Description
Million Dollar Pie is a creamy, tropical no-bake dessert featuring a graham cracker crust loaded with sweetened condensed milk, crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, nuts, and a fluffy whipped topping. This rich and refreshing pie is perfect for warm days when you want a luscious treat without turning on the oven for long, and it sets beautifully after chilling to deliver a delightful combination of textures and flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- â…“ cup sugar
- 6 tbsp melted unsalted butter
Filling
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- ½ cup maraschino cherries, chopped (optional)
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 (8 oz) container whipped topping (e.g., Cool Whip)
Toppings
- Whipped cream
- Chopped pecans
- Maraschino cherries
- Toasted coconut (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: In a bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted unsalted butter. Mix until the mixture holds together uniformly.
- Form the Crust: Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan to form an even crust layer.
- Chill or Bake the Crust: For a no-bake crust, chill the crust in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set. Alternatively, bake the crust in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 8–10 minutes until slightly golden, then allow it to cool completely.
- Make the Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, drained crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, and chopped maraschino cherries if using.
- Add Lemon Juice and Whipped Topping: Stir in the fresh lemon juice thoroughly, then gently fold in the whipped topping until the filling mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the Pie: Spread the filling evenly over the prepared crust in the pie pan.
- Garnish: Decorate the top of the pie with additional whipped cream, chopped pecans, maraschino cherries, and toasted coconut if desired.
- Chill to Set: Cover the pie with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight to allow the pie to firm up and flavors to meld.
- Serve: Serve the pie chilled. Garnish individual slices with extra whipped cream if preferred for an elegant presentation.
Notes
- For extra flavor, the crust can be baked briefly, but chilling it without baking works well too.
- Chilling the pie overnight improves texture and flavor melding.
- Toasted coconut adds a lovely crunchy texture and deeper flavor when used as a topping.
- Substitute pecans with walnuts based on preference or nut allergies.
- The recipe is ideal for summer and potlucks as it requires minimal oven time.
