Grasshopper Pie

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 03/20/23
Grasshopper Pie

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Chill: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 8 slices
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
702 Calories
51g Fat
52g Carbs
7g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 702
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 51g 66%
Saturated Fat 30g 151%
Cholesterol 140mg 47%
Sodium 426mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 39g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 109mg 8%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 207mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This mint-flavored, no-bake pie with a homemade chocolate crust is inspired by the grasshopper cocktail, a minty sweet after-dinner drink. The name comes from the bright green color of the creme de menthe. The namesake drink was invented back in 1918 at a bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The drink gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s in the South and then inspired the pie by the same name.

The cocktail is typically a combination of creme de menthe, creme de cacao, and heavy cream. Here the pie still gets its signature color and flavor from the creme de menthe, but the creme de cacao is swapped for a chocolate cookie crust and whipped cream is folded into the filling. In addition, cream cheese is added to give the pie substance and richness. No cooking required!

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1 (9-ounce) package chocolate wafer cookies, crushed

  • 1/4 cup butter, melted

For the Filling:

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature

  • 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

  • 1/4 cup creme de menthe

  • 2 cups heavy cream

  • Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Grasshopper Pie ingredients
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. In a medium bowl, mix together 2 cups of the crushed chocolate wafer cookies and melted butter. Set aside remaining cookie crumbs for garnish. 

    Mix crust for Grasshopper Pie
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

    Tip

    A box of chocolate wafer cookies can easily be ground or crushed into a powder for this homemade crust.

    • Food processor: A few pulses of the food processor makes quick work of the job. The cookies quickly break down into a fine powder. You might need to stir it a few times to make sure all the cookies break up properly.
    • By hand: The cookies can also be crushed by hand. Simply place the cookies in a zip-top plastic bag. Remove the air and seal. Using a rolling pin, crush the cookies until they have reached the desired consistency.

  3. Press the moistened cookie crumbs into a 9-inch pie pan. Refrigerate until firm. 

    Grasshopper Pie cookie crust
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. In a mixer, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and crème de menthe until well-mixed and creamy.

    Mix the Grasshopper Pie filling
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Whip the cream to firm peaks with an electric mixer.

    Whip the cream
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese and creme de menthe mixture.

    Fold the whipped cream into the filling
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Spoon the filling into the chilled crust. Chill at least 2 hours or until firm enough to slice. Garnish with remaining chocolate wafer cookie crumbs and fresh mint.

    Spread filling for Grasshopper Pie
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Recipe Variations

  • For a non-alcoholic version of this pie, swap the creme de menthe from the liquor store with mint-flavored Italian soda syrup such as Torani.
  • If you would like more mint flavor, feel free to add a little mint extract.
  • If you prefer a stronger green hue to your grasshopper pie you can add a few drops of green food coloring to the filling.

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