Vegan Grasshopper Pie

This vegan grasshopper pie is a vintage frozen mint pie made with Creme de Menthe liquor in a chocolate cookie crumb crust.  If you like mint and chocolate together, you'll love this pie!  It's kind of like vegan mint chocolate chip ice cream in pie form.  How can you go wrong with that?

Grasshopper pie was popular in the 60s and 70s in the US.  If you're over the age of 40, you may have vague memories of it at summer picnics from your childhood.  It's a light and fluffy frozen pie with a hint of mint and a chocolate crust.

I wanted to make something green for St. Patricks Day and remembered my grandmother's grasshopper pie recipe.  I had to swap out nearly every ingredient to make it vegan, but it still worked and the result was an amazingly delicious minty pie that my family loved!

What you will need to make vegan grasshopper pie:

For the chocolate crumb crust:

• Chocolate Cookies - for the pie crust.  You can use Oreos, thin mints. or any other vegan chocolate cookie.  (Use gluten-free cookies for a gluten-free pie).
• Vegan Butter - to hold the cookie crust together.  You can also use coconut oil instead if you prefer. (I like to use my homemade vegan butter).

For the mint pie filling:

• Aquafaba - this is the liquid from a can of chickpeas.  It can be whipped up similar to egg whites into a meringue-like mixture. I use this as a replacement for marshmallows and whipped cream in a traditional grasshopper pie.
• Cream of tartar - for acidity to help the aquafaba whip up and hold it's fluffiness.
• Powdered Sugar - for sweetness.  You can also use granulated sugar, but I find that powdered sugar keeps it fluffier.
• Creme de Menthe - for the green color and minty taste.  You can also use mint extract instead, for an alcohol-free pie.
• Vegan Cream Cheese - for creaminess and to give the pie structure.  You can use store-bought or my homemade vegan cream cheese.
• Refined Coconut Oil - for richness and to give the pie structure.  You can use unrefined coconut oil, but it will have a coconut taste.
• Chocolate Chips or Extra Cookie Crumbs - to sprinkle in and/or on the pie. (I used mini chocolate chips).

How to make a dairy-free grasshopper pie...

To make the cookie crumb crust:

1. Place 20 chocolate cookies in a food processor and blend until they are crushed into tiny pieces. (You can also put them in a bag and hit them or roll a rolling pin over them until they are crushed).
2. Mix 1/4 cup of melted vegan butter (or coconut oil) with the crushed sandwich cookies and then press the mixture to the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan or pie dish.
3. Place in the refrigerator to cool while you make the filling. 

Make the mint pie filling:

1. Pour 3/4 cup of aquafaba and 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix aquafaba with an electric mixer for 7 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the edges.
3. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar a small amount at a time to the whipped aquafaba while mixing for another 2 minutes.
4. After the aquafaba has been beaten for a total of 9 minutes, set the bowl of whipped aquafaba aside.
5. Mix 2 cups of vegan cream cheese with 1/3 cup of creme de Menthe, and 1/3 cup of melted refined coconut oil in a separate bowl with an electric mixer.
6. Slowly add 2 cups of powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture 1/2 cup at a time beating again between each one.
7. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the aqufaba mixture, sprinkle with chocolate chips or cookie crumbs and fold the mixture together with a spatula.  Be careful not to over stir or it will start to deflate.  Just stir enough so that everything is incorporated.
8. Pour the filling into the pie cruts and smooth it out.  (Top with some extra chocolate chips or cookie crumbs if you want).
9. Freeze overnight or for at least 6 hours.  Serve frozen.

Recipe Notes:

• Make sure to beat the aquafaba for a total of 9 minutes.  It will look like whipped cream after about 5 minutes, but the protein bond will not be strong enough to hold the air in the pie until it whips for a total of 9 minutes.  You can do more, but don't do less.
• Use a pre-made chocolate graham cracker crust if you want to make it easier.
• You will need a large sharp knife to cut through the frozen pie crust.  Push down firmly to cut through it when slicing.
• If you don't want to use alcohol, you can omit the Creme de Menthe and use 1 tsp of peppermint extract instead.
• It's delicious topped with vegan whipped cream too!  (Optional)
• Add a drop or two of green food coloring to make it greener if desired.
• To make this pie gluten-free - simply replace the chocolate cookies with gluten-free cookies.

I hope this becomes a family favorite at your house like it is at ours!  It's perfect for Christmas, St. Patrick's Day or summer picnics!

If you love no-bake desserts, try my No-Bake Vegan Cheesecake or my Vegan Oreo Cheesecake recipes.

Looking for more recipes that use aquafaba? 

Try my Vegan Smores Pie, Aquafaba Ice Cream, Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie, Aquafaba Chocolate Mouse or Vegan Marshmallows.

Love mint and chocolate together?  You have to try my Vegan Creme de Menthe Squares!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram for daily vegan inspiration and recipe ideas!  Tag me at #thehiddenveggies!  I love to see what you made too!

5 from 1 vote

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Vegan Grasshopper Pie

Prep Time

20 mins

Freeze Time

6 hrs

Total Time

6 hrs 20 mins

 

A light and fluffy frozen mint pie in a chocolate crumb crust.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, vegan

Keyword: dairy-free grasshopper pie, vegan grasshopper pie, vegan mint chocolate

Servings: 10

Calories: 492 kcal

Author: Monica Davis

Ingredients

For the chocolate crumb crust:

• 3 tbsp vegan butter (or coconut oil) melted
• 20 chocolate cookies

For the mint filling:

• 3/4 cup aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas or white beans).
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup Creme de Menthe
• 2 cups vegan cream cheese (2 - 8 oz. packages of cream cheese)
• 1/3 cup refined coconut oil melted
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips or cookie crumbs (Mini chips work best)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To make the cookie crumb crust:

1. Place 20 chocolate cookies in a food processor and blend until they are crushed into tiny pieces. (You can also put them in a bag and hit them or roll a rolling pin over them until they are crushed).
2. Mix 1/4 cup of melted vegan butter (or coconut oil) with the crushed sandwich cookies and then press the mixture to the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan or pie dish.
3. Place in the refrigerator to cool while you make the filling.

Make the mint pie filling:

1. Pour 3/4 cup of aquafaba and 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix with an electric mixer for 7 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the edges.
3. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar a small amount at a time to the whipped aquafaba while mixing for another 2 minutes.
4. After the aquafaba has been beaten for a total of 9 minutes, set the bowl of whipped aquafaba aside.

5. Mix 2 cups of vegan cream cheese with 1/3 cup of creme de Menthe, and 1/3 cup of melted refined coconut oil in a separate bowl with an electric mixer.

6. Slowly add 2 cups of powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture 1/2 cup at a time beating again between each one.
7. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the aqufaba mixture, sprinkle with chocolate chips or cookie crumbs and fold the mixture together with a spatula.  Be careful not to over stir or it will start to deflate.  Just stir enough so that everything is incorporated.
8. Pour the filling into the pie cruts and smooth it out.  (Top with some extra chocolate chips or cookie crumbs if you want).
9. Freeze overnight or for at least 6 hours.  Serve frozen.

Recipe Notes

• Make sure to beat the aquafaba for a total of 9 minutes.  It will look like whipped cream after about 5 minutes, but the protein bond will not be strong enough to hold the air in the pie until it whips for a total of 9 minutes.  You can do more, but don't do less.
• Use a pre-made chocolate graham cracker crust if you want to make it easier.
• You will need a large sharp knife to cut through the frozen pie crust.  Push down firmly to cut through it when slicing.
• If you don't want to use alcohol, you can omit the Creme de Menthe and use 1 tsp of peppermint extract instead.
• It's delicious topped with vegan whipped cream too!  (Optional)
• Add a drop or two of green food coloring to make it greener if desired. 
• To make this pie gluten-free - simply replace the chocolate cookies with gluten-free cookies.

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Grasshopper Pie

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 492 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Cholesterol 1mg0%

Sodium 370mg16%

Potassium 63mg2%

Carbohydrates 61g20%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 47g52%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 160IU3%

Calcium 37mg4%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.