Millionaire Pie | Cookies & Cups

Why You’ll Love This Millionaire Pie Recipe

• Thick, sliceable filling. I include tangy lemon juice in this recipe. Combined with the sweetened condensed milk, it helps thicken the filling for smoother slices.
• Everyday ingredients. This millionaire pie tastes like a million bucks, but you make it in minutes from everyday pantry ingredients. The recipe originated in the 1930s and uses ingredients like sweetened condensed milk and canned pineapple, so it’s relatively affordable, too.
• No baking. Maybe best of all, this recipe needs zero baking and just a few minutes to prep. This pie does need time to chill afterward, so it’s the perfect dessert to make ahead. It’s great any time of the year, too. Just add the whipped cream topping before serving.

What You’ll Need

Depending on who you ask, the recipe we’re making today is a billionaire pie, since it contains cherries and coconut. Either way, you’ll find some quick notes on these and the other ingredients below. Scroll down to the recipe card for the printable ingredients list with amounts.

• Graham Cracker Crust – You can make an easy graham cracker crust from store-bought or homemade graham crackers, crushed into fine crumbs. If you’re short on time, a store-bought graham cracker crust works perfectly, too.
• Crushed Pineapple – Make sure to drain the canned pineapple well to avoid a watery filling.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk – Not to be confused with regular condensed or evaporated milk, which is unsweetened.
• Maraschino Cherries – Chop up the cherries and reserve 1 tablespoon of the juice. Another option is to replace the cherries with homemade cherry pie filling.
• Shredded Coconut – This can be sweetened or unsweetened, toasted or plain.
• Pecans – Alternatively, swap the pecans for crunchy chopped walnuts instead. You can also leave them out to make this pie nut-free.
• Lemon Juice – I highly recommend freshly squeezed lemon juice, since you’ll add a fair amount. You’ll taste the difference.
• Whipped Cream – Divided, for the pie filling and as a topping. You can use homemade whipped cream or store-bought. A tub of thawed Cool Whip will also work.

How to Make Millionaire Pie

Whether I’m looking for a no-bake recipe for a summer gathering or an easy Thanksgiving dessert that I can make ahead of time, millionaire pie has it covered. And it’s SO easy to make! Follow the steps below, and scroll to the recipe card for the printable instructions.

• Make the filling. Start by combining drained, crushed pineapple with sweetened condensed milk, and fold in the cherries, coconut, pecans, lemon juice, and cherry juice. Mix well, then gently fold in 1 ½ cups of whipped cream.

• Refrigerate. Spread the pie filling into a prepared graham cracker crust. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly against the surface of the pie to seal it, and place it into the fridge. This pie should chill for at least 4 hours, but it’s best to chill it overnight.
• Decorate and serve. When you’re ready to serve, unwrap the pie and garnish the top with fresh whipped cream and maraschino cherries.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t skip the lemon juice. Lemon juice helps the pie filling set, so please do not skip it or try to substitute it in this recipe.
• Chill the pie for long enough. It’s ideal if you can leave this millionaire pie in the fridge overnight, but make sure it has at least 4 hours to chill so it sets up properly. If you slice into it too soon, the servings will be soupy.
• Use full-fat ingredients. I recommend full-fat sweetened condensed milk and whipped cream for the silkiest, creamiest pie filling. Lower-fat ingredients contain more water, and the pie may not set up properly.

How to Store

• Refrigerate. Keep this millionaire pie covered airtight in the fridge when you’re not serving it, so the filling stays firm. 
• Freeze. To freeze the pie, leave off the whipped cream topping and press a layer of plastic wrap directly against the top of the pie. Then, wrap the whole pie in a second layer of plastic wrap or foil. Freeze for up to 2 months, and thaw the millionaire pie in the fridge before serving.