Sometimes I crave classic old-fashioned cream pies. I recently came across a lovely recipe for Coconut Pie in a hundred-year-old cookbook. This pie differs from many modern coconut pies because, in addition to the usual milk, egg yolks, and coconut, the recipe calls for grated lemon rind and lemon juice. The lemon adds a lovely sunny note to this rich creamy pie.
Here’s the original recipe:
When I updated the recipe I updated the spelling of coconut. “Cocoanut” is an archaic way of spelling coconut that I sometimes see in old recipes and cookbooks.
Here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Coconut Pie
2 cups milk
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter melted
grated rind and juice from 1 lemon
1 cup grated coconut
1 10-inch pie shell
Preheat oven to 425° F. Put milk, egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, salt, butter, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Beat until smooth. Stir in grated lemon rind and coconut. Pour into pie shell. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° F.. Bake additional 60 minutes or until knife inserted into center of pie comes out clean.
A Hundred Years Ago 
I do love coconut pie and will be sure to try this recipe.
This looks like a great alternative to the usual coconut cream pie with meringue on top.
This looks good. I’ve never heard of coconut pie before.
Lemon sounds like a magical addition!
I could probably eat this whole pie. Seems like a really nice addition to our Easter desserts.
I have a recipe for coconut pie that calls for lemon juice. I haven’t thought of it in a long time. Yours sounds good. I think up to half the people living in our house do not like coconut, so I’ll probably wait until we have a neighborhood potluck again.
This sounds delicious! I love the addition of the lemon too!
When my little granddaughter saw this post while visiting me, she wanted to know why it wanted school paste. I did explain that it was an old fashioned way of saying pie crust.
Oh how I love coconut cream pie! A little lemon added sounds great.
I love coconut cream pie. My husband had a craving for chocolate cream pie yesterday. We went to the bakery but all they had was a chocolate torte with cream on top. He really wanted the whole chocolate pudding experience. Can’t say I blame him!
This is new to me but looks delicious.xxx
My pie is in the oven as I type this. Can’t wait to try it.