In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and extract until smooth. Gradually beat in 1 cup coconut milk. Add pudding mix; beat on low speed until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
Pour remaining coconut milk into a shallow dish. Quickly dip half of the graham crackers into milk; allow excess to drip off. Arrange in a single layer in the bottom of a 13x9-in. baking dish, breaking to fit as needed. Layer with half each of the cream cheese mixture, pineapple and coconut. Repeat layers. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours before serving.
Test Kitchen tips
For golden color and a nutty coconut flavor, toast the 1/2 cup of coconut that goes on the top layer.
This can be made in a slightly smaller dish, but we liked that the dessert didn’t fill the dish completely. It makes it easier to cover when chilling (and transporting to potlucks).
As the dessert sits in the fridge, the graham crackers absorb moisture from the coconut milk and pudding mixture, softening to a somewhat cakelike texture.
Editor's Note
To toast coconut, bake in a shallow pan in a 350° oven for 5-10 minutes or cook in a skillet over low heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
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Average Rating:
KristineChayes
Sep 13, 2020
Easy to make as written, delicious, and a real crowd pleaser! I plan to make this again for an upcoming BBQ. It’s a keeper!
Tammy
Sep 4, 2020
Haven't tried it yet but as I'm reading the directions I got confused on the coconut, it's not in the list of ingredients but it's mentioned in the directions. I continue reading and come across the "tips"where is talks about the coconut. Do why isn't it in the list of ingredients?
Janet
Jul 16, 2020
Very confusing directions. Ingredients say 1 cup of coconut TOASTED. No where in directions does it mention the toasted coconut. I see the little note saying to toast the ½ cup that goes on top. When layering it is not clear if you repeat the graham cracker crust soaked in the coconut milk again. I would like to try this recipe but you guys need to be a whole lot more clearer on directions especially with the layering portion.
Foxycook
Jul 8, 2020
I made this again for my 4th of July picnic. This time I changed a couple of things which took this dessert over the top. Everyone who ate it raved about it from the rich filling to the presentation. I folded the pineapple into the pudding mixture instead of layering it on top. I then placed a small can of welled drained, patted dry mandarin oranges on top of pudding mixture, then sprinkled with 1 cup of shredded coconut. Repeated process for second layer. I was right when I said it would be even better with the oranges. They also added to the appearance of the dish.
Bethany
Jul 7, 2020
I have made this a few times now and gotten rave reviews. I made it according to the recipe the first time, and it was great. The second and third time, I multiplied the recipe by 1.5 and repeated the layers a 3rd time. It just fit in my 9x13 pan with the lid on and was even better with the added layers. I tried it once without coconut for a friend who isn't a fan of coconut. Instead, I added extra pineapple, which made it a little too sweet in my opinion but still delicious. Thanks for a great no-bake summer recipe!
Dawn
Oct 3, 2019
I'd posted on 10/2/2019 and I'm reviewing again: I did not see my review for this recipe! I'd used 2 sleeves of graham crackers which I'd halved, lemon instant pudding mix as vanilla instant pudding mix was not available. I used a 12x9" baking pan and alternated the layers of pudding mixture, toasted coconut and crushed pineapple. This dessert was a hit at our retirement community Labor Day gathering!
veggiemama
Sep 2, 2019
It was just okay to me, but my family really enjoyed it.
lindaaiello
Aug 3, 2019
Looks delicious..My family loves pina colada anything .would like to try BUT my family actually gags on anything coconut.
What could I use instead. Maybe a finely ground walnut mixed with crushed graham crackers?? Help I would really like to try this somehow.
s_pants
Feb 7, 2019
We loved this! I also used soy cream cheese and almond whipped topping to make it dairy free.
Julie
Oct 23, 2018
Very tasty dessert! We have made it twice this summer for family gatherings and everyone enjoyed it. Definitely toast some of the coconut, it adds a nice depth of flavor and crunch.
Reviews
Easy to make as written, delicious, and a real crowd pleaser! I plan to make this again for an upcoming BBQ. It’s a keeper!
Haven't tried it yet but as I'm reading the directions I got confused on the coconut, it's not in the list of ingredients but it's mentioned in the directions. I continue reading and come across the "tips"where is talks about the coconut. Do why isn't it in the list of ingredients?
Very confusing directions. Ingredients say 1 cup of coconut TOASTED. No where in directions does it mention the toasted coconut. I see the little note saying to toast the ½ cup that goes on top. When layering it is not clear if you repeat the graham cracker crust soaked in the coconut milk again. I would like to try this recipe but you guys need to be a whole lot more clearer on directions especially with the layering portion.
I made this again for my 4th of July picnic. This time I changed a couple of things which took this dessert over the top. Everyone who ate it raved about it from the rich filling to the presentation. I folded the pineapple into the pudding mixture instead of layering it on top. I then placed a small can of welled drained, patted dry mandarin oranges on top of pudding mixture, then sprinkled with 1 cup of shredded coconut. Repeated process for second layer. I was right when I said it would be even better with the oranges. They also added to the appearance of the dish.
I have made this a few times now and gotten rave reviews. I made it according to the recipe the first time, and it was great. The second and third time, I multiplied the recipe by 1.5 and repeated the layers a 3rd time. It just fit in my 9x13 pan with the lid on and was even better with the added layers. I tried it once without coconut for a friend who isn't a fan of coconut. Instead, I added extra pineapple, which made it a little too sweet in my opinion but still delicious. Thanks for a great no-bake summer recipe!
I'd posted on 10/2/2019 and I'm reviewing again: I did not see my review for this recipe! I'd used 2 sleeves of graham crackers which I'd halved, lemon instant pudding mix as vanilla instant pudding mix was not available. I used a 12x9" baking pan and alternated the layers of pudding mixture, toasted coconut and crushed pineapple. This dessert was a hit at our retirement community Labor Day gathering!
It was just okay to me, but my family really enjoyed it.
Looks delicious..My family loves pina colada anything .would like to try BUT my family actually gags on anything coconut. What could I use instead. Maybe a finely ground walnut mixed with crushed graham crackers?? Help I would really like to try this somehow.
We loved this! I also used soy cream cheese and almond whipped topping to make it dairy free.
Very tasty dessert! We have made it twice this summer for family gatherings and everyone enjoyed it. Definitely toast some of the coconut, it adds a nice depth of flavor and crunch.