Also called Million Dollar Pie, this no-bake dessert features pineapple and cherries in a rich and creamy filling mixed with pecans and coconut for the perfect combination of texture and flavor!
JUMP TO RECIPEThere's some magic that happens when you combine sweetened condensed milk with real lemon juice. Well, maybe I should say there are two magical things that happen. Plus chemistry.
The first is that the combination naturally thickens into pudding. The acid from the lemon juice reacts with the milk to turn it into nature's custard. It's pretty spectacular and is the reason my grandmother's favorite recipe, Italian Bakeless Cake (which is not Italian and not cake, btw) works so perfectly.
The second is the spectacular taste. These two ingredients work together to create a super fresh flavor that's bight, crisp and tart but still sweet in the best way. And it is the perfect backdrop for the other ingredients.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR MILLIONAIRE PIE
- Graham cracker crust
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Fresh lemon juice
- Crushed pineapple
- Maraschino cherries
- Sweetened flaked coconut
- Chopped pecans
- Cool whip
FAQ ON MILLIONAIRE PIE
1. Do I have to use FRESH lemon juice? Yes. I can't confirm that the Ph is the same in the fake stuff so I don't know if it will work with the sweetened condensed milk the same way (and thicken properly). Also, it just doesn't taste good.
2. Can I omit the coconut? Perhaps. I can't say so for certain but it seems to me that the coconut helps support the filling which isn't super firm. If you omit it, wring the pineapple out with a clean dishtowel to ensure ALL excess juice is removed.
3. Why didn't my pie set up? There are only a few reasons for this recipe to fail. The most important is substituting or omitting the fresh lemon juice and sweetened condensed milk (that combo is what thickens the filling). It's also super important to drain the pineapple VERY WELL and allow the pie to chill a minimum of 6 hours (overnight is best!).
4. Isn't Millionaire Pie supposed to be pink? The original recipe (from Eagle Brand) did not include cherries. As folks changed the recipe over the years, cherries were added. Some of the newer versions include adding cherry juice which is why some of the pies are pink. You can certainly add cherry juice if you'd like but go easy because the more liquid in the recipe, the looser the filling will be.
5. Can I leave out the cherries? Yep! As I mentioned in the note above, the original recipe from Eagle Brand did not include cherries.
6. Can I substitute other nuts for the pecans? Sure! I imagine walnuts and almonds would be lovely in this!
7. Can I leave the nuts out all-together? I suppose you can but I think the texture adds SO MUCH to this pie and is one of the things that make it so magical.
8. Does this pie freeze well? YES!! Freeze firm without garnishing or covering the pie. Once frozen, cover well with foil or several layers of plastic wrap then freeze up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator.
9. What's the best way to drain the pineapple? I usually pour into a colander then let set over a bowl, uncovered, in the fridge overnight. If you don't have time for that, strain it in a colander then pour onto a clean kitchen towel so the towel can absorb the extra juice.
MORE FRUITY NO-BAKE DESSERTS
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PAULA DEEN'S BANANA PUDDING - This iconic recipe isn't the Banana Pudding you grew up with but it's a classic for a reason - it's insanely delicious!
BANANA SPLIT DESSERT - A layered dessert with pineapple, strawberries, chocolate syrup and nuts with a decadent cream cheese filling and graham cracker crust.
ITALIAN BAKELESS CAKE - A layered no-bake dessert with vanilla wafers and creamy pineapple “pudding” topped with cool whip, coconut, cherries and pecans.
BLACK FOREST OREO DESSERT - A decadent no-bake icebox dessert recipe layered with Oreo cookies, chocolate pudding and cherry pie filling.
Recipe for Millionaire Pie
Millionaire Pie
Also called Million Dollar Pie, this no-bake dessert features pineapple and cherries in a rich and creamy filling mixed with pecans and coconut for the perfect combination of texture and flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 deep dish graham cracker crust
- 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 15-oz can crushed pineapple, well drained
- 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 8-oz tub cool whip, thawed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and pineapple then mix well.
- Stir in cherries, coconut and pecans.
- Fold in cool whip then spoon mixture into graham cracker crust.
- Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.
Notes
- Drain the pineapple VERY WELL. I usually pour into a colander then let drain into a bowl, uncovered, in the fridge overnight.
- Starting with chilled pineapple, lemon juice and cherries helps the pie set up more quickly.
- I like to drain the cherries on paper towels before chopping.
- For perfect slices, consider freezing an hour before serving.
- See FAQ above for other tips and pointers.
My Favorite Pie is your Coconut Cream Pie. I always make 2 at a time. They never last 24 in my house.
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