We have had some truly glorious weather recently (interspersed between some very wet and miserable days…); as I write this I am overlooking our back garden, which is beautifully warm and sunny, aaand horrifically overgrown…all the plants have had a sudden growth spurt and it is getting towards the point where even the dog can’t venture out any further than the patio due to the height of the weeds (he is only small). It needs some serious work doing to it; not just weeding, but leveling, digging out a couple of trees, extending the patio, laying a path, building vegetable beds, mending the fences etc. etc. I thought about starting work on it the other day, but I just couldn’t face it so baked this tropical fruit coconut tart instead which was a much more satisfying use of my time.
With the warm, sunny weather I had been craving tropical fruits, and what better way to use them than by pairing them with crisp, coconut pastry and creamy coconut milk creme patissiere? To make the coconut pastry tart base I added some coconut flour to my pastry, which not only adds a touch of coconut flavour but also makes for an extremely crisp, crunchy pastry (scroll down to the bottom of the post for a chance to win some coconut flour and other goodies). You can use desiccated coconut in place of the coconut flour if you prefer, though bear in mind that you will probably need to add less water to the pastry to bind it together (coconut flour is very absorbent); just add the water a spoonful at a time until the pastry comes together.
The coconut creme patissiere is made in exactly the same way as regular pastry cream, except that I used coconut milk in place of the usual dairy milk; it is perfectly smooth, creamy and coconutty. I topped the tart with pieces of mango, pineapple and kiwi (which I cut into star shapes using a pastry cutter – this is totally not necessary) and some passion fruit. I decided that the tart looked too yellow so scattered over some freeze dried raspberry pieces as I didn’t have any fresh raspberries but again this is not really necessary and was purely for decoration rather than taste (although some fresh raspberries on there would be tasty). The combination of delicious fresh tropical fruit, creamy coconut creme patissiere and perfectly crispy pastry is utterly divine and this tart is the perfect dessert to serve on a warm sunny day, and so much more rewarding than gardening…
Tropical Fruit Coconut Tart
Ingredients
Coconut Pastry Cream:
- 400 ml can full fat coconut milk
- 1 large egg
- 4 large egg yolks
- 40 g (1/3 cup) cornflour (cornstarch)
- 100 g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Coconut Pastry:
- 200 g (1 + 2/3 cup) plain flour
- 30 g (1oz) coconut flour
- 30 g (1/3 cup) icing sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 100 g (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced
- 3-5 tbsp ice water
To Finish:
- 1 large, ripe but firm mango diced
- 1/2 small ripe pineapple diced
- 3 kiwis peeled and sliced
- 2 passion fruit
- raspberries/freeze dried raspberries
Instructions
Pastry Cream:
- Place the coconut milk in a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat until almost boiling. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg, yolks, cornflour, sugar and vanilla extract in a heat-proof bowl until smooth.
- Gradually pour the coconut milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly then return the mixture to the saucepan over a medium heat. Whisk constantly until the mixture thickens and comes up to the boil; continue to cook for a couple more minutes while whisking to cook out the flour then pour into a clean bowl, cover with clingfilm directly on the surface then refrigerate till cold (or overnight).
Coconut Pastry:
- Place the plain flour, coconut flour, icing sugar, salt and butter in a food processor and blitz until it resembles sand. With the motor running, gradually add the ice water until it comes together into a ball. Shape the pastry into a disc, wrap in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Roll out the chilled pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 25cm tart tin, trim off the excess, prick the base with a fork and place the pastry case in the freezer for 15 minutes while you pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4.
- Line the tart case with greaseproof paper or a double layer of good quality clingfilm, going right into the corners, edges and up the sides then fill with baking beans or dried rice making sure that the sides are propped up.
- Bake for about 25 minutes then remove the paper and beans, reduce the oven temperature to 170C/325F/gas mark 3 and return the tart case to the oven for about 15 minutes more, or until golden and crisp. If the edges start to colour before the middle is done then you can cover them with strips of tin foil.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes then remove the tart case from the tin, transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. If you are making the case the day before serving the tart then keep in an airtight container once cool.
To Assemble:
- Place the tart case on a serving platter. Beat the coconut pastry cream with a wooden spoon until smooth then spread evenly over the tart base. Scatter over the mango, pineapple and kiwi then drizzle with the passion fruit. Top with fresh or freeze dried raspberries. Best eaten on the same day as it is assembled. Keep refrigerated.

The coconut flour I used is by Goodyfull, who provide a subscription service for healthy ingredients; they are very kindly giving away 100g each of coconut flour, cacao powder and chia seeds to THREE lucky winners, just enter using the widget below for your chance to win. Goodyfull are also running an event on the 11th June in Birmingham on nutrition, exercise and overall well-being, which is aimed at people who are just starting their journey or have been on it for a while and need some guidance; if you fancy attending then you can find the details here.
Goodyfull Coconut Flour, Chia Seeds & Cacao Powder Giveaway:
– Three winners will receive the following: 100g each of coconut flour, chia seeds & cacao powder
– The giveaway open to UK residents over the age of 18 only.
– The giveaway ends on the 5th of June 2016 at 11:59:59 PM.
– Entries using an automated process or software to create bulk entries will be disqualified.
– The winner will be randomly selected, announced in the Gleam giveaway box and contacted via their provided e-mail address shortly afterwards. Please claim your prize within 4 days of being notified.
More competitions at The PrizeFinder
Sumayya Patel
Hannah, this looks so good – and as it’s sunny today in London it is apt timing! I have issues with wheat – could this work with GF flour?
Also, can you post more wheat-free, GF recipes, pretty please?
hannahhossack
Hi Sumayya, apologies for the slow reply, I’ve been having some website troubles so have been unable to log in. Do you have a favourite GF pastry recipe? If so I would swap the pastry with that as I’m not sure how well GF flour would work with the coconut flour without testing it; the pastry cream is GF already so no tweaks are needed there. Unfortunately as neither I nor my partner follow a GF diet, and the recipes that I post are what I make for us to eat, any GF recipes that I post occur “by accident” so to speak, or because I am working with a specific product.
Sumayya Patel
Hi Hannah, thanks for replying.
I have not made (GF) pastry before so no favourite recipes – however, I’ll keep a look out for any GF recipes you post or anything that looks GF adaptable without waste.
Paula Barker
I love a handful of almonds
Claire D
Fruit and natural yoghurt
laura stewart
i like a good corner yoghurt xx
Kevin000
At this time of the year it’s pears
Nicky G
That looks beautiful. Love the combination of coconut and mango. Does it need to be eaten straightaway? I’m guessing yes.
hannahhossack
Thanks Nicky 🙂 Yes, ideally it needs to be eaten on the day it is assembled, it still tastes good the next day (keep refrigerated) and the pastry remains quite crisp but it doesn’t look as pretty
Miranda
Fresh blueberries and raspberries!
Heather Haigh
I like flax crackers with hummus or some raw chocolate.
Debby
I love nuts and eat a handful or so every day – varying them, or I have a pot of mixed nuts, dried fruits and seeds that I pick out of. I the summer I have a box in the fridge of salad, and in the winter, winter salad. I also eat a lot of fruit and am quite greedy with my favourites, like cherries & berries – fingers crossed.
Dee
I love dehydrated pineapple.
Amanda
Crackers and healthy cheese
Ray Dodds
Almonds and raisins
Holly Gibson
I’m going to be traditional and say fresh fruit. I love trying new snacks but my favourite is some fresh, exotic fruit
amy bondoc
i just love almonds or walnuts as a healthy snack
Vivien Taylor
Look forward to some 90% Chocolate
Karen R
I do like a handful of almonds 🙂
Kali filsell
I love a CoYo yoghurt they are so nice
Kali filsell
I love CoYo yoghurts they are so nice
Alix Smith
Coconut flour banana muffins – so yummy!
Nora K
Hot chocolate made with raw Cacao powder and Almond milk (sweetened with honey or date syrup).
Hazel Rea
85% dark chocolate – full of antioxidants and so delicious and satisfying you don’t need much of it.
Suzanne Drummond
fresh fruit plums pear bananas and mango
Helen Hodgson
Mixed nuts
Leah Wheatley
Porridge is my all time healthy food
LP
Greek yoghurt
Martina Pichova
I love dried fruit and nut mixes.
Kim M
Love dates and cashews
Ruth Harwood
I do love a few grapes xx
Katie Kingsbury
Homemade kale crisps (sea salt and balsamic vinegar) – so tasty and incredibly moreish.
helen tovell
flapjacks
pete c
banana muesli breakfast bars
Katie b
Humous, homemade banana bread!
Jo Carroll
I tend to go for nutty snacks or yoghurt.
LISA
Wow this looks good. My favourite healthy snack is fresh fruit.
rebecca nisbet
i do like pecan nuts
Solange
Natural yoghurt
Eva Vida
baked corn on the cob with garlic butter
LESLEY BRADLEY
I love fresh coconut
christine szlobodnik
I love granola yoghurts 🙂 xo
Victoria U
Scrumptious!
Corinne Peat
I love grapes
Natalie Osborne Thomason
Blueberries
Sumayya Patel
Hi Hannah, is there anywhere in London/UK you recommend for buying freeze dried fruit?
hannahhossack
Hi Sumayya, most major supermarkets sell freeze dried raspberry pieces in the cake decorating section, anything else you have to order online unfortunately 🙁
barbara daniels
dried bananas
Rachel Butterworth
Almonds or banana chips.
Debbie burfoot
Love Greek yoghurt with strawberries
Lydia Frew
Banana and Cherry Smush. At least that’s what we call it. It’s just frozen bananas and cherries whizzed up in the food processor with a bit of home made almond butter. It’s like ice cream!
Alyssa Powers
This looks so beautiful! I love the kwikis cut into stars on top. With all the warm weather we’ve just started getting here in Boston, I’m looking forward to making this for my memorial day gathering. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jessica Pickering
My favourite healthy snack has to be a small handful of cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries!
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi)
Kiwis – I love them mixed with plain yoghurt 🙂
Pam Francis Gregory
A little bit of melon
carole n
i like all types of fresh fruit especially mangos
isobelle forde
buckwheat pancakes with fresh fruit!
Michelle O'Neill
bananas x
jo liddement
I love making and eating raw brownies made with dates
jessica catherine
frozen grapes
Lynn savage
I like to mash a banana and mix with a little peanut butter then spread on a rice cake, and in the summer i make my own all fruit lolly’s
Tiffeny Brown
My fave healthy treat is a nom cacao and raspberry bar 🙂
helen newton
I love Coconut water but it is so expensive only have now and again for a treat 🙂
Sharon Maplesden
Wow, this looks amazing and sounds absolutely delicious I love anything and everything with coconut in it, and fruit! Would so love to be able to recreate your Tropical Fruit Coconut Tart!!! Thank you so much for the chance xXx
Krzysia
Raw chocolate truffles made with cacao powder, dates and nuts 🙂 x
Lisa Wilkinson
Almonds
Sheila Sloan
Hummus dip
Vicky Hawkins
coconut pieces
Heidi Brown
For Breakfast – Chia Pudding!
Sheri Darby
All sorts of nuts
Gnei Usama
Pieces of pineapples, mangos, bananas and Coconut flakes mixed together in fresh cream. If you like it more sweeter mix a bit condensed milk with that, it will be heavenly.
By the way I like the tart recipe and planning to try it soon. Thank you.
JULIE WARD
Like Kiwi fruit, when I’m lazy I will have some Pringles, I need training
Vickie Jackson
I love fresh blueberries and raspberries….. That’s if my 4 year old hasn’t eaten them already. I call her my little fruit bat!!
Lauren Old
I really like 9Bars!
Natasha R-M
I am a big fan of olives.
joanne casey
roasted Brussels Sprouts, sound yuk but are delivcious
MichelleD
Strawberries!
Lou Midd
I enjoy organic brazil nuts as a treat or homemade yogurt with fruit
Rachel Low
Almonds, Hummus, and berries! Thanks xx
Maggie Ali
I love dried fruit and almonds 🙂 yum
Gemma Massey
Bananas
Alison Macdonald
Love a fresh fruit salad 😉
Sheila Reeves
Hoummus and carrot sticks, love the stuff
Leanne joy
Avocado with crispbread
Adrian Bold
Fruit Salads are great, but I love grazing on nuts and carrots / fruit.
Miss Tracy Hanson
Do like dried fruit 🙂
Sue Dorking
love dried apricots
Victoria Prince
At the moment for me it’s Almonds or Brazil Nuts 🙂
Kirsten Barthy
I love almond nods or walnuts
Nancy Bradford
Cheesecake using soya cream cheese (when it can be found).
olivia Kirby
Brazil nuts and dried apricots
Eleanor Wigmore
I love almonds. Actually all nuts.
Debra Winfield
Home made Humous & home made Pesto with vegetable sticks..yummm
Gilla01
Fresh fruit – especially blueberries and watermelon.
Diana
I love blueberries 🙂
DEBORAH BIRD
Bananas! x
ellie spider
almonds and cashews
Natalie Gillham
I love fresh pineapple, although sadly I often regret eating it as it gives me indigestion x
Emma Beckett
Nuts for me
Emma h
I love to snack on mango or blueberries as my healthy snack
kim neville
Strawberries and blueberries
ESME MCCRUBB
FRUIT AND GREEK YOGHURT
Emma carrington
Grapes
Laura Harrison
Strawberries and raspberries xx
Lucy Chester
I love a handful of nuts as a healthy treat
Kelly L
I really enjoy smoothie bowls!
Name*
A selection of berries x
Fiona jk42
I like banana mashed up with coconut milk powder, sounds a bit unusual but I think it’s yummy
Emily Fowler
Fruit (especially summer berries!) is my favourite healthier treat.
Kat Glynn
I love fruit, especially fruit salad 🙂
Kelly Martin
I’m on a Pcos friendly diet so my favourite treats (as I’m gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free) is a lovely chocolate cake I make with almond flour, dates and other healthier goodies. It’s a treat though, not an everyday thing, to keep insulin and blood sugar balanced.
Laura Tonks
I love my homemade healthy flapjacks, packed with fruits, nuts and seeds 😀
Anne Alexis O
Frozen yogurt…delicious for beating sweet tooth cravings!!
Karl Borowy
nuts
Catherine Gregory
banana, oat and cacoa pancakes
Natalie Crossan
strawberries
SUSAN L HALL
I love fresh coconut and like to nibble chunks