped cream: Put cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and beat until thickened using an electric mixer on high.
• Assemble pie: Pour the cooled custard into the prebaked crust.
• Mound the whipped cream over the filling and sprinkle with the coconut and nuts.
• Chill for 2 hours before serving.