Coconut Cream Lush

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword coconut-cream-lush, easy-coconut-cream-lush-recipe

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 25

Chill Time 4

Total Time 4 50

Servings servings

Calories 394kcal

Author Melissa Sperka

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray the bottom only of a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
Crust: In a medium mixing bowl use a whisk to sift together the salt and flour. Use a pastry cutter to cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it resembles cornmeal. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans.
Press crust mixture firmly onto the bottom of the dish. Place into the oven and bake for 22-25 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Cool completely.
Spread the remaining chopped pecans and coconut on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the coconut is golden brown. Set aside to cool.
In a large size mixing bowl use an electric mixer to cream together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. By hand fold in 1/2 of one (8 oz) whipped topping. Dollop over the crust and use an offset spatula to spread evenly from end to end of the cooled crust.
In the same bowl, whip together both boxes of coconut cream pudding mix and milk. Whip until thickened but still pourable. Pour over the cream cheese.
Frost the top with the remaining whipped topping using an offset spatula and garnish the with toasted pecans and coconut.
Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight before cutting. Store chilled.

Toasting the Pecans and Coconut: When toasting the pecan pieces and coconut for the garnish put on separate sheet pans as the coconut may take slightly longer than 8 minutes to begin to caramelize and turn brown.
Pudding Substitution: If you're unable to find instant coconut cream pudding mix you can adapt using instant vanilla pudding mix and coconut extract for added flavor. Start with one teaspoon, taste and adjust the coconut flavor from there. You'll also need to add 1 cup of sweetened flaked coconut to the pudding mixture.