Think of this dreamy dessert as a personal-sized coconut cream pie. (One of my favorite all time desserts and also, our chosen dessert for Thanksgiving this year!) A super creamy layer of vanilla pudding studded with toasted coconut, topped with vanilla-flavored whipped cream, and crunchy crushed butter cookies. My Coconut Cream Parfait is a unique take on a classic dessert.
Folding the toasted coconut into the vanilla pudding
The crushed butter cookies
Layers of coconut pudding, whipped cream and butter cookies
(To view this recipe, click on the blue title of the blog post above*)
Coconut Cream Parfait
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- Pinch of salt
- 2 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 butter cookies, crushed
Directions:
- To toast the coconut, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and toast, tossing halfway through cooking, for approximately 15 minutes in a 325 degree oven. Remove the toasted coconut from the oven and allow to cool.
- In the meantime, place the sugar, milk, salt, cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a medium saucepan. Whisking constantly over medium heat, cook the mixture until it thickens into a pudding-like consistency. This will take about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, pour into a bowl and allow to cool. Fold in the toasted coconut flakes.
- With a hand held mixer, whip the heavy cream, along with the remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla, to soft peaks. To crush the butter cookies, chop them on a cutting board with your chef’s knife. (not too finely, but just so that they are crushed) Alternatively you can place them in your food processor and chop this way as well.
- To form the parfaits, layer some of the pudding, followed by the cream, then some of the cookies. Another layer of pudding, then more cookies and topped with cream. Refrigerate the parfaits for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with a few chopped cookies and a sprig of mint.
Tagged: butter cookies, coconut, coconut pudding, dessert, flaked coconut, heavy cream, pudding, vanilla extract, vanilla pudding, whipped cream
This is a great idea for Coconut Cream Pie lovers who do not wish to be tempted beyond what they are able!!! My spouse LOVES CCP, but hates to face a whole pie! This works for him and I’ll gladly make it for him!
Yes, totally agreed! I like the individual sizes of these desserts; a lot of restaurants are doing the ‘taste’ portions of classic desserts these days which I love. Sometime you just want a taste of something sweet, you know? Hope you enjoy it!