Classic choux pastry is filled with a luscious coconut rum filling and topped with toasted coconut, for a unique eclair dessert!

Coconut Eclair - Garnished with Toasted Coconut

I have wanted to share this recipe with you for quite some time, but it makes sense it’s finally happening now that we’re in the cold of winter. When it’s 20 degrees outside, that means it’s a baking day, obviously. Haha.

Coconut Profiteroles on Wooden Board

These Coconut Rum Eclairs are a recreation from a trip I took to Turks & Caicos last August with my husband. The trip was very last minute and spontaneous (I think we booked it 10 days before we left), but the island was so spectacular it didn’t matter that we didn’t plan much beforehand. Turks & Caicos is a wonderful place to go if you’re looking for some of the most incredible beaches in the world, and some good food. 

Here is a photo I took of the eclair I had at the Turks & Caicos bakery:

Coconut Rum Eclair on Doily Paper

It was good, but I knew I wanted to change a few things when I got home.

First of all, I wanted toasted coconut instead of raw. So spread out some coconut on a sheet tray:

Spreading Sweetened Coconut Flakes on Sheet Pan

And roast in the oven for about 10-15 minutes until it’s golden brown and crispy:

Toasted Coconut on Sheet Pan

Next, I already have a step-by-step for how to make eclairs and cream puff pate a choux dough, so make those according to that recipe:

Baked Eclairs on Silicone Mat Before Filling

Moving on to the pastry cream, whisk together egg yolks, cornstarch, and sugar:

Whisking Together Eggs with sugar and cornstarch

Temper that mixture with some scalded milk, then cook until thick and pudding-like:

Eclair Cream Filling in Saucepan

Whisk in rum, vanilla extract, and coconut milk:

Adding Rum and Vanilla to Coconut Pastry Cream

Then chill the mixture completely.

When the pastry cream has chilled, it’s time to fill the eclairs.

If you have the proper piping tools, you can pipe the filling inside. Otherwise, you can cut the eclairs in half, and spoon in the pastry cream:

Filling Empty Eclair Half with Coconut Cream Pastry Filling

Then take the top and dip it into icing made from confectioner’s sugar and water:

Dipping Eclair Top into Glaze

Place the glazed top on the filled eclair, then sprinkle toasted coconut:

Sprinkling toasted Coconut on Eclair Glaze

And now it’s ready to be enjoyed! Happy baking =)

In the comments: Pete and I are thinking about where we want to travel next, and we’re thinking maybe St. Lucia or Belize. If you have any recommendations for other places from your own travels, please share below!

Coconut Rum Eclair on Cutting Board

Coconut Rum Eclairs

Servings: 12
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
 Classic choux pastry is filled with a luscious coconut rum filling and topped with toasted coconut, for a unique eclair dessert!
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Ingredients

  • 8 oz bag sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 batch cream puffs dough
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 5 egg yolks
  • 6 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 5.46 oz can coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp spiced rum
  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 1.5 tbsp milk or water

Instructions 

  • For the toasted coconut: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the coconut evenly onto a sheet pan, then bake for about 15 minutes, stirring the coconut every five minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Set aside to cool
  • For the pastry cream: Put the milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat, and heat until it reaches a scalding temperature (180 degrees F), when bubbles begin to form on the side of the pan, just before the boiling point.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch together.
  • Once the milk is scalding, temper the egg mixture and milk by pouring milk, a little at a time, over the eggs while continuously whisking. Pour everything back into the saucepan and return to the stove over medium-high heat.
  • Cook while whisking until the pastry cream thickens. It should be the consistency of pudding. Once the cream reaches desired thickness, remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla, coconut milk, and rum.
  • Chill the pastry cream in an ice bath before spooning or piping into the eclairs.
  • For the glaze on top: Whisk together the confectioner’s sugar and milk or water, until smooth. Dip the top of each eclair into the icing, then top with the toasted coconut. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 73mg, Potassium: 159mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 175IU, Vitamin C: 0.5mg, Calcium: 61mg, Iron: 0.8mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Author: Fifteen Spatulas