Skip to main content

Grasshopper Pie

3.8

(12)

First came the grasshopper cocktail, a sweet digestif the essential ingredients of which are green (thus the grasshopper) crème de menthe, white crème de cacao, and cream; then, in the sixties, came the eponymous pie, which always has a crust of either cookie or graham cracker crumbs and is served chilled.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 30 cakes

Ingredients

For the crust

1 1/2 cups fine chocolate wafer crumbs (about 30 wafers)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling

1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1 1/3 cups well-chilled heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup green crème de menthe
1/4 cup white crème de cacao
4 large egg yolks
grated mint-flavored chocolate (available at specialty foods shops) for garnish

Preparation

  1. Make the crust:

    Step 1

    In a bowl stir together the wafer crumbs, the sugar, and the butter until the mixture is combined well, pat the mixture onto the bottom and up the side of a buttered 9-inch pie plate, and bake the crust in the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven for 5 minutes. Let the crust cool.

  2. Make the filling:

    Step 2

    In a metal bowl sprinkle the gelatin over 1/3 cup of the cream and let it soften for 5 minutes. Whisk in the sugar, the crème de menthe, the crème de cacao, and the egg yolks, set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, and cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until it registers 160°F. on a candy thermometer. Transfer the bowl to a larger bowl of ice and cold water and stir the mixture until it is cooled and thickened. In another bowl beat the remaining 1 cup cream until it holds stiff peaks and fold it into the crème de menthe mixture thoroughly.

    Step 3

    Pour the filling into the crust and chill the pie for 4 hours, or until is set. Sprinkle the pie with the grated chocolate.

Read More
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
Like a cucumber-cilantro chutney sandwich and scallop piccata.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.