A few weeks ago, I start noticing people chatting about a Pie Party for July 5th on Twitter. I thought it was a great idea. Who doesn’t love pie? After discussing it with other food bloggers over dinner, I learned that the Pie Party was started by Shauna, Irvin, Garrett, Justin, and Ashley. Since everyone else was eager to participate, I decided to join the fun.
Ahh, the possibilities . . . from fruit pies, which are in season, to chocolate pies, which are a rich and creamy decadence for a holiday weekend. As I prepped dishes for the holiday weekend, my only firm decision last Friday was to make a pre-baked pie crust.
Firmness has its limits, I learned. With all my energy spent on get ready for the July 4th weekend, I didn’t give my pie crust enough attention and care. It failed miserably, looking like shrunken dinosaur skin. Without a shell ready to go, would I have enough time to try Crust #2 and make the pie in time to join the Pie Party?
The inspiration and determination came in the form of an aroma. Our holiday house guests brought us mangos fresh off the tree from a family home in Florida and helpfully delivered by his brother flying north. As soon as I cut into the mangoes, the sweet scent sent off images of tropical islands. I quickly made Crust #2 using a simple press-in cookie pie dough that would guarantee no shrinkage.
This Mango Coconut Cream Pie combines the creamy textures of mango mousse and coconut custard. The sliced mango on top gives it a nice boost of freshness and intensity. When someone hands you mangoes, Mango Coconut Cream Pie is the answer.
6 ounces animal crackers
4 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
5 large egg yolks
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
14 ounces coconut milk (1 can)
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon rum
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoons cold water
1-1/2 teaspoons (1 packet) gelatin2 medium mangoes (about 2 pounds), cut into chunks
2 tablespoons orange juice, freshly squeezed
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (add more, depends on sweetness of mangoes)
1/2 cup whipped cream
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1 mango, peeled pitted and sliced
1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. In food processor, pulse animal crackers, coconut, and sugar to fine crumbs; then process until powdery. Transfer crumbs to medium bowl and add butter; stir to combine until crumbs are evenly moistened. Empty crumbs into 9-inch glass pie plate; using 1/2- cup dry measuring cup, press crumbs evenly into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake until fragrant and medium brown, about 20 minutes, rotating pie shell halfway through baking time. Set on wire rack and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
1.. Whisk yolks, cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
2. Bring coconut milk, whole milk, shredded coconut, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt to simmer over medium-high heat, stirring often to ensure that sugar dissolves. Whisking constantly, gradually ladle about 1 cup hot milk mixture over yolk mixture to combine. Continue whisking, gradually add remaining milk mixture to yolk mixture in 3 or 4 additions; whisk well to combine.
3. Return mixture to saucepan and cook until thickened and mixture reaches boil, whisking constantly, about 1 minute; filling must boil in order to fully thicken. (To determine whether filling has reached boil, stop whisking; large bubbles should quickly burst on surface.) Off heat, whisk in butter, rum and vanilla until butter is fully incorporated. Pour hot filling into cooled pie shell and smooth surface with rubber spatula; press plastic wrap directly against surface of filling and refrigerate.
1. In a medium bowl add cold water and sprinkle gelatin over, set aside to dissolve.
2. Pureed mango chunks, orange juice, sugar in a blender. Pass puree through a sieve into a bowl and set aside.
3.Add 1-inch of water in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Place bowl with gelatin mixture over simmering water. Stir to dissolve completely. Slowly add mango mixture to gelatin and stir to fully combine. Remove bowl from simmering water.
4. Whisk whipped cream and confectioner’s sugar to stiff peak. Stir in about 1/3 of whipped cream into the mango mixture to lighten. Add the remaining whipped cream and fold gently until there’s no more white streaks.
5. Remove pie from refrigerator. Life plastic wrap and pour mango mousse into the pie, smooth top with small off-set spatula. Refrigerate pie until fully set, about 3 hours.
1. Decorate top of pie with fresh mango slices and shredded coconut (if use), serve.
Recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
