Coconut Custard

The weather here in Portland this winter has been so perfect, in my opinion. On Sunday morning, we woke up to a beautiful blanket of snow on rooftops, trees, and lawns; the day stayed cold and sunny, and in the afternoon we went to Stars on Ice with Andy's sister, who was visiting. This morning it is silvery blue outside, and another light snow is starting to fall, dusting the tips of my fall-planted pink daffodils, just starting to peek through the cold dirt. For once my house is tidy, my to-do list pretty well checked off. After flurries of deadlines and thousands of satin stitches, I am eager to clear my mind. I find myself in the kitchen, making custard. This one's coconut.

Coconut Custard

5 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut (I'm sorry, for those commenters questioning, I don't know what this is called or how it's sold in other countries; in the U.S. it comes in a bag, or you can buy it in bulk.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs well, then add the sugar, milk, half-and-half, and vanilla. Stir in coconut. Pour custard into a two-quart glass casserole dish and bake for 35-45 minutes until center is set. If the top looks like it's getting too dark, cover the dish with aluminum foil. Serve warm.

You could always put the custard into a pie shell, but it weeps like crazy as it cools — foodies, are you supposed to dehydrate the coconut somehow, first? It's not a big deal — I just pour the water out of the dish after it cools a bit (just make sure the whole thing doesn't come plopping out into the sink, of course), but it would definitely soggify your crust if you had one. Which would just remind you of eating coconut-custard pie on late nights at Baker's Square in high school, so it's okay.

The snow has really started coming down. It looks just like shredded coconut.

Comments

[Carolyn A.]

Alicia,

I found your answer here:
http://www.baking911.com/pies_tarts/custard.htm

I go here for many answers. Hope it helps. xxoo

[heather]

oh, i wish i'd had this for breakfast this morning! especially with all of the snow falling here in portland. your morning looks so much warmer and more comforting than my somewhat harried bike ride to work in the snow.

[PinkRuff]

Oh yum. Have.to.make.this. Thank you for the recipe!

[Kristi]

The custard looks great! But what really got me was the mention of spring flowers peeking up through the dirt. I'll have to wait another couple of months for that to happen and I'm very jealous!

[C.E.R.]

And before late nights at Baker's Square, it was late nights at Poppin' Fresh. Yum!

[Norma]

I think our weather is fabulous too!!! I am so making this tonight. Yum!

[Kathe Kramer]

We have so many of the same weaknesses! Give me coconut custard over all others! I think the weeping has to do with the temperature of the oven. Quiche does this as well if it gets too hot, the eggs break down and get watery, thus the weeping. I think it would cook as well at 325 and even in a Bain Marie. aka set in a bigger pan containing water. Who doesn't want use a Bain Marie every possible chance? It is just so fun to say, "Oh, I baked it in a Bain Marie". And today, we finally got snow too.

[Puanani]

I am so making this for dessert tonight. My two favorite things, eggy custard and coconut. I just cleaned out the spice shelf AND the pantry, so I totally deserve this! Thanks.

[Karen Dodson]

Yummo!! Would LOVE to see some pink daffodils right now instead of this dreary,cloudy Tennessee weather!!

[Karin]

Ah, I wonder if this photo will entice my hubs to try coconut custard. So far, any attempts at it that I have made have been met with a sour puss face and a horrible noise. How can you not like coconut? Honestly.

[jessie Light]

hi, ALICIA! i just wanted to give you an idea.. i have been a fan of the solo almond cake for years but recently substituted the solo apricot filling for the almond filling in the cake recipe.. so delicious!

[mandi]

oh man! that looks delicious. i've never made custard, but i'm going to have to try this. can't resist coconut : )

[Michael A Wurm Jr]

I'm glad someone is happy to see the snow. I live in Pennsylvania and we are expected to get 8-10 inches tonight! It's been snowing since October. Anyway your custard looks delish. I just made coconut pudding last night. Yum!

[Melissa]

I'm sure it's very yummy. I grew up on a farm though, and to me, custard looks like something I'm not going to tell you about!

This weekend I learned how to make Granny Squares!! I couldn't wait to post that you your blog since you wrote about teaching a niece (I think). I'll make sure to post pictures once I get somewhere!

[Jemm]

Your blog just makes me drool! Figuratively speaking, of course. It's amazing. The recipe looks great too ;)

[maddie]

I do one of two things.. set my coconut out for the day and let it air drya bit or I toast it just a smidge in the oven if I am late to the party. It cuts down on the weeping by quite a bit.

maddie
www.domesticanarchy.blogspot.com

[Mary Jo]

Mmmm, this is on my list of things to do this weekend!

xo Mary Jo

[Linn]

Yum...I think the idea of coconut just warms up a dish. This looks delicious.

[Stacy]

Oh no - that sounds delicious. And, it is just me at home. Oy! I might have to add this to my weekend plans.

[Bookaholic]

Did everyone go to Baker's Square late at night with friends while in high-school? :) I certainly did. My parents look back and think they hit the teenager jackpot because they'd get these phone calls at 11:15 saying, "We're all at (insert name of open-late place that serves pie and comfort food here)-- can I stay out until 12:30?" Not drinking or using drugs or something-- eating pie and chili-cheese-fries. :)

[Laini Taylor]

Yum, I LOVE coconut. I must make this :-)

Thank you!

(the snow was so pretty this morning, wasn't it?)

[rachael]

I love that you made the link between the snow and shredded coconut. Your mind is a gem!

[Cherry Tree Lane]

This recipe almost looks too easy...which happens to be my faovrite! Huzzah!

[sarah]

Ok, I am definitely trying this recipe. It looks divine. I'm so glad that my other half loves coconut, too. Can't wait to try it!

I'm craving lovely comfort food tonight. :)

[sheila]

I agree with Kathy - a lower oven temperature and cook it in a bain marie - that certainly works with just plain egg custard though I have never tried a coconut version.
Enjoy your snowy days