This grasshopper pie is a tasty chocolate-mint frozen dessert inspired by the classic after dinner cocktail drink. The recipe is very straightforward with about only 15 minutes of hands-on prep time and no baking required.
This dessert is typically served in the spring for St. Patrick’s Day or Easter and is named after its green color. It's an easy option for any event because you can prepare it ahead of time and it can stay frozen until you are ready to serve.
In my version of this recipe, I use peppermint extract and mint Oreo cookies to make it a non-alcoholic treat with a similar fresh flavor.
It is common to use marshmallows in the preparation of the classic but this version is made without marshmallows, using cream cheese instead and to me it tastes even better.
Some more of my fresh and fun spring recipes you might want to check out are this white sangria and a step by step recipe for how to make homemade lemonade.
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What is Grasshopper Pie?
Grasshopper pie is a green-colored, mint-flavored, no-bake dessert named after the Grasshopper cocktail. The grasshopper cocktail is typically prepared using crème de menthe liqueur.
Ingredients
- Oreo baking crumbs - These are basically just crumbled Oreos without the filling. (Check out easy substitutions below.)
- brick cream cheese - It needs to be softened first. To soften the cream cheese, you can place it (without packaging) in a bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds or place the package in warm water for about 20 minutes.
- green food coloring - The liquid and gel coloring both work in this recipe.
- whipped topping - Such as Cool Whip or you can whip your own heavy cream.
- mint Oreo cookies - Mint Oreo cookies can be hard to find depending on where you live, but there are easy ways to substitute them (see options below).
*See recipe card for full ingredients and amounts.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Mint Oreos: I know the mint Oreos can be difficult to find at times. If you can’t find them, you can definitely use regular Oreos instead. Another fun substitute would be thin mint cookies or something similar. This obviously depends on your individual preference so feel free to experiment!
- Oreo Baking Crumbs: It looks like these, along with the premade crusts, have been discontinued (so sad), but if enough people email the company, they might bring them back! Chocolate baking crumbs are the best substitute. You can also process regular Oreos (not Double Stuf) in a food processor until you have crumbs.
How to Make Grasshopper Pie
Step 1. Prepare the crust. Combine the baking crumbs with the butter. Press the mixture into a 9” pie plate with a fork. Set aside.
Step 2. Make the pie filling. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Beat in the sweetened condensed milk, until smooth. Add the food coloring and peppermint extract and mix well.
Chef's Note: Scrape down the sides of the bowl when needed.
Step 3. Freeze. Crumble 12 of the cookies and fold them into the cream cheese mixture. Fold in the whipped topping. Spoon the mixture over the prepared crust. Cover and freeze until firm, for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Step 4. Serve. Crumble the remaining 4 cookies on top of the pie. Slice and serve the grasshopper pie!
Joss' Tips
- Thaw the whipped cream. If using a pre-frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip, be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator first or you'll have a difficult time blending it into the cream cheese mixture.
- Don't over-fold. Try not to over-fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese because this will actually start to deflate it and the end result won't be as fluffy.
- Garnish. You could garnish your pie with a mint sprig in addition to the crushed cookies to make it more aesthetically pleasing. You might even want to top it with peppermint flavored whipped cream to be extra festive.
- Food paint trick. If I can't find mint Oreos and I'm making this for St. Patrick's Day, one of my tricks is to 'paint' green food coloring onto the white parts of the regular Oreo cookies with a food decorating brush.
Storage
- For long-time storage, place the grasshopper pie in a large freezer bag and into the freezer.
- It is best if eaten within 3 months of freezing.
Grasshopper Pie FAQs
It's named after the grasshopper cocktail, which is green and chocolate-mint flavored.
If they're not scared off by the name, they would likely enjoy it. It doesn't contain alcohol and is delicious. My kids love this dessert!
This grasshopper pie is a frozen dessert so I wouldn't recommend storing it in the fridge.
❤️ Related St. Patrick's Day Recipes to Consider
I make this Mint Grasshopper Pie Recipe every St. Patrick's Day for my family and they look forward to it every year. If you tried it or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Grasshopper Pie
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups chocolate cookie crumbs - or Oreo baking crumbs if you can find them
- ¼ cup butter - melted
- 8 ounces cream cheese - softened
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk - one can
- 20 drops green food coloring - or more if you prefer a richer color
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 16 mint Oreo cookies - or regular Oreos
- 2 cups whipped topping - such as Cool Whip
Instructions
- To prepare the crust: Combine the baking crumbs with the butter. Press the mixture into a 9” pie plate with a fork. Set aside.1 ¼ cups chocolate cookie crumbs, ¼ cup butter
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Beat in the sweetened condensed milk, until smooth. Add the food coloring and peppermint extract and mix well.8 ounces cream cheese, 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, 20 drops green food coloring, 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Crumble 12 of the cookies (larger chunks are ideal--not crumbs). Fold them into the cream cheese mixture. Fold in the whipped topping.2 cups whipped topping
- Spoon the mixture over the prepared crust. Cover and freeze until firm, for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Crumble the remaining 4 cookies on top of the pie. Slice and serve!
Equipment
Notes
- Storage: Keep the dessert frozen for up to 3 months. Place the pie dish in a large freezer bag.
- Pie Plate: You can use a 9” ceramic or glass pie dish or simply purchase a disposable tin pie pan from any grocery store.
- Softening the Cream Cheese: To soften the cream cheese you can place it in a bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds or place the package in warm water for about 20 minutes.
- Mint Oreos Substitute: If you can’t find mint Oreos you can use regular Oreos instead. Another fun substitute for the mint Oreo cookies for the filling of the cake would be thin mint cookies or something similar.
- Chocolate Cookie Crumbs: Chocolate baking crumbs are a good substitute. You can also process Oreos in a food processor until you have crumbs.
- Food Paint: If I can't find mint Oreos and I'm making this for St. Patrick's Day, one of my tricks is to 'paint' green food coloring onto the white parts of the regular Oreo cookies with a food decorating brush.
- Whipped Topping Tip: Try not to over-fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese because this will actually start to deflate it and the end result won't be as fluffy.
- Thaw Frozen Whip: If using a frozen whipped cream like Cool Whip, make sure you thaw it in the fridge first.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
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