Million Dollar Pie Is the Recipe You Dream About

If you like Million Dollar Cake or icebox cakes, you'll love Million Dollar Pie. While the crust is baked, the interior filling doesn't require any baking at all—and it's filled with tropical, zesty flavors.

Tangy pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut is reminiscent of airy, heavenly light fluff salads, but cream cheese gives this pie some heft, creaminess, and decadence that set it apart as a dessert pie that's perfect for the summer's hottest months. Coconut flakes, pineapple flecks, and pecans are distributed evenly throughout to give the pie a nice texture. The crust is baked, but it incorporates lemon zest for an extra lemony kick that complements the fresh lemon juice in the pie.

Learn how to make Million Dollar Pie, and whip this up in the summertime and keep it in the refrigerator to cool down with something sweet on a hot afternoon.

Ingredients for Million Dollar Pie

You'll need a few ingredients for all the flavors of the filling, but all are easy to source—and may in fact be in your pantry or fridge now.

• Graham cracker crumbs: Form the base of the crust.
• Unsalted butter: Keeps the crust tender and helps to bind it together in the pie dish.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the graham cracker crust.
• Kosher salt: Balances the flavors of the crust.
• Lemon juice and lemon zest: The acidity of fresh lemon brightens and boosts the overall flavors of the pie.
• Crushed pineapple in juice: Provides a fruity, sweet flavor and texture to the filling. The liquid is drained to keep the filling well structured.
• Sweetened condensed milk: Sweetens the filling.
• Sweetened shredded coconut: Provides some toothsome crunchy texture and light, sweet coconutty flavor.
• Pecans: Adds some texture and nutty flavor to the filling and drizzled over the top for garnish.
• Cream cheese: Provides the tangy, creamy base of the filling and balances nicely with the acidity of the pineapple and lemon juice.
• Heavy whipping cream: A portion of the whipped heavy cream is used in the pie filling to keep it fluffy and rich, while the other portion tops the pie.
• Maraschino cherries: Adds a bit of color and flourish to the finished pie.
  

Why Is It Called Million Dollar Pie?

"Million dollar" is a popular term across sweet and savory dishes, and we've got our favorites that fall under this category, but pineapple and coconut tend to set these sweet desserts apart. 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 sort of fruit garnish, from citrus to maraschino cherry.

Tips For Making Million Dollar Pie

While this pie couldn't be much easier, the Southern Living Test Kitchen does have a few secrets to share:

• DIY graham cracker crust: Using fresh graham cracker crumbs (which you can also buy pre crumbled) are best for this recipe, because they allow you to control the flavors within the crust, like adding lemon zest. Using fresh graham cracker crumbs also allows you to form a deep dish pie crust, allowing for more filling and a super impressive, decadent slice.
• Drain, drain, drain: Make sure to drain the liquid from the crushed pineapple completely, using a fine mesh strainer and pressing with a spoon, to keep any excess liquid out of the filling.
• Make ahead: This pie is well-suited for making ahead. Store in an airtight container in the freezer and transfer to the refrigerator to thaw for two hours before decorating, slicing, and serving. (We'd recommend reserving the toppings for decorating until immediately before serving.)

How To Store Million Dollar Pie

If you have leftovers—and you probably won't if you're serving this to a crowd—cover the pie dish with plastic wrap or a lid, and keep it in the fridge. It will last up to three days, but the crust will begin to soften as it sits. The filling may also deflate slightly as the juices of the fruit leak out, but it will still be plenty tasty.