Individual Coconut Cream Pies

Stir the flour, sugar and salt to combine in a bowl or using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cut in the butter by hand with a pastry cutter or on low speed until just small pieces of butter are visible and the mixture as a whole just begins to take on a pale yellow colour (indicating that the butter has been worked in sufficiently).

Stir the water and lemon juice together and add this to the dough all at once, mixing until the dough just comes together. Shape the dough into 2 discs, wrap and chill for at least 2 hours before rolling. Alternatively, the dough can be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed in the fridge before rolling.

Shape into 2 logs and chill.

For the coconut cream filling, heat the coconut milk and vanilla bean paste (or extract) in a pot until just below s a simmer. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch in a bowl and then slowly pour in the hot coconut milk while whisking. Return the mixture to the pot and whisk over medium heat until the custard is thick and glossy, about 5 minutes. Pour this through a strainer and stir in the butter and rum (if using), then stir in the coconut. Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard, cool to room temperature, then chill until set, at least 3 hours.

For the crusts, pull the dough out of the fridge 20 minutes before rolling. Slice each log into 3 pieces and roll each piece out on a lightly floured work surface to just under ¼-inch thickness. Lightly dust six 5-inch individual pie shells with flour and line each with pie dough, trimming the edges completely. Chill the pie shells for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Dock the bottom of each pie shell with a fork and place an empty pie pan over each shell. Turn the pie shells upside down and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray. Bake the shells for 8 minutes at 400 F, then turn the oven down to 375 F and bake for another 8-10 minutes until golden. Flip the pie shells right side up, remove the top pie pan and let the shells cool.

To assemble, whip the cream to a soft peak and then whip in the sugar, skim milk powder and vanilla.

Stir the coconut cream filling to soften (it will be quit firm) and then fold in ¾ cup of the whipped cream. Spoon this into the cooled tart shells and spread to level. Pipe or dollop the remaining whipped cream onto each pie and sprinkle each with a little toasted coconut. Chill until ready to serve.

The pies can be stored, refrigerated, for up to 2 days.