If you’re craving a blast of pure nostalgic, old-fashioned dessert bliss, then this Million Dollar Pie is for you. One delightfully creamy, coconutty, pineappley bite will have you wondering why such an affordable treat was so aptly named. It’s downright priceless!
This quintessential Southern icebox pie hails from the days when stretching grocery budgets was an art form. Yet the resulting cool, dreamy confection tastes like an absolute million bucks. The creamy filling gets its luscious texture from a brilliant blend of sweetened condensed milk and frozen whipped topping, creating a pillowy, decadent base.
From there, it’s studded with all the gooey, tropical delights – chewy shredded coconut, tangy bursts of crushed pineapple, crunchy pecans scattered throughout. The flavors instantly transport you to an island oasis even if you’re stuck at home. Each bite is a mini vacay for your tastebuds!
While simple in its assembly, there’s truly an art to nailing this vintage Million Dollar Pie’s impressively rich, velvety consistency. The key is gently folding in those whipped topping clouds to keep everything supremely light and airy. It creates the most delightfully billowy, melt-in-your-mouth filling.
That ethereal pineapple-coconut cloud gets piled high atop a crispy, cinnamon-scented graham cracker crust for the perfect textural contrast. It adds much-needed crunch against all that lush, creamy tropicana. The buttery crust shatters delightfully in each bite, grounding the lighter-than-air filling.
While already pretty spectacular unadorned, this Million Dollar Pie also provides a blank canvas for all sorts of tasty garnishes or mix-ins. Sprinkle on some toasted coconut flakes or a ring of maraschino cherries. Or get fancy by piling it high with fresh whipped cream flowers and sprinkles of toasted pecans.
Feel free to get creative with the flavors too! Fold in a splash of pineapple or coconut rum to amplify those tropical notes. Or go full Hawaiian by tossing in some bright limes zest and pulp. The creamy filling is super versatile and receptive to all sorts of fun fruity twists.
No matter how you dress it up, this Million Dollar Pie is the kind of festive, nostalgic dessert that instantly brings smiles all around. Its pillowy, coconut-kissed, kaleidoscope of flavors channels the carefree spirit of backyard potlucks and Southern grandma’s kitchens.
Yet it’s also effortlessly elegant enough for gracing the fanciest dessert buffets and holidays tables. A cool slice is guaranteed to garner oohs and ahhs from partygoers of all ages. Not to mention satisfied, sticky-fingered smiles after every luscious, creamy bite into million-dollar decadence.
Million Dollar Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 (20oz) can crushed pineapple, very well drained
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 (8oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
For Garnish (optional):
- Whipped cream, pecans, cherries, toasted coconut, lime zest
Instructions:
- Make the graham cracker crust by blitzing the crumbs, sugar and cinnamon in a food processor. Drizzle in the melted butter and pulse until moistened. Press firmly into a 9-inch pie plate and refrigerate while making the filling.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice until slightly thickened.
- Fold in the very well-drained crushed pineapple, coconut, and chopped pecans until combined.
- Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until fully incorporated, being careful not to overmix.
- Pour the filling into the chilled pie crust and smooth the top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow it to set completely.
- Garnish with whipped cream, extra pecans, cherries, toasted coconut or lime zest before slicing and serving.
There’s nothing quite like this ethereally creamy, coconut-kissed, nostalgic Million Dollar Pie! Vintage dessert bliss in every bite.
