If you love Million Dollar Cake or Icebox Cake, you’ll love Million Dollar Pie. The crust is baked, but the filling is completely unbaked, and it’s full of tropical, zesty flavor.
The tangy pineapple, sweetened condensed milk and coconut are reminiscent of a light, fluffy and heavenly salad, but the cream cheese gives this pie weight, creaminess and indulgence that makes it stand out as the perfect dessert pie for the hot summer months. Coconut flakes, pineapple flecks and pecans are evenly scattered throughout the pie, giving the pie a nice texture. The pie crust is baked, but lemon zest is added for an extra lemony flavor that complements the fresh lemon juice in the pie.
Learn how to make Million Dollar Pie, make it in the summer, store it in the fridge and cool off with a sweet treat on a hot afternoon.
Million Dollar Pie Ingredients
You’ll need a few ingredients for every flavor of filling, but they’re all easy to get hold of — in fact, you probably already have them in your pantry or fridge right now.
- Graham cracker crumbs: This will form the base of the crust.
- Unsalted butter: It helps keep the crust soft and helps the crust hold together inside the pie plate.
- Granulated sugar: Sweeten the graham cracker crust.
- Kosher salt: It helps balance the flavor of the crust.
- Lemon juice and zest: The tartness of the fresh lemon brightens the flavor of the entire pie.
- Smashed pineapple with juice: It gives the filling its fruity, sweet flavour and texture. Draining the liquid gives the filling structure.
- Sweetened condensed milk: This will sweeten the filling.
- Sweetened coconut shreds: It has a chewy, crunchy texture and a light, sweet coconut flavour.
- pecan: They add texture and nutty flavor to the filling and can be sprinkled on top as a garnish.
- Cream cheese: It forms the base for a tangy, creamy filling, perfectly balanced by the tartness of the pineapple and lemon juice.
- For the heavy whipped cream: Some of the whipped cream is used in the pie filling to keep it fluffy and rich, and the rest is placed on top of the pie.
- Maraschino Cherries: It adds a little color and pizzazz to the finished pie.
Why is it called “Million Dollar Pie”?
“Million Dollar” is a term that can be used to describe a wide range of sweet and savory dishes, and there are several favorite desserts that fall into this category, but pineapple and coconut make these sweet treats stand out. From Million Dollar Cake to Million Dollar Pie, you can expect a tropical twist reminiscent of Hummingbird Cake, a fluffy white topping or icing, and some kind of fruit garnish, from citrus to maraschino cherries.
Tips for making a Million Dollar Pie
This pie couldn’t be easier to make. Southern Living The Test Kitchen has some secrets to share.
- Make your own graham cracker crust: Fresh graham cracker crumbs (which can also be bought pre-crushed) are best for this recipe because they allow you to control the flavors in the crust, including adding lemon zest. Fresh graham cracker crumbs also allow you to form a deeper-dish pie crust, which allows for more filling and a really impressive, indulgent slice.
- Drain, drain, drain: Using a fine mesh strainer, press with a spoon to completely drain the liquid from the crushed pineapple, making sure no excess liquid gets into the filling.
- Prepare in advance: This pie is perfect for making ahead: store in an airtight container in the freezer, then transfer to the fridge to thaw for 2 hours before decorating, slicing and serving. (We recommend saving the garnishing toppings until just before serving.)
How to store Million Dollar Pie
If you have any leftovers (and you probably won’t if you’re serving a crowd), cover the pie dish with plastic wrap or the lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, though the crust will start to soften over time and the filling may deflate a bit as the fruit leaks out its juices, but it’ll still be delicious.