Japanese Fruit Pie

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While its origin is unknown, there’s no denying this Japanese fruit pie recipe is a welcome treat in the Deep South. It includes a flaky pie crust with a scrumptious filling overloaded with raisins, coconut, and chopped pecans.

Slice of Japanese Fruit Pie

So, Japanese fruit pie. I want to start by saying that this pie is about as Japanese as I am and I have no earthly idea where the name came from. It’s similar to both a vinegar pie and a chess pie, which are both beloved Southern creations. Down here, we love to attach countries to recipes for no apparent reason. Here’s looking at you, Italian cream cake.

Anyway, I came across this Japanese fruit pie in my Grandmama’s recipe collection and I immediately stopped. The telltale splattering across the page let me know this was a well-used one, but having had countless meals at her table, I was confused by this not sounding the least bit familiar. The first bite rewarded me with instant time travel back to my Grandmama’s Formica table. The memory was so vivid and so instantaneous that tears sprang to my eyes. 

So I think you might need this in your life as much as I did. It’s a super easy pie recipe to make, as all we have to do is mix together the pie filling to pour into our store-bought pie crust. What’s in the pie filling, I hear you ask? It’s got raisins, coconut, vanilla, butter, sugar, pecans, and eggs. I once read someone who describes this pie as a unique take on pecan pie and they’re not wrong. Just like its counterpart, after one bite of that flavorful filling, you’ll be coming back for more. 

So, who’s ready to bake a Japanese fruit pie?

Ingredients for Japanese Fruit Pie

Recipe Ingredients

  • Raisins
  • Sweetened coconut flakes
  • Vanilla 
  • Unsalted butter
  • Granulated sugar
  • Chopped pecans
  • Eggs
  • Pie crust

How to Make Japanese Fruit Pie

Soak raisins.

Start by placing the raisins in a small bowl and covering them with boiling water.

Let them soak for five minutes and then drain and set aside until you need them in the recipe. 

Cream together sugar and butter, add eggs and beat, then add all other remaining ingredients.

Place your sugar and butter in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Add eggs and beat again.

Add all other ingredients (including your raisins!!) and stir with a large spoon until well incorporated.

Baked Japanese Fruit Pie

Pour the pie filling into the pie shell. 

I like to put my pie on a baking sheet, always do, no matter what kind of pie. It just makes it easier to get in and out of the oven that way.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until it’s set in the center and doesn’t jiggle when you wiggle it.

Don’t worry if you jiggle when you wiggle because we aren’t here to judge.

Now at this point, you can serve it but it won’t completely set until it is chilled. So I cover it and refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Slice of Japanese Fruit Pie

Serve chilled.

Oh, mercy. This pie. This old-fashioned, simple, incredibly delicious pie… it wants you to take a bite.

Look at it, staring longingly at your fork. Won’t you welcome it into your home today?

If Grandmama were here, she would say you need to.

Storage

  • Store leftover pie covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can eat cold or reheat quickly in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.
  • You can also freeze leftover pie (double wrap slices to avoid freezer burn) for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating as above if you like.

Recipe Notes

  • I see all you coconut haters out there and I know you scrunched yours noses up at the addition of coconut. I know your next question is going to be if you can leave it out of the pie. Yes, you can. You could also double the pecans or live wildly and add the coconut!
  • Many old-fashioned Japanese fruit pie recipes include a tablespoon of white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or fresh/bottled lemon juice. If you want the extra tang, go for it!
  • If you prefer a homemade pie crust, here’s my easy recipe.
  • Like most pies, you can’t go wrong serving a slice on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream/a dollop of whipped cream.

You’re gonna want to try these other pie recipes next:

Chocolate Brownie Pie

Buttermilk Peach Pie With Canned Peaches

Mandarin Orange Pie

Caramel Banana Pie (a.k.a Easy Banoffee Pie)

Cherry Jello Pie

Coconut Meringue Pie

Japanese Fruit Pie

This Japanese fruit pie recipe is a Southern treat. The flaky pie crust's filling is overloaded with raisins, coconut, and chopped pecans.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fruit, pie
Servings: 8
Calories: 403.9kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup butter at room temp
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350.
  • Place raisins in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Set aside for five minutes and then drain.
    1/2 cup raisins, 1 cup boiling water
  • Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and beat again until well incorporated (1-2 minutes).
    1/2 cup butter at room temp, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs
  • Add all other ingredients and stir by hand until well incorporated. Pour into the pie shell.
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until set in the center. Allow to cool completely and then cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 403.9kcal
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say,

“Lord,  I can’t wait to see how you do this!”

Grandmama's Japanese Fruit Pie Pinterest

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172 Comments

  1. I was curious about the name of the pie and read that this was a “Colonial” era pie. The theory is they called it Japanese because they thought coconuts came from Japan. Anyway apparently Martha Washington made this pie all the time for our first President, George Washington. Just a little trivia for everyone.

  2. The pie looks like it has a top crust. There’s no flour or anything that might rise to the top. Please share how the top crust came to be.

      1. I think you’re right. I’m gonna have to make one and see if mine is as pretty as yours. I love “vintage” recipes. Once I even ordered a cookbook that was published around the time I was born just so I could see what folks ate in the ’50’s.

      2. Hi again, I just assumed it had a top crust so I put one on and it tasted fine but the next one I make will be without, then I can compare. By the way, my husband loved it and he is a lover of coconut custard pie.

  3. Japanese Fruit Pie is a favorite at this Grandmama’s house too! We love it so much it “could” be eaten weekly, but perhaps we will stick to our once a year Thanksgiving tradition of enjoying Japanese Fruit Pie, as it is very rich. MUST RESIST… 😉

  4. I have this recipe in my collection and it is titled “Ms. Walkers nut pie”. She was my sweet neighbor for so many years. I MUST make another one!! Thanks.

  5. I never understand why ANYONE asks the recipe author the question “Can I substitute…” Just go for it, but don’t expect the recipe author to know if you can or should. Good gracious! This looks yummy.

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