Gourmandistan

Piña colada in pie form

Gourmandistanis are not really fond of either piña coladas or getting caught in the rain. (We’re also really not that fond of the late 1970s, a period we both endured when this horrible song and its dismal disco brethren were about the only things available on local radio.) But we do rather like pie, and this incredibly easy coconut-pineapple confection from François Payard is indeed a tasty piece of tart.

We made one recently to use up some more of our mysterious coconut surplus, and were once again pleased with the sweet, semi-tropical taste. Revisiting this recipe also helped Michelle pick up a handy way to remove a tart ring: place the tart on a smaller surface like a coffee can, and gently press down on the ring until it detaches—much better than her usual practice of balancing a hot tart bottom on her hand. Supposedly the recipe works with canned as well as fresh pineapple, making it a good way to get a fruit tart when no fresh stuff is about.

Now please excuse us—the dunes are calling, and midnight is mere hours away.

And here’s a cat picture. Just because. It’s the Internet after all.

COCONUT-PINEAPPLE TART

  • Servings: one 9-inch tart
  • Print

(from François Payard’s Simply Sensational Desserts)

  • Unbaked 9″ tart shell filled with Payard’s Sweet Tart Dough or another pâte sucreé
  • 1/2 c. pineapple, finely diced and drained over a colander
  • 7 TB softened butter
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 2-1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350°.

Scatter pineapple pieces over bottom of tart shell.  Gently press pineapple into the dough.  Place tart shell in freezer for at least 5 minutes to anchor the fruit.

Beat butter and sugar together until well-blended.  Add coconut, then eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Spread filling over pineapple in the tart shell.

Bake on lower rack of oven for 50 to 55 minutes until top is golden brown and filling is set.  Cool on a wire rack.

34 comments

  1. Karen

    That is it? I had to look a second time to make sure I wasn’t skipping part of the recipe.What a wonderfully simple dessert. Thank you so much for the recipe.

    Reply
  2. scolgin

    Here’s one for y’all, my Southern friends. I’m making my epically delicious buttermilk fried chicken for a “southern” dinner on Weds. night. (Yeah, we do those.) Do you have a killer mint julep recipe to go with?

    Reply
    • Michelle

      You’ve asked the wrong folks as I loathe all brown goods and Steve is one of those who believes in diluting his bourbon only with ice! But this one from the Seelbach Hotel Bar is probably as good as any: http://epi.us/841AeN

      Plus, the link has the added benefit of providing a version of this famous Kentucky story: “Henry Watterson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning editor of The Louisville Courier-Journal, whose famous recipe for the Julep still speaks to the old-fashioned Kentuckian desire for unblemished bourbon, says: ‘Pluck the mint gently from its bed, just as the dew of the evening is about to form upon it. Prepare the simple syrup and measure out a half-tumbler of whiskey. Pour the whiskey into a well-frosted silver cup, throw the other ingredients away and drink the whiskey.'”

      Hope you have a great dinner, and do report back about how the cocktails turn out!

      Reply
    • Michelle

      Thanks, Rosemary. That cat is one of two reasons why my flower arrangements usually are relegated to the fireplace mantel. Actually, his brother is even more destructive…

      Reply
    • Michelle

      Muchas gracias! I will always hate the song, and I was really interested to read that the guy who wrote/sang it hated it too (all the way to the bank, I guess).

      Reply
  10. Susan

    I read the words “pina colada” and that song immediately crept into my brain (assaulted more like). This looks TASTY. Also: VERY nice cat. And on the subject of pina coladas, have you tried adding a dash of rum to the tart? Or would it curdle the eggs?

    Reply
  12. Mindy

    This looks delicious and pretty simple. And I love that you used the phrase “pâte sucreé”…it reminds me of living in France where you could buy good, premade pâtes sucreés in the grocery stores. 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle

      Funny that you say that, Mindy, as last time we were in France I looked everywhere in a (crappy) grocery for some sort of premade pie crust. I knew that they had to be somewhere, but I guess I was probably too intimidated to ask someone. Or what I should say is: I was too afraid they’d answer and I’d have no idea what they said!

      Reply
  13. Jody and Ken

    This looks and sounds great! I’m going to save this recipe as a reward for when I can fit back into a L biking jersey (instead of an XL). We have a good friend who worked (baking) at the Payard Bakery in NYC for several years. She considered it quite an education. Nice post. Ken

    Reply

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