Home · Recipes · Desserts & Baking · Pies & Tarts Coconut Cream Tart Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Nov 24, 2018Updated: Sep 9, 2022 View Recipe7 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. A tropical take on banana cream tart. Coconut cream tart consists of coconut caramel, coconut pastry cream, and toasted shredded coconut. Table of Contents Coconut Pastry Cream TartStorage & LeftoversCoconut Cream TartsView moreView less The many uses of coconut Coconut is the miracle fruit. From one simple plant comes many uses. Coconut water provides hydration. Coconut meat is rich in vitamins and minerals and provides nourishment with its high dietary fiber content. From soups and curries to sweets and treats, coconut milk is extensively used in Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine. Asides from food and drink, coconut oil is used for cleaning and body products. Coconut leaves are used for cooking and it can be also weaved into baskets and other containers. Structures such as bridges or housing can be made from coconut trunks. Out of all the ways to utilize coconuts, obviously my favorite way to enjoy coconuts is in dessert! Coconut Pastry Cream Tart This coconut cream tarts consists of a crunchy sweet shell, a thin layer of coconut caramel, luscious coconut pastry cream, a dollop of sweetened whipped cream, and a sprinkling of toasted shredded coconut on top. It sounds like a lot of work, but I assure you it’s worth the effort. Coconut Tart Components Crunchy sweet tart shell Coconut caramel Coconut pastry cream Whipped cream Toasted shredded coconut The preparation of this tart can be made over the course of several days. Sweet Tart Dough Start off by making the sweet tart dough. It can be chilled in the fridge for up to two days. After baking, the tart shells can be held at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Coconut Jam: Homemade coconut jam (or coconut caramel) keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks. Coconut jam will vary in color depending on what kind of sugar you choose to use. Coconut jam (kaya) or coconut caramel can also be purchased. If you’re super pressed for you time, simply substitute in your favorite store bought caramel sauce. Coconut Pastry Cream: Coconut pastry cream can be made a day in advance and kept in the fridge overnight. I don’t suggest any longer than 36 hours because the cream will eventually separate. The recipe uses coconut cream. This is different from coconut milk. Coconut cream is thicker in consistency and it contains a bit more fat. More fat means more coconut flavor! Toasted Shredded Coconut: Sweetened shredded coconut can be toasted in the oven or in a skillet. The toasted coconut needs to be cooled to room temperature before storing. Once completely cooled, the toasted coconut can be kept in an airtight container for several days (and it will still maintain its crunch!). Storage & Leftovers This coconut cream tart should be eaten the same day it is assembled. The moisture from the coconut caramel and coconut pastry cream will eventually soften the crunchy sweet tart shell. It’s the contrasting textures (asides from the flavor!) that makes this coconut cream tart so addicting. The crunch from the shell and the silky pastry cream mixed with the rich whipped cream and sweet toasted coconut- it’s a tropical vacation in a bite! Coconut Cream Tarts 5 from 1 vote A tropical take on banana cream tart, this coconut cream tart is layered with coconut caramel, coconut pastry cream, and toasted shredded coconut. Yield: 8 mini tarts (4.75-inch tart shells) Prep Time: 1 hour hourCook Time: 20 minutes minutesChill Time: 1 hour hourTotal Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes Servings: 8 mini tarts Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe IngredientsSweet Tart Dough:▢ ½ cup unsalted butter (113 g) room temp▢ ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)▢ ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt▢ 1 large egg , room temp▢ 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (228 g)Coconut Pastry Cream:▢ 1 cup canned coconut cream (284 g)▢ 1 cup whole milk (227 g)▢ ½ cup granulated sugar (100 g)▢ 3 Tablespoon (21 g) cornstarch (21 g) ▢ 2 large eggs▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter (57 g) sliced into tablespoons▢ ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt▢ ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extractCoconut Caramel:*▢ 15 oz canned coconut milk , full-fat, unsweetened▢ ½ cup coconut sugar (114 g) or palm sugar or light/dark brown sugar▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt▢ 2 teaspoon pandan extract , optionalWhipped Cream:▢ 1 ½ cup heavy cream (340 g) very cold▢ 1 Tablespoon confectioners sugarToasted Coconut:▢ 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut (130 g) Instructions Sweet Tart Dough:Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, and salt until smooth on medium speed. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing. Add egg and mix until well combined.Add flour. Mix on low speed until just incorporated and there are no longer any dry streaks of flour. Divide dough into two equal parts. Shape into two disks about 1/2-inch thick. Wrap well in plastic wrap and chill for one hour or up to overnight.Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to about ⅛ to ¼-inch thickness. Cut out a circle a little larger than the tart mold. Carefully transfer circle to tart mold, pressing it gently into place. Trim the dough level with the tart mold by rolling the pin over the edges.Dock the bottom of the tart shell with a fork. Repeat with remaining dough and tart shell molds. Bake for 15-20 minutes. The tart shell should be golden brown in color. Let cool to room temperature on wire rack. Coconut Pastry CreamLine a quarter-sheet baking pan with plastic wrap, making sure the sides of the pans are covered. Set aside.Pour coconut cream and ¾ cup milk into a large heavy bottomed sauce pot. Whisk together and place over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure milk does not burn along sides or bottom of pot. Bring to a simmer.Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Add in remaining ¼ cup milk and eggs. Whisk until smooth. Once milk is at a simmer, reduce heat. Slowly add about ⅓ cup of hot milk mixture into cornstarch mixture. Whisk constantly to distribute heat. Continue to add milk and whisk until only about ⅓ of milk is left into sauce pot. Pour all of cornstarch-milk mixture back into the sauce pot. Increase to medium heat. Whisk constantly until mixture has thickened to a custard. Allow mixture to come to a boil for 15-30 seconds to cook out any cornstarch flavor. Remove from heat.Whisk in butter until smooth. Add in salt and vanilla and whisk until combined.Pour hot pastry cream into prepared plastic wrapped sheet pan. Spread evenly. Cover with surface of pastry cream directly with plastic wrap. Freeze for 10-15 minutes until pastry cream has cooled to room temperature. Remove from the freezer and transfer pastry cream to an airtight container. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of pastry cream. Cover with lid. Let chill in the fridge until ready to use. Coconut Caramel:In a small sauce pot, combine coconut milk and coconut sugar. Set over medium heat and bring mixture to a boil. Once mixture has boiled, reduce heat and let simmer until thickened, about 8-12 minutes. Stir often to ensure mixture does not burn along the sides of the pot. Remove from heat. Add salt and pandan extract. Stir to combine. Pour jam into heat proof containers. Allow to cool to room temperature and then store in the fridge until ready to use. Jam will continue to thicken in the fridge.Whipped Cream:Use a hand mixer (or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment) to mix together heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar. Mix on medium speed until cream reaches stiff peaks. Use immediately, or cover and keep chilled in the fridge for up to one day. Toasted Coconut:Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread coconut on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-8 minutes, stirring shredded coconut every 2 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant. Allow to cool to room temperature. Assembly:Spread a thin layer of coconut caramel in each baked tart shell. Add ½ cup of pastry cream over caramel. Spread into an even layer. Spoon a dollop of whipped cream. Drizzle additional caramel, if desired. Finish with a handful of toasted coconut. Enjoy immediately! NotesCoconut Caramel: Feel free to use your favorite store-bought coconut jam (kaya) or coconut caramel. For less coconut flavor, substitute in salted caramel or other caramel of choice. I used these 4.75-inch tart shells with removable bottoms. Make Ahead Notes: Sweet Tart Dough: chill in the fridge up to 2 days. After baking, store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Coconut Jam (coconut caramel): keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks. Coconut Pastry Cream: can be made in a day in advance. Store in the fridge overnight. Will separate if stored for more than 36 hours. Toasted Shredded Coconut: toast and cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container for 5 days. NutritionCalories: 900kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 66g | Saturated Fat: 48g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 170mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 1339IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 4mg Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: DessertCuisine: American, Asian, Filipino Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Cindy Rodriguez says: November 26, 2018 These look amazing and so yummy! And I must try Kaya skincare some time, too. Well done! Reply
Linda says: June 2, 2019 This looks delicious and I’d love to try it. I also just went on a diet though. Have you experimented with any lighter versions or ingredient substitutes? Thanks! Reply
Jan Mowbray says: June 22, 2021 You might like to correct a typo on the coconut cream tart page – it says: It sounds like a lot of work, but I assume you it’s worth the effort. It should be: It sounds like a lot of work, but I assure you it’s worth the effort. The recipe sounds great. Thank you. Reply
Ryo says: February 6, 2024 Maybe a dumb question, but is it possible to make the tart shell with coconut flour or some combo of coconut/almond flour? I’m always looking for “naturally” gluten free recipes that don’t require too many special ingredients. Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: February 6, 2024 It is possible to make gluten-free version of the tart shell. Unfortunately, I am not well-versed in gluten-free baking.
Danielle G. says: August 20, 2024 I doubled the recipe and used my smaller mini tart pans and got about 30. They were so cute and yummy! Reply