Grasshopper Pie: Only six ingredients to make this delicious and refreshing ice cream dessert—the perfect summer treat that takes minutes to assemble!
An Easy Grasshopper Pie
I can’t get enough ice cream desserts in the summer. In fact, these are the five most commonly in the rotation (and yes, this rotation is monthly!).
- Ice Cream Pie with a Graham Cracker Crust
- Ice Cream Sandwich Cake made with only four ingredients!
- Brownie Oreo Ice Cream Bars with fudgy brownies, Oreos, and hot fudge
- Mississippi Mud Pie with coffee-flavored (or chocolate) ice cream
- Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Cake using a frozen cheesecake and strawberry ice cream
And while my kiddos love each and every one of these ice cream treats, my oldest is partial to anything mint-flavored. So he’ll beg near incessantly for the “best Grasshopper pie” (as he’s affectionately named it) to hit the rotation next!
Quick Tip
Oreo® is a trademarked name for a particular brand of chocolate sandwich cookies. While you can use any brand of cookie you like,
when we say “Oreo,” you know exactly what we’re referring to. We respect trademarks and brand ownership and would never intentionally infringe on them.
Why Do They Call It Grasshopper Pie?
If you’ve ever wondered what exactly a grasshopper pie is, you’re not alone! It’s definitely a unique name. I can promise you, though, that no actual grasshoppers were harmed in the making of this recipe!
A Grasshopper pie is a frozen mint-flavored pie with an Oreo cookie crust. The filling is sweet, minty, and typically does not require any baking. Sometimes the filling is ice cream (like this recipe!) and other times it’s a whipped marshmallow mixture spiked with Creme de Menthe liquor.
The first grasshopper pie recipe, made with ice cream, appeared in the New York Times in 1963. It was very popular in the 1960s and 70s and is now a classic retro treat. The marshmallow version was introduced by Nigella Lawson on Food Network. My grasshopper pie recipe is also made with ice cream.
What Does Grasshopper Pie Taste Like?
Think of a Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie –we channel those are the flavors in this pie!
This pie starts with a sweet and buttery Oreo Pie Crust. We then fill the crust with good mint ice cream, top with hot fudge, and finish it all off with a layer of sweetened whipped cream. I mean, what’s not to love?!
How To Make Grasshopper Pie
The full recipe card is below, but here are our top tips for this recipe:
- Thoroughly crush the Oreos: If there are big pieces of cookie in the crust, it will still taste great, but the slices won’t cut out as nicely. I recommend a blender or food processor for even crushing. No need to separate cookies or remove the creme before blending–it all goes in!
- Don’t add hot butter to the crushed cookies: Let the butter cool slightly before mixing the two together to avoid a greasy crust.
- Let the pie stand for 5 minutes at room temperature before cutting and serving. Use a hot, sharp knife (run it under hot water, dry with a towel) to make cuts into the pie. Serve and return any leftovers (covered tightly) to the freezer promptly.
- Make sure to get a good brand of mint ice cream since it’s the star of this pie. Use a brand you love! Our favorite is Tillamook® Mint Chocolate Chip (not sponsored, but note that there is no coloring in this ice cream so it’s white).
Storage
Can You Freeze Grasshopper Pie?
- Yes! In fact, make sure to keep the pie in the freezer as much as possible while making it. If the ice cream gets too soft and melty, it tends to turn icy when re-frozen.
- Return leftovers to the freezer promptly, tightly covered.
- We like this pie best the same week it is made.
More Minty Dessert Recipes:
- Mint Chocolate Cookies with brownie mix
- Thin Mint Oreo Cups with Andes® mints
- Butter Mints homemade pepperminty confections
- Mint Chocolate Bark with Oreos
- Mint Brownies with a chocolate ganache topping
Grasshopper Pie
Ingredients
- 1-3/4 cups Mint Oreos about 24 cookies, plus more cookies for garnish! Any chocolate-mint sandwich cookie works.
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 (48-ounce) container mint chip ice cream or mint brownie ice cream, slightly softened
- 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping completely thawed, see note 1
- 1 (11.5-ounce) container hot fudge topping see note 2
Instructions
- Start by melting the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Once melted, set aside to cool for 5 minutes. (Hot butter causes a greasy crust.)
- In a powerful blender or food processor, blend whole Oreos (cookie and creme) until they are all crumbs. Re-blend any large chunks so the crust will cut nicely. Measure once fully crumbled, then transfer the crumbs to a bowl. Save any remaining crumbs for a garnish. Add the melted (and slightly cooled) butter and a tiny pinch of salt. Stir until a thick dough forms and press that mixture into a pie pan. Use the bottom of a 1/4-cup measuring cup to press the crust firmly into the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Place the crust in the freezer while preparing the filling.
- Scoop in the entire container of softened ice cream into the chilled crust. Smooth the top of the ice cream evenly with the back of a large spoon or spatula. Freeze for 30 minutes or until solid.
- Remove from the freezer and smooth the chocolate fudge sauce evenly over the ice cream. (This is a tricky step—I like to dollop scoops evenly all over the top, then gradually press the fudge and coax it across the top with the back of a spoon). Loosely cover and return to freezer for another 30 minutes.
- Remove pie from freezer and smooth the whipped cream over the chocolate fudge layer. You can add as little or as much of the whipped cream. (I usually use most of the container!) Sprinkle with any remaining cookie crumbs, if desired. Return to the freezer and freeze until very solid, about 4–8 hours.
- Coarsely chop 3–5 leftover mint Oreos and sprinkle over the pie. Cut the pie into slices. If the pie is especially firm, let it stand for 5 minutes at room temperature before cutting and serving. Use a hot, sharp knife (run it under hot water, dry with a towel) to make cuts into the pie. This will take some muscle! Enjoy promptly and return any leftovers to the freezer.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
loved this grasshopper ice cream pie, so easy to make yet so delicious!