Quick answer: stir a 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk with ¼ cup of lemon juice until it thickens. Fold in a well-drained 20 oz can of crushed pineapple, 1 cup of chopped pecans, 1 cup of shredded coconut and 1½ cups of cream whipped to stiff peaks. Chill in a graham cracker crust for at least 4 hours.
Ingredients (9-inch deep-dish pie)
- 1 deep 9-inch graham cracker crust
- 1 can (14 oz / 397 g) sweetened condensed milk
- ¼ cup (60 ml) lemon juice
- 1 can (20 oz / 567 g) crushed pineapple, very well drained
- 1 cup (110 g) chopped pecans
- 1 cup (85 g) sweetened shredded coconut
- 1½ cups (360 ml) cold heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks, or an 8 oz tub of whipped topping
- Optional: ½ cup chopped maraschino cherries, patted dry
How to make it
- Drain the pineapple in a sieve, pressing out as much juice as you can.
- Whisk the condensed milk and lemon juice until thick.
- Stir in the pineapple, pecans, coconut and cherries.
- Fold in the whipped cream.
- Pile into the crust, cover and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- Decorate with more whipped cream, pecans and cherries.
Tips
- Toast the pecans and coconut for more flavor; cool before using.
- A standard crust is shallow: the filling makes one deep-dish pie or two regular pies.
- Whip the cream firm; see soft peaks vs stiff peaks.
Real cream or whipped topping?
Both are used. Real cream is less sweet, which suits this very sweet filling. See Cool Whip vs whipped cream.
Variations
- With cream cheese: beat 4 oz into the condensed milk for a firmer slice.
- Mandarin: add a drained can of mandarin oranges.
- Frozen: freeze for a firmer, ice cream-like pie.
Cousins of this pie: ambrosia salad, Watergate salad, fluff salad and lemon icebox pie.
Frequently asked questions
What is millionaire pie?
A no-bake Southern icebox pie with a graham cracker crust and a fluffy filling of crushed pineapple, pecans, coconut, sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and whipped cream or whipped topping.
Why is it called millionaire pie?
Because it is so rich. The name is traditional rather than tied to a documented origin.
Why is my millionaire pie runny?
The pineapple was not drained well, or the lemon juice was left out. The acid thickens the condensed milk.
Can I use real whipped cream?
Yes. Whip 1½ cups of cold heavy cream to stiff peaks to replace an 8 oz tub of whipped topping.
