This custard pie is the kind of old-fashioned bake that feels clever, because it sets its own soft base as it cooks. You whisk everything in one bowl, pour it into a dish, and the oven does the rest.
It makes eight slices and uses simple pantry ingredients. The coconut gives it texture and the lemon zest keeps it fresh, so it is sweet without being heavy.
Why You’ll Love It
This one’s a keeper. It’s one bowl, whisk and pour, and it sets its own soft base as it bakes. Simple pantry ingredients, sweet but fresh with the lemon, and it makes eight slices.
The Shortcut That Makes It Work
This pie makes its own crust. The flour sinks as it bakes and sets into a base, so there is no pastry to roll or blind bake. You just whisk it all in one bowl and pour.
Handy Tips
Whisk it until smooth so the custard sets evenly. Line the pie dish so the slices lift out cleanly. It is done when the top is golden and the centre has a gentle wobble. It firms up as it cools. Let it cool before slicing so it holds together.
Make It Your Way
Use a different milk if you like. The pie will set a little differently, but it still works. Leave out the lemon zest, or swap it for orange, for a change. Serve it warm or cold, on its own or with a little cream.
How to Store It
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It is lovely cold straight from the fridge, or bring it to room temperature first.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this Custard Pie, here are a few more ideas to add to your rotation:

Custard Pie
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Mix Magic: Start by combining sugar, coconut, flour, melted butter, eggs, lemon zest and milk in a large bowl. Whisk it all together until you have a smooth and luscious mixture.
- Prepare to Bake: Pour your fab mixture into a lined 25cm pie dish, ready for the magic to happen.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C fan-forced for 50 minutes. You're aiming for that perfect golden top that just screams “eat me”!
Nutrition
Video
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FAQs
Can I use a different type of milk?
Yes. You can use other milks, though the texture and richness will vary a little. Skim makes it less creamy, and coconut milk leans into the coconut flavour.
How do I store it?
Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It is good cold, or bring it to room temperature first.
Can I serve it warm?
Yes. It is lovely warm or cold, on its own or with a little cream.


I made it & it’s Delicious ! I’m a Custard Lover so It Was ideal 🙂
AMAZING, love a custard square but so much work, this is simple and delicious 😋 😋
So easy to make so l made 2 so l could share with my friends
So easy and so delicious! Everybody love it!
Easy to make. So delicious.
Looks ummmy. My grandma use to make this pie when I was a little kid. Loved it then.
Made it with my 7 year old son. Easy and delicious! Greetings from Romania!
Simple to make, tasted devine.
Simple and elegant, a beautiful balance of coconut and lemon and enjoyed by all.
Do easy to make and everyone loved it
Recipe does not specify what form of coconut is used, or type of flour. Both bits of info are important for a successful bake.
Hi Jon, thanks for the feedback. The flour is plain flour (listed in the ingredients). For the coconut, I use desiccated. I’ve added it to the ingredient list to make it clearer for everyone. Appreciate you pointing it out.
Strange I know – can I freeze this ?
Hi Andrea. Not a strange question at all. I haven’t tested freezing this one myself, so I can’t say for certain. My honest guess is it might not freeze well because custard based bakes like this can go a bit watery or grainy once thawed because of the eggs and milk. But I can’t promise that without having tried it. I’d freeze a small piece first as a test and see how that turns out. Let me know 🙂
This is a show stopper and so easy to make – it turned out exactly like yours and the taste was unbelievable- I thought it would be better hot but once it cooled it was even better again so thanks again for your hard work in these recipes – you are talented, as I noticed, you can make great sweets, as well as the savoury side just fabulous – I will be trying allot more of your recipes – love watching you make your recipes on, as you make it so simple to follow and very clear to understand ❤️💗
Thank you so much Robyn. So happy that you found my Custard Pie recipe a show stopper :). Let me know how the other recipes turn out.
Love this recipe – all I can say is wow, spectacular and so easy to make but the taste is sensational – I thought it would be nicer warm, which it was but once cold even better – you are amazing and so easy to follow when you make your recipes❤️💗
Hello! Will this work with gluten free flour?
You can try a straight swap with gluten free flour, it’s only a small amount of flour in this one so it should be fine. Haven’t tested it myself though, let me know how it goes.
Hi Steph
I wonder whether it would work with GF flour?
It looks and sounds so delicious and easy to make. I’d like to try it as a GF version. Thanks for all your recipes, videos and happy disposition 😃 PS I also love your ALDI apron and accessories…. sadly I missed out on the cooking pan 😔
Hi Annelise. You can try a gluten-free plain flour, but I haven’t tried that one myself. Let me know how it goes if you do. Worth checking the label on the desiccated coconut package for cross-contamination warnings. Thanks for the kind words and I’m sorry you missed out on the cooking pan xx
Hi Steph, thanks for sharing your recipe, can you use less sugar successfully?
Hi Sam, you can try dropping the sugar back a bit, but I haven’t tried it myself. Let me know how it goes if you do.
My mixture curdled. Where did I go wrong?
Thanks
Hi Doris, thats usually the melted butter going in still hot and scrambling the eggs a bit. Let it cool before you whisk it through and give it another go.
A fantastic recipe that was so easy to follow and make. I made it one time and hubs made it the next time. Both turned out great! I like to add a bit more zest and a slightly coarser coconut. I’m a lousy cook but this turned out so well!! It is also very nice chilled in the fridge.
I would like to know what you lined the pie dish with? Is it parchment paper?
Yes it is.
Can you use shredded sweetened coconut?
You can try sweetened shredded, but I’d cut back on the sugar. Let me know how it goes if you do.
Iv done this twice and my bottom isn’t set and always soggy,help
The bottom is meant to be a soft custard layer. I’d give it longer in the oven but watch the top so it doesn’t burn.
Wow this custard tart is amazing in taste – need to take a photo, so easy to make and so yummy – everyone loves it – I love the way the top gets nice and crunchy but the coconut is the secret but such a crowd pleaser for something so simple and I am a fan of anything that has custard in – so thanks again for another great recipe and so easy 💞🌸
We just needed something sweet for a Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea. This sounded perfect. It came out beautifully. I might try a little less sugar next time but the taste was sensational. Will make a nice, easy dessert to take to someone’s place next time.
180 degrees C or F? Thanks.
180°C fan-forced. I’ve added fan-forced to my recipe card.
What size pie plate do I use?
25 cm Colleen. I’ve updated the recipe card.
I made this with Aldi gf plain flour and shredded coconut (dessicated coconut these days is more like flour its so fine) and used lime zest (home grown). Tastes yummy, couldnt wait for it to fully cool so it was a bit slippy putting on a plate. must smell nice my dog wants some, haha
Love that Jen, lime zest instead of lemon is a great idea. It does need to cool right down before it’ll come out cleanly.
What size dish? Please? 🙂
25 cm Dave 🙂. I’ve updated the recipe card.
Wonder how it would be made with buttermilk.
I haven’t tried it with buttermilk Joan, so I honestly don’t know how it’d set. Let me know how it goes if you give it a whirl.