Grasshopper Pie

Chocolate and mint flavors are the driving force in this grasshopper pie recipe. And the best news is that with only six ingredients, the dessert very simple to make! If you prep this pie for St. Patrick’s Day or as a nod to the nostalgic grasshopper cocktail, your family will be absolutely convinced you bought it at a bakery.

Our grasshopper pie recipe is so easy because it relies on a premade chocolate-crumb crust and folds in store-bought chocolate-covered mint cookies. Nearly everyone loves chocolate-mint desserts. This pie is particularly fluffy and offers a refreshing aftertaste, thanks to the explosion of mint flavors.

Ingredients for Grasshopper Pie

• Cream cheese: Before using the cream cheese (plain, not flavored), make sure it’s softened at room temperature.
• Sweetened condensed milk: Essentially milk with the water removed, sweetened condensed milk helps make desserts dense and extra sweet with its high sugar content.
• Green food coloring: We use 15 drops of green food coloring to give this grasshopper pie recipe its signature minty-green hue.
• Chocolate-covered mint cookies: There’s no right cookie to use here, but generally look for mint cookies coated in chocolate. One example is Thin Mints, sold by Girl Scouts.
• Whipped topping: Add whipped topping, or whipped cream, to the filling to enhance the rich flavor and help make it fluffy.
• Chocolate crumb crust: A store-bought crust will save you time from crunching chocolate cookies or other chocolate treats into a crust.

Directions

Step 1: Make the pie filling

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In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in the milk until smooth. Next, beat in the food coloring. Coarsely crush 16 cookies, and stir into the cream cheese mixture. Fold in the whipped topping and spoon the filling into the crust.

Editor’s Tip: To really nail the chocolate-mint flavor, use regular Oreo cookies and mint Oreo cookies instead of chocolate-covered mint cookies.

Step 2: Freeze the pie, garnish and serve

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Cover the pie and freeze it overnight. Remove the pie from the freezer 15 minutes before serving and garnish with the remaining cookies.

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Grasshopper Pie Variations

• Spike the pie filling: Grasshopper desserts are based on the retro grasshopper cocktail made with creme de menthe, creme de cacao and heavy whipping cream. You could incorporate those liqueurs into the pie filling, or add a little mint extract to give the pie a minty boost.
• Make mini pies: Make the sharing easier—and perhaps freeze more for later—by placing the filling in mini pie crusts instead of one regular-sized crust. As this is a very rich pie recipe, two people could easily split a mini pie for dessert.

How to Store Grasshopper Pie

This grasshopper pie recipe is meant to be frozen, so freeze any leftovers for up to a week.

Can you freeze grasshopper pie?

Grasshopper pie needs about 12 hours in the freezer to firm up, but be sure to freeze the pie without the cookie garnish on top. You can always add that when you’re ready to eat. Cover the pie with a pie lid or a sheet of aluminum foil to keep it from absorbing off flavors from the freezer. Use it within a week to prevent freezer burn.

Can you make grasshopper pie ahead of time?

Since this is a frozen pie, make it at least 12 hours ahead of time so the pie will firm up.

Grasshopper Pie Tips

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Can you use different types of crusts to make grasshopper pie?

One of our favorite no-bake pie recipes, grasshopper pie is typically made with a chocolate crumb crust. You can buy a store-bought pie crust or make a homemade version by combining ground chocolate crumb wafers with sugar and butter. For a fun twist, make a similar pie crust with graham crackers or another type of cookie, like Oreo pie crust.

Can I make this pie gluten-free?

You can if you make a gluten-free crust! Try our gluten-free pie crust recipe for a traditional pie crust.

What else can I use as garnish, besides cookies?

A few sprigs of fresh mint would look nice on top of this pie.