Strawberry Coconut Cream Pie



Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking, with basic pie recipe modeled on my Aunt Pat’s pie and coconut cream from Zoë Bakes
Yield: one 9-inch pie

This pie is one of the best pies I’ve ever eaten, and Mike’s already asked for a repeat appearance! It doesn’t hold it’s shape well — it’s more of a pudding pie — and so I serve it in a bowl. It’s more than delicious enough to make up for that, though.

Pie Crust Ingredients:
1 blind baked (until golden) and cooled pie crust

Coconut Cream Filling Ingredients:
1 can (14 fluid ounces) unsweetened coconut milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch kosher salt
3 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup whipping cream

Topping Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
red food coloring (optional; I skipped this)
mint leaves or whole strawberries for garnish (optional)

Directions:
To make filling: Heat the coconut milk, sugar, salt and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and corn starch. Add 1/2 cup of the hot cream slowly to the yolks, whisking as you add. Then pour the yolk mixture into the pot of hot cream and whisk. Continue to whisk with heat on medium-high for 3 more minutes. The mixture will turn thick and bubble. You need to continue to whisk for the full 3 minutes or the pastry cream will separate once it is cool. After the 3 minutes, whisk in the butter. Add the coconut flakes. Pour into a shallow dish to cool.

Cover with plastic wrap pressed right against the pastry cream. This will prevent a thick skin from forming on the surface. Refrigerate for at least an hour or freeze for 30 minutes. Once it is cold, stir the pastry cream to loosen. Whip the 1/2 cup cream to medium peaks. Stir in 1/3 to the pastry cream to lighten. Fold in the remaining cream until the pastry cream is nice and light. Fill baked, cooled pie crust with your coconut filling.

Slice 1 cup of strawberries in thin slices lengthwise and layer the slices in pretty concentric circles around the top of the coconut cream. Set this in the fridge to chill while you make your glaze.

Make the glaze: Crush remaining 1/2 cup of strawberries and boil with water in a saucepan over medium-high heat for two minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and discard the pulp. Add the juice back to the saucepan over medium-high heat and gradually whisk in sugar and cornstarch. Cook until thickened. Mine had lumps of cornstarch despite my best efforts, but no worries; I just strained it again once thickened. If you want, you can tint this glaze with food coloring to desired hue, but mine was plenty bright enough!

Cool the glaze slightly (I transferred mine to a heat-proof measuring cup with a pour spout to cool for a bit) and then pour over top of strawberry slices on your pie. Garnish with big mint leaves, if you’d like, or whole strawberries. Chill entire pie for at least a few hours for best results; cut with a knife held under hot water and then dried. It’ll still be a bit puddingy, so I served mine in a shallow bowl! Use a pie gate (or a makeshift pie gate made from aluminum foil) to keep remaining pie from oozing in the pie plate after slicing.

162 Comments on Strawberry Coconut Cream Pie

  1. Nicole (MyLoveForCooking)
    June 12, 2013 at 3:51 am (11 years ago)

    I ADORE this story! Congratulations! This is one of the sweetest stories of love ever. I wish you two a continuation to your lovely life. Oh and the Pie looks heavenly. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Angela
    June 12, 2013 at 3:52 am (11 years ago)

    What a sweet story! Congratulations! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Angela McKenzie
    June 12, 2013 at 3:53 am (11 years ago)

    What a great, romantic story! You should type that up and have it in your wedding program. So adorable for your guests to read!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm (11 years ago)

      I love that idea! Thanks so much, Angela! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Kerry
    June 12, 2013 at 3:59 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! I had a feeling this might be the “big news” you hinted at… Very happy for you, and the best part is, it only gets better from here! 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Kerry! That’s great to hear 😉

      Reply
  5. Terry
    June 12, 2013 at 5:37 am (11 years ago)

    Oh, Julie…..I’m so very happy for you! Congrats.

    Reply
  6. Karla Grant
    June 12, 2013 at 6:33 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! What a lovely way to propose. What was the reaction of your parents? lol

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 1:00 pm (11 years ago)

      LOL, this time around they were a lot more welcoming of the news 😉

      Reply
  7. Kelly
    June 12, 2013 at 6:39 am (11 years ago)

    Congrats! I just knew this was the announcement. I wanted to skip the first paragraph and go right to the proposal!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:35 pm (11 years ago)

      LOL! Thank you, Kelly!!

      Reply
  8. Andrea
    June 12, 2013 at 10:50 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations Julie!!!

    Reply
  9. Coyoty
    June 12, 2013 at 10:57 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:35 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Coyoty 🙂

      Reply
  10. Candice @ The Savory and The Beautiful
    June 12, 2013 at 11:46 am (11 years ago)

    Oh wow FELICIDADES Julie! I love how you have that younger more innocent memory of your love. Well I suppose it’s on to Pinterest you go, good luck 😉

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:35 pm (11 years ago)

      LOL, thank you, Candice!

      Reply
  11. Belinda @themoonblushbaker
    June 12, 2013 at 12:03 pm (11 years ago)

    Engagment and pie! Oh you are so lucky. I hope your days are filled with many more happy events with your partner.

    Reply
  12. Amanda @ Food, Fitness, Faith
    June 12, 2013 at 12:07 pm (11 years ago)

    Woohoo! Congrats Julie! You are going to make a beautiful bride!!! (Maybe Mike can grow out another ponytail for the ceremony ;))

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:37 pm (11 years ago)

      Haha, I doubt it!! He’s had a shaved head for years now. Thankfully, I like that just as much (probably better now that I’m not 14. LOL!)

      Thank you, Amanda!

      Reply
  13. brandi
    June 12, 2013 at 12:40 pm (11 years ago)

    congratulations!!! what a sweet story you two have 🙂

    Reply
  14. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
    June 12, 2013 at 1:29 pm (11 years ago)

    Holy cow!!! Congrats on your engagement. It is such a fun and special time in a gal’s life. And this pie is incredible!!!

    Reply
  15. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes
    June 12, 2013 at 1:31 pm (11 years ago)

    Oh, so cute girl! After 15 years, it just couldn´t surprise you more, I love that. So happy for you. And a stunner of a pie to top it off!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:33 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Paula! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Courtney @ Neighborfood
    June 12, 2013 at 1:49 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! What a great love story you can share forever! Now, let the wedding plans commence. 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Courtney!

      Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Miss 😉

      Reply
  17. Kathleen Purvis
    June 12, 2013 at 2:20 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations, Julie! That’s such wonderful news. I can’t wait to hear what you’re going to do for a wedding cake (and a photographer).

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm (11 years ago)

      Thanks so much, Kathleen! 🙂 We are doing a teensy, quick summer affair, I think, before I move to Raleigh! We’re thinking of getting married at a restaurant — how appropriate. LOL! Thanks so much for all your support!

      Reply
  18. Theresa
    June 12, 2013 at 2:22 pm (11 years ago)

    The pie sounds amazing, but I’m too distracted by what is quite possibly the cutest love story ever to fully appreciate it. Congratulations! 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:31 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Theresa 🙂

      Reply
  19. Laura
    June 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! How very, very exciting 🙂 And strawberry coconut pie sounds amazing!

    Reply
  20. Jenny @ BAKE
    June 12, 2013 at 3:11 pm (11 years ago)

    CONGRATULATIONS!! you must be over the moon! that’s such a cute story too! This pie looks amazing!

    Reply
  21. Amy @ Elephant Eats
    June 12, 2013 at 3:50 pm (11 years ago)

    What a wonderful story!!! Congratulations! How cute that you’ve been together so long. Oh and this pie looks awesome!

    Reply
  22. Savannagal
    June 12, 2013 at 4:19 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! That was such a heart warming story. It brought tears to my eyes. I’d wish you all the happiness in the world, but it sounds like you’ve already found it. All the best.

    Reply
  23. Amy | Club Narwhal
    June 12, 2013 at 4:24 pm (11 years ago)

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, Julie! And thank you for sharing your awesome first date story (the long hair detail was perfect–I kept picturing a dreamy Jordan Catalano type from My So Called Life). I can’t wait to try this pie and think about the sweetness of your engagement.

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:30 pm (11 years ago)

      LOL — YES! His long hair felt just like that to me — so ‘angsty teen drama’ perfect! 😉 Thank you, Amy!

      Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:30 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you so much, Coco!! I’m over the moon 🙂

      Reply
  24. Becky
    June 12, 2013 at 5:25 pm (11 years ago)

    Ahhh! How exciting! Congratulations!!!!

    Reply
  25. Faygie
    June 12, 2013 at 5:25 pm (11 years ago)

    Yay! Congratulations!!! I’m so happy for you!

    Reply
  26. Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
    June 12, 2013 at 6:33 pm (11 years ago)

    I just had a feeling as I started reading this story that it was going to have that ending. A very happy one, indeed. Congratulations to you and Mike, Julie.

    Reply
  27. Laura
    June 12, 2013 at 6:58 pm (11 years ago)

    THAT was an amazing story!! Congratulations!

    Reply
  28. Lauren at Keep It Sweet
    June 12, 2013 at 9:22 pm (11 years ago)

    Well, I already yelled out loud with excitement when I saw your post on FB… but now I’m getting teary eyed and have a huge smile on my face. I am so happy for you and Mike!!! You are the sweetest and I’m glad that you are so happy. Please share more stories of your early dating life, I seriously loved this!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Lauren! YOU are so sweet and such an awesome, talented friend. Thanks for sharing in my joy 🙂

      Reply
  29. Karen B
    June 12, 2013 at 9:52 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations to you both! What a wonderful story – made me get choked up actually. I’m looking forward to making this lovely looking pie too. 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 10:07 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Karen 🙂

      Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 10:40 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Katrina!

      Reply
  30. Patricia
    June 12, 2013 at 10:56 pm (11 years ago)

    Congrats! Fifteen years is amazing! Enjoy the engagement period and browsing wedding blogs. 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 11:06 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Patricia!

      Reply
  31. Ala
    June 12, 2013 at 11:41 pm (11 years ago)

    Julie, you are absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. This is why no matter how far away I go, I always find myself coming back to your absolutely stunning stories. Congrats again and over again to both of you!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 12, 2013 at 11:47 pm (11 years ago)

      Thanks so much, Ala!! 🙂

      Reply
  32. Carla
    June 12, 2013 at 11:49 pm (11 years ago)

    Congrats on being engaged! So exciting and hope I can experience it someday. Love the sound of pairing coconut cream and strawberries into a pie.

    Reply
  33. Christina
    June 13, 2013 at 12:37 am (11 years ago)

    Ahhh, congratulations!! Obviously he has good sense because he asked you to marry him AND he’s a Gamecocks fan 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 13, 2013 at 2:34 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Christina 😀

      Reply
  34. Tina C
    June 13, 2013 at 2:37 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! Love the story. If you told it as a parable in class would the moral be that sometimes its okay to lie? Certainly worked out in your case.

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 13, 2013 at 2:48 am (11 years ago)

      LOL, well it led to lots of trouble in the meantime! And I think I’d add for my students’ benefit: Mike TOTALLY could’ve turned out to be a stalker or worse — you never really know, right? I can’t believe I met someone without my parents knowing 😛

      Reply
  35. Darla
    June 13, 2013 at 2:45 am (11 years ago)

    I have to confess that I’m often very non-romantic and “meh” and all “get on with the food/clothes/travel pics/etc” when bloggers post personal news. But you totally got me. Well told, well written, and very sweet! Congratulations! Does he still have the long(!) hair?

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 13, 2013 at 3:06 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Darla! He cut the long hair off many years ago and now has a totally shaved head! Turns out I think it’s just as handsome 😉

      Reply
  36. Jennifer- The Adventuresome Kitchen
    June 13, 2013 at 2:54 am (11 years ago)

    OMG!!!!! How can you even write coherently about strawberry pie when you’re springing THAT on us????!!?
    I’ve been waiting to read that post for months!! Many congratulations and years if wedded bliss! This summer we celebrate 15 years of marriage and it keeps getting better.

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 13, 2013 at 3:06 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Jennifer!! And congratulations to you, as well! Yay, love!

      Reply
  37. Phyllis
    June 13, 2013 at 2:54 am (11 years ago)

    What a sweet story. Many, many happy years!!

    Reply
  38. Nicole
    June 13, 2013 at 2:55 am (11 years ago)

    Gorgeous Pie! … and Congratulations on the happy news 🙂

    Reply
  39. Luisa
    June 13, 2013 at 2:56 am (11 years ago)

    Wha a hapy story. It made me happy to read it. all the best to you two.

    Reply
  40. L (___tornprincess)
    June 13, 2013 at 3:25 am (11 years ago)

    I cried reading this 🙂 I know I already told you, but I’m so happy for you and Mike and it’s such a sweet story.

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 4:13 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you so much for all your support through the hard times <3

      Reply
  41. Cheryl P
    June 13, 2013 at 4:27 am (11 years ago)

    Oh, congratulations!! 🙂 I just love your writing! 🙂 I’m a fairly new follower, so in my head I’m wondering, “were you together that whole 15 yrs?!” I also have a certain affinity for every time you mention “Raleigh”, since “my” guy lives in Rocky Mount (’bout 50 min from Raleigh) and I live in Colorado Springs, CO! We’ve been trying to traverse this whole relationship thing for 5 yrs now, wondering/waiting/hoping to see how the Lord might bring things together. (we’re also quite a bit older, in our 40’s lol) Oh, and the pie looks delish! 🙂

    Reply
  42. Cynthia Veenstra
    June 13, 2013 at 7:18 am (11 years ago)

    Oh My God!! For real? This is the best story ever! You should write a book about it 🙂 When I was reading the first part about you meeting him for the first time, I was like ‘please let them meet again or something…’. And I was so happy to read that you’re still together after 15 years! I mean, how often do fairytales come true really?
    Congratulations to the both of you and I hope you have a beautiful wedding!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 4:13 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Cynthia 😀

      Reply
  43. nags
    June 13, 2013 at 9:37 am (11 years ago)

    i rarely read stories before recipes but omg, am i glad i did this time. beautiful! congratulations 🙂

    Reply
  44. Heather
    June 13, 2013 at 10:45 am (11 years ago)

    Mazel Tov! I recently got engaged too but my story is not nearly as cute as yours, though I did think he was joking too (my response was: are you asking me for real?). So exciting! Also, I thought 8 years was a long time, but 15?! Glad my fiance (I keep writing boyfriend still, lol) doesn’t read this!

    Oh yeah, the pie look amazing too!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 4:11 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Heather! 🙂 Congratulations to you, too!!

      Reply
  45. marie
    June 13, 2013 at 1:47 pm (11 years ago)

    This is such a beautiful pie and it looks so yummy, too!
    I will definitely make this, if I can find strawberries that are ripe and pretty enough.

    Congratulations on your engagement! You have been together for 15 year? Wow, that is an achievement in itself 😉
    Have a happy life together!

    🙂

    Reply
      • marie
        June 25, 2013 at 8:41 pm (11 years ago)

        oh julie, i am so glad i read this *after* you already got back together. your thankfulness for the time you had is so heart-touchingly sad.
        it makes me all the more happy that you got this extra happy ending now!
        i believe relationships who can survive hard times before people bind themselves eternally (which at least to me is what marriage is supposed to be) will be much better and longer (or even ever) lasting!

        i wish you all the best and thank you for sharing those moments and recipes with us!
        you seem to be such a positive person, i wish we could be friends, but alas an entire ocean separates us!
        🙂

        Reply
  46. Lauren and Ashley
    June 13, 2013 at 5:34 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations Ms Ruble, we are super excited for you! We are going to miss you so much next year, come back and visit!
    <3 Lauren and Ashley

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 4:07 am (11 years ago)

      Aw, thanks ladies! I miss you both already. I will definitely come and visit 🙂

      Reply
  47. Kelly
    June 13, 2013 at 7:14 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations!!! I just love your writing and I love that I didn’t catch where this was going until he was down on one knee! Enjoy this time, being engaged is so much fun.

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 4:07 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Kelly! 🙂

      Reply
  48. Courtney
    June 13, 2013 at 8:31 pm (11 years ago)

    1. GO COCKS!

    2. CONGRATS!

    Reply
  49. Katy
    June 13, 2013 at 9:45 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! I don’t know why, but I kept waiting to read an engagement post. God bless you and Mike!

    Reply
  50. Teal Cuttlefish
    June 13, 2013 at 10:36 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! Best of luck to you both!

    Reply
  51. Angela @ The Dancer Bakes
    June 13, 2013 at 11:07 pm (11 years ago)

    I am SO happy for you two!!! Congratulations and best wishes for years and years to come – marriage is the most fun challenge ever! And also, this pie is getting made ASAP in our home – can’t really think of a combination that would thrill the hubby more! xx

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 4:06 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Angela! I love that description: “the most fun challenge ever”!

      Reply
  52. Suzanne
    June 14, 2013 at 2:05 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! That was the sweetest story! It made my day.

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 4:02 am (11 years ago)

      Thanks, Suzanne! 🙂

      Reply
  53. Tame Adams
    June 14, 2013 at 2:43 am (11 years ago)

    What a simply wonderful story!!! Congratulations to you and Mike & may God bless you to have more wonderful memories to come 🙂

    What a great strawberry pie recipe!!! I’ll will simply have to try it 🙂

    Tame

    Reply
  54. Gillian in Wales
    June 14, 2013 at 9:50 am (11 years ago)

    How lovely, lovely, lovely. And so beautifully written.

    Congratulations to you both. Enjoy the glow of being engaged, and relax and have FUN planning the wedding. ~I can see there being plenty of foodie stuff involved!!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 15, 2013 at 12:41 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Gillian!

      Reply
  55. Denise
    June 14, 2013 at 10:47 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations Julie! I’ve been a long time reader of your blog and followed your journey to this day…so happy for you!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 15, 2013 at 12:42 am (11 years ago)

      Thanks so much, Denise — for the congratulations and for reading along with me!

      Reply
  56. Tanna
    June 14, 2013 at 4:15 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations! Such a cute story! Oh and the pie looks amazing!

    Reply
  57. Peyton
    June 14, 2013 at 10:11 pm (11 years ago)

    Ms. Ruble- This is the sweetest story ever! I’m so happy for you! Congratulations to you both! I bet moving was worth it now:)!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 14, 2013 at 11:00 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Peyton! I do feel a LITTLE better about moving, but I will still miss you all so much! Have a wonderful summer!

      Reply
  58. christina.vd
    June 15, 2013 at 12:30 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations Julie! What terrifically happy news!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 15, 2013 at 12:42 am (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Christina!

      Reply
  59. Sarah Bowers
    June 16, 2013 at 2:19 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations, Julie! I could not be happier for you! And, a perfect recipe to go with what sounds like a perfect proposal.

    Reply
  60. June g.
    June 16, 2013 at 11:58 pm (11 years ago)

    Omigosh! I just want lick my iPad screen! This look so delicious!

    Reply
  61. June g.
    June 16, 2013 at 11:59 pm (11 years ago)

    Pardon my spelling errors above….I was a little excited;)

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 17, 2013 at 1:38 am (11 years ago)

      LOL, I completely understand when it comes to coconut 😉

      Reply
  62. BB
    June 17, 2013 at 12:09 am (11 years ago)

    Stumbled upon this post from Jessica’s blog (How Sweet Eats) and OH MY GOD I actually started crying reading this. So so so so so wonderful. Congratulations! Also, I just bookmarked your blog and it will be one of my daily reads!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 17, 2013 at 1:39 am (11 years ago)

      Aww, thank you, BB, and welcome. LOVE Jessica 🙂

      Reply
  63. Katriel
    June 17, 2013 at 3:14 pm (11 years ago)

    Was sent over to your website by How Sweet Eats this morning. Best way to start a Monday is to read a good how we first me/proposal story. So sweet! Congratulations! And this pie sounds awesome!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 17, 2013 at 3:18 pm (11 years ago)

      Thank you, Katriel!!

      Reply
  64. Julie
    June 17, 2013 at 8:10 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations!!

    Reply
  65. Toyota Smith
    June 17, 2013 at 9:27 pm (11 years ago)

    That was a beautiful story, your romance sounds like the perfect fairytale. Congratulations and good luck! x

    Reply
  66. Kathryn
    June 18, 2013 at 12:22 am (11 years ago)

    I stumbled onto your blog through Pinterest – through a link to your berry crumble break up bar recipe from over 2 years ago. It was a sad story I read along with a delicious recipe. I decided to see what your most recent recipe was, to find this wonderful romantic story! Congratulations and best wishes for a happy and wonderful life together!

    Reply
  67. natalie@thesweetslife
    June 18, 2013 at 12:46 am (11 years ago)

    what a fantastic story! i could not be more happy for you–enjoy this joyful time!

    Reply
  68. Katy
    June 18, 2013 at 12:58 am (11 years ago)

    Congratulations, Julie! Wishing you two a wonderful and delicious happily ever after 🙂

    Reply
  69. DessertForTwo
    June 18, 2013 at 12:26 pm (11 years ago)

    JULIE!!!! CONGRATS!!!

    Oh my gosh! I’m so happy for you! We all are so happy for you! We’ve all been reading along about your adventures with Mike and now it’s come to this! Wow! I”m so happy!

    And that ring?! Oh my lands! Art deco is the only way to go. I love love love it!

    Congrats again, Julie! 🙂 xo

    Reply
  70. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
    June 19, 2013 at 6:48 am (11 years ago)

    What a cute story! Congrats! And I loved that you did your Zumba moves to JT’s song. That’s a sure way to celebrate a happy engagement.

    Reply
  71. Nancy @ gottagetbaked
    June 19, 2013 at 4:31 pm (11 years ago)

    OMG this strawberry pie is amazing and sweet (I’m going to bake it this weekend) but your story of your “first date” with Mike and the engagement 15 years later is even more amazing and sweeter! What a fabulous memory to have of when you first got together. See, it was meant to be, and totally worth it lying to your parents, right? I lied to my parents all.the.time when I was a teenager and we’re none the worse for wear. It’s just protecting them from things they’d rather not know 😉

    Reply
  72. Issy Goode
    June 23, 2013 at 7:24 pm (11 years ago)

    This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read, I’m crying and I don’t know you! Congratulations!
    xxx

    Reply
  73. Jayne
    June 24, 2013 at 2:31 am (11 years ago)

    I had only just saw this post and it made me really really embarrassingly teary in my office. Have. to. pretend. to. rub. eyes. Wish you much love and joy with your sweetheart. I’m married to mine and life has been a bliss. 🙂

    Reply
  74. MelodyJ
    June 26, 2013 at 4:39 am (11 years ago)

    Great story. I saw your post on live journal. Congrats. Thanks for the recipe. Where did he get a 1930’s Art Deco ring?

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 26, 2013 at 4:51 am (11 years ago)

      Thanks, Melody 🙂 He found it on Etsy.

      Reply
  75. Rebecca
    June 26, 2013 at 3:00 pm (11 years ago)

    Congratulations Julie! I love this story, it will be one you remember and re-tell forever 🙂

    Reply
  76. Carrie D.
    June 27, 2013 at 3:32 pm (11 years ago)

    Sorry I’m late to the party; I’m just catching up. Congratulations to you and Mike! What a fabulous story! Y’all have been together for 15 years?! Amazing! I dated my husband a grand total of one month before he proposed. When you know, you know. We’ll celebrate 13 years this fall. Congrats again to you both!

    Reply
  77. Lisa Roszler
    June 29, 2013 at 2:00 am (11 years ago)

    Sweet!
    The pie looks amazing, the story was beautiful and I am so happy for you! <3

    By the way, this is Anthony's grandma, of VBS Zucchini Bread fame. 🙂 I looked for you at VBS and did not see you, but Anthony told me Friday (on the way home!) that he spoke with you. 🙂 If I had known you were there, we would have brought you some homemade gluten-free chocolate chip cookies! Ah, well. I am subscribed to your blog, so I'll just keep up with you there. Thank you again for the impact you made on Anthony's life last year. 🙂 It was for eternity!

    Reply
  78. Peggy Esposito
    August 7, 2013 at 3:00 pm (11 years ago)

    Hi Julie – I clicked on your pie recipe and normally I get annoyed at people who write a bunch of stuff when all I want is the freaking recipe but YOUR story? I forgot all about the pie and was brought back to many years ago when I was that age and felt the same feelings of excitement and extreme insecurity at the same time…great story and I’m so happy for you both – does he still have the ponytail? Gotta love a man with a nice pony!!! Oh and thanks for the recipe, too! 🙂

    Reply
  79. maria lucia cotruffo
    October 30, 2013 at 11:46 am (10 years ago)

    First of all, as I am from Brazil, English is not my first language so, please forgive my mistakes. I speak Portuguese. Reading your story I agree with so many of your readers and found out that you are a very romantic and kind girl. I was happy that your dream came true and you married the guy you loved for so long… I do hope it will last forever.
    About your strawberry pie, (I got it on Pinterest) was really amazing! I keep doing it every time I want to serve something special to my friends so I want to thank you so very much for your talent and your time and your kindness to share it with us…Good bless you and a hug from me and from Brazil….

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      November 4, 2013 at 11:44 am (10 years ago)

      Aw, thank you so much for your sweet comment, Maria!

      Reply
  80. Kaitlin Bates
    November 11, 2014 at 11:24 am (9 years ago)

    This is so adorable. I can’t not subscribe to your blog now. I have to

    Reply
  81. Eva
    June 9, 2015 at 3:52 pm (9 years ago)

    This looks delicious! Im still deciding between the coconut cake and this one. One of these fab cakes is going to be my birthday present to myself!
    Julie, is there a way you could thicken the coconut cream filling to keep the crust crunchy? Or any other way of preventing the crust the get wet.
    Also, I cant find sweetened flakes, would it be alright to use unsweetened coconut flakes and increase the amount of sugar slightly? I dont like my cakes to be overly sweet though.

    Beautiful blog,
    Much love!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      June 9, 2015 at 3:59 pm (9 years ago)

      Hi Eva! That’s a hard choice — but either way you’ll be pleased, I think! In terms of thickening the coconut cream, there definitely is. I’d try increasing the cornstarch in the coconut pastry cream to 1/3 cup. You can also add a layer of thinly rolled almond paste OR slivered almonds to the bottom of the crust to protect it from moisture. No worries about using unsweetened flakes with a little extra sugar — that should be just fine. Let me know how it goes! Happy upcoming birthday!

      Reply
  82. Ellen
    June 14, 2016 at 1:10 pm (8 years ago)

    Julie–keep out a Tbsp of the cold water and mix it with the cornstarch. After cooking remaining water, sugar and berries, strain and return the juice to the pan–then add in the dissolved cornstarch. It doesn’t like hot when it is dry and must be dissolved in cold water first. Should thicken nicely…straining works too if necessary!
    Insta: @tortamore

    Reply

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