Impossible Pie

This sweet Impossible Pie Recipe delivers a coconut custard pie that will have people exclaiming “but that’s impossible” when you tell them how you made it.

You can see three distinct layers in the pie, right?

A pastry-like base.

A custard filling centre.

A crunchy top.

And what if I told you this pie was made in 5 minutes, by just mixing some common ingredients together in a bowl and pouring it into a pie dish, before baking?

It sounds impossible, but Impossible Pie is an amazing three-layered dessert that you really can whip up in a jiffy!

The Recipe for Impossible Pie

A little research around the web tells me this recipe was first recorded in the US in the late 1960s before becoming popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

It was also called “mystery pie” and “coconut amazing pie”, but it was the Impossible Pie name that stuck.

And that’s the name I came across in an old Women’s Weekly cookbook and a community cookbook from my Mum’s collection.

Impossible Pie ingredients

To make the Impossible Pie possible, you’ll need:

• eggs 
• plain flour (all purpose flour)
• milk
• vanilla extract
• butter
• desiccated coconut
• sugar.

And dare I say that it’s quite possible you have all of these ingredients on hand?

For ingredient quantities, keep scrolling to reach the recipe card at the end of this post.

You’ll also need a pie dish of about 24 cm in diameter.

How to make Impossible Pie

Start by greasing the pie dish and pre-heating your oven to moderate (180 degrees celsius, fan-forced).

Lightly beat the eggs, melt the butter and sift the flour.

We’re almost there!

Now, mix all the ingredients together until combined.

Pour into the greased pie dish and bake for 45 minutes.

The mixture will be very runny.

Don’t panic, remember this pie seems impossible but it all works out.

The mixture will somehow separate as it’s cooking to form a pastry bottom, a custard filling and a crunchy top.

This pie can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Serve hot with ice cream or cold with cream and fruit.

Recipe FAQs

Q. Why is it called Impossible Pie?

Person 1: This lovely layered pie took 5 minutes to make.

Person 2: But it’s a three-layered pie with pastry, a custard filling and a crunchy top. That’s impossible!

Person 1: It’s true but it is impossible, Impossible Pie!

Q. Can you freeze Impossible Pie?

You can freeze this pie for up to three months. But it’s so lovely made fresh, so make it up to eat straight away if possible.