Skip to main content

Macadamia-Coconut Crumb Topping

This is not your average pie topping. Macadamia-Coconut Crumb screams “summertime,” adding a refreshing tropical twist to even the most classic pie recipes. This topping really enhances pineapple- and mango-based pies (see Pineapple-Mango Pie, page 57), but works well with any tropical fruit pie recipe. It will also transform Peach Crumb Pie (page 43) or Blueberry Pie (page 27) into an extra special dessert.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes enough topping for one 9-inch pie

Ingredients

1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Using a pastry blender, incorporate the butter by “cutting it in” to the flour until the buter forms small, pea-size pieces. Add the coconut and macadamia nuts, and mix with the pastry blender until all of the ingredients are well combined.

    Step 2

    Pair this topping with a traditional pastry pie shell and the filling of your choice. Once the filling has been placed in the pie shell, distribute the macadamia-coconut crumb topping evenly over the filling until it is completely covered. Bake as directed.

Cover of the cookbook Perfect Pies by Michele Stuart, featuring a blackberry key lime pie.
From Perfect Pies: The Best Sweet and Savory Recipes From America’s Pie Baking Champion © 2011 by Michele Stuart. Reprinted with permission by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Buy the full book from Penguin Random House, Amazon, or Bookshop.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Glossy, intensely chocolaty, and spiked with coffee and sour cream, this Bundt is the ultimate all-purpose dessert.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.