Million Dollar Pie

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

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A slice of creamy Million Dollar Pie, this indulgent dessert is topped with whipped cream, a cherry, chopped nuts, and toasted coconut, served on a white plate.

Million Dollar Pie is one of those classic no-fuss desserts that has stood the test of time for a good reason! It has a buttery graham cracker crust filled with a creamy pineapple filling loaded with coconut, pecans, cherries, and fluffy whipped topping. After a few hours in the refrigerator, it slices beautifully into a cool, refreshing dessert that’s perfect for summer or any occasion actually.

A slice of creamy Million Dollar Pie, topped with whipped cream and a cherry, served on a white plate with a fork. Pineapple and marshmallows are visible in the background.

This old fashioned pie is always one of the first desserts to disapeear at potlucks, summer cookouts, and holiday gatherings. The combination of sweet pineapple, crunchy pecans, chewy coconut, and creamy whipped topping makes every bite a little bit different.

Why You’ll Love This Million Dollar Pie

No complicated techniques
Creamy, light, and refreshing
Loaded with pineapple, coconut, pecans, and cherries
Easy to customize with your favorite mix-ins

What Makes This Recipe Special

The toasted coconut adds a deeper, nuttier flavor and a little crunch that pairs perfectly with the creamy filling.

I also like using both chopped pecans and maraschino cherries throughout the filling instead of only as a garnish. That way every slice has plenty of texture and flavor from start to finish.

Ingredients

See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all ingredients and quantities.

Graham Cracker Crust – You can use a homemade graham cracker crust in a 9-inch pie plate or just grab a store-bought one from the baking aisle.

Crushed Pineapple – Be sure to drain the pineapple really well. I like to use a fine mesh strainer or a cheese cloth to get the liquid out.

Sweetened Condensed Milk – This provides a rich, creamy filling along with providing the sweetness.

Whipped Topping – This creates a stablized filling that’s light, fluffy, and sweet.

Lemon Juice – Using fresh lemon juice helps bright the flavors and balance the richness.

Substitutions and Variations

You can toast all of the coconut and pecans instead of just a small amount of the coconut for the topping.
You can add 4 ounces of room temperature cream cheese to the filling. I recommend slowly mixing in just the whipped topping and nothing else to prevent the cream cheese from being lumpy.
Substitute the pecans with walnuts.
Substitute the graham cracker crust with a golden Oreo crust or a vanilla wafer crust.
Add lemon zest to the filling.

NOTE: This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations

How to make Million Dollar Pie

A baking sheet lined with parchment paper topped with a small pile of shredded coconut, set on a marble countertop—perfectly prepped for adding the signature coconut crunch to your Million Dollar Pie.

Step 1: Bake a portion of the shredded coconut until lightly golden, then let it cool completely.

A glass bowl with pineapple, cherries, pecans, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk—classic ingredients for a delicious Million Dollar Pie. Nearby are bowls of mini marshmallows and chocolate chips, plus a spatula on a marble countertop.

Step 2: Stir together the crushed pineapple. sweetened condensed milk, whipped topping, shredded coconut, pecans, cherries, lemon juice, and vanilla.

A glass bowl contains a creamy Million Dollar Pie mixture with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips on top, next to a spatula and a pie crust.

Step 3: Fold in the mini marshmallows and mini chocolate chips until evenly distributed.

A whole Million Dollar Pie with a graham cracker crust, topped with a creamy filling and sprinkled with chopped nuts, shown from above on a marble surface.

Step 4: Spread the filling evenly into the graham cracker crust. Sprinkle with the pecans and toasted coconut.

A Million Dollar Pie topped with whipped cream, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, and maraschino cherries is shown on a wooden surface next to a pie server.

Tips for Best Results

Drain the pineapple really well. This is the most important step. Excess juice can keep the pie from firming up properly.
Pat the cherries dry. Maraschino cherries hold quite a bit of syrup. Blotting them with paper towels helps prevent extra moisture in the filling.
Toat the coconut carefully. Coconut can go from perfectly goldent o burnt very quickly. Stir the coconut occasionally and keep a close eye on it.
Chill the pie overnight if possible. Although 4 hours works, chilling overnight gives the pie the best texture and cleaner slices.
Keep the pie chilled as it will soften into a very soft filling at room temperature.

A slice of Million Dollar Pie with a crumb crust, creamy filling, whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a maraschino cherry on top is being lifted from the whole pie.

How to Store and Freeze

Cover the pie with plastic wrap or in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To freeze the pie, wrap it tightly in 2 layers of plastic wrap and either an additional layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil or in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Serve frozen or thaw overnight in the fridge.

Recipe FAQs

Why is my filling runny?

It’s likely too much liquid from the pineapple or cherries got added to the filling. Another reason could be, the pie was sitting out at room temperature for too long or hasn’t been giving the proper amount of time to chill and set up.

Can I make Million Dollar Pie ahead of time?

Yes! In fact, it’s even even better after chilling overnight.

Can I use fresh pineapple?

I don’t recommend it for this recipe. Canned crushed pineapple is more tender than fresh pineapple and has the right texture once it’s well drained.