These little hand pies have a flaky crust with a sweet coconut filling. Coconut Turnovers are so divine as a midday snack or evening dessert.
Do you like coconut? Well, do I have a sweet little turnover for you!
I just happen to be nutty for coconut, and it's a key ingredient in several of my favorite sweet treats. Favorite candy bar? Almond Joy. Favorite macaroon? These Peanut Butter Macaroons with Chocolate Bottoms.
Favorite over-the-top sweet dessert bar? These bars with lime, coconut, and cocoa fit the ticket.
And so, of course, these darling Coconut Turnovers are high on my list of favorites, too. They're made with buttery, flaky pie crust and a sweeeet shredded coconut filling.
Why you'll love this recipe
These treats could go by many names, like coconut pasties, coconut hand pies, or coconut pockets. Whatever you want to call them, I'm certain that you'll love them.
The filling for these Coconut Turnovers is very easy to mix together, and it's sweet and flavorful.
The turnover crust is just as tasty as the filling because it's made using my Perfect All-Butter Pie Crust dough. You can make this dough up to three days ahead of time, and have it waiting for you in the fridge to make these pies.
Serve the turnovers with coffee for breakfast, as a midday treat, or for a casual evening dessert. Because they're portable, you can put them in lunchboxes or bring them to a picnic.
🔪 How to make Coconut Turnovers
Step 1: Have the dough ready in the fridge.
Find the recipe for my All-Butter Pie Crust here. Make the dough and chill it for at least 30 minutes, or up to three days ahead of time.
Step 2: Make the filling.
Stir together the coconut, sweetened condensed milk, extracts, and salt.
Step 3: Roll and cut the dough.
Roll out the pie crust dough to a ¼-inch thickness and use a round cutter to make 3-inch circles.
Step 4: Fill and fold the pies. Then chill.
Place a small heap of filling in the center of the circles. Fold the dough over and crimp the edge closed. When all of the pies have been formed, chill them for 30 minutes.
Step 5: Add a sprinkle of sugar and bake.
Sprinkle the tops of the pies with water and sugar. Bake them until they're golden brown.
These little pies are wonderful to share at holiday time, as a potluck dessert, or as a special dessert for your family!
Find the recipe below, and I have a few more coconut treats for you too.
💬 Have you tried these coconut turnovers? Leave a comment and a star rating.
Coconut Turnovers
Ingredients
- Perfect All-Butter Pie Crust Recipe
- 2½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Granulated sugar, for the tops
Instructions
- Have the Perfect All-Butter Pie Crust Dough, divided into two portions waiting for you in the fridge.
Make the filling:
- Mix together the coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt.
Cut dough circles:
- Roll out half of the chilled All-Butter Pie Crust Dough on a lightly floured surface until it's about ¼-inch thick. Use a 3½ inch round cookie cutter to cut circles from the dough. Gather together and reroll scraps as needed.
Fill the turnovers:
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Have a small dish of water at your work area. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the coconut filling into the center of each dough circle. Fold the far edge of the circle over the filling to meet the other edge.
- Fold the edge up one time. Moisten the edge with water, and then fold the edge up again. Crimp the edge down firmly with your fingers or a fork. Place the pie on the prepared baking sheet. Continue with the other dough circles and place them on the baking sheet.
- Roll out the remaining portion of dough in the fridge. Cut 3-inch circles, fill and fold the pies as described above. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate the pies for 30 minutes.
- While the pies chill, preheat the oven to 400° F. Place an oven rack in the position just below the middle of the oven.
Bake:
- Remove the pies from the fridge. Crimp the edges once more firmly. Sprinkle the tops of the pies with water and then sprinkle granulated sugar over the tops.
- Bake the pies for 30 minutes until the crusts are golden brown.
- Remove the pies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool for 10 minutes.
- Serve the turnovers warm or at room temperature. Makes about 15. Cooled turnovers can be stored in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
- This recipe calls for my All-Butter Pie Crust Dough. Find that recipe here at this link.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2013.
Nan
Thanks, Jenny! Happy A-Z to you too
Jenny
These look so good! I love coconut.
Have fun with A to Z!
Jenny at Choice City Native
kool123
I dont know what to say. These were good. I had them at school.
Nan
You had me at "good". I'm glad that you liked them! I'll try to send more yummies your way. You are the koolest, Kool123!
fuzzybunnies13
I tried them at my school mr.Mock gave it to me! I just found out that you made them and they where YUMMY!!!
Nan
I'm glad that I made them too, and really glad you got to be my taste-tester! Thanks for your lovely words, Fuzzybunnies!
cupcake
I don't know, though. These were good. I had them in Mr. Mack's classroom. That's it.
Nan
Thank you, Cupcake (what a great blogger name!) I'm glad that Mr. Mack (!) shared them with you. Thank you for checking out my blog! That's it. 😉
Bagheera
Those coconut things that you made were really good!
Nan
Thank you Bagheera! I'm so glad you got to try them. I really appreciate that you came to my blog to comment on them!
Talya Tate Boerner
Oh my. Delicious!
Nan
It's true - coconut is such an indulgence!