An easy, creamy, no-bake Peanut Butter Pie recipe that can be prepped in a matter of minutes! Today’s recipe is made from scratch, no store-bought Cool Whip required. Recipe includes a how-to video!
If you’re looking for a quick and easy, guaranteed to impress, homemade dessert for this weekend, I’ve got you covered.
Creamy, fluffy, and silky smooth over a crunchy cookie crust, chocolate & peanut butter (the best flavor combo), and NO OVEN required… this peanut butter pie recipe has it all.
My recipe is made from scratch, no Cool Whip, no gelatin, and no store-bought crust (we’re using my easy Oreo Crust instead!). Be prepared for people to ask you for the recipe.
What You Need:
- Peanut butter. I use creamy peanut butter, but crunchy would work if you don’t mind the texture (personally? I think it might be a bit odd, but you do you). I have not experimented with natural peanut butter (the kind where the oil separates into the top) but from working with it in the past I would not recommend it here.
- Cream cheese. This not only adds excellent depth of flavor to the pie, it also helps to give it a stable, easy-to-slice consistency, without making this peanut butter pie taste like cheesecake (though, if you’re looking for one, here’s my no-bake cheesecake!). You must use brick-style cream cheese, and not the kind that’s sold as “spreadable” in tubs.
- Powdered sugar. I recently learned that this is often referred to as “Icing Sugar” in many places outside the US.
- Vanilla extract. To give the pie more flavor.
- Heavy cream. We’ll whip this into thick, fluffy whipped cream (and I’ll go into more detail about that below). Double cream or heavy whipping cream would also work, but I don’t advise any other substitutes with a lower fat content.
Then, of course, there’s the Oreo crust…
Make Your Own Oreo Crust
Whatever you do, do not use a store-bought crust! Not only is a pre-packaged pie crust too small to hold all of the filling we’re making today, but it’s really just so, so easy to make to make your own crust. We’re talking literally two ingredients: Oreos and butter.
You just don’t get that same buttery cookie crumb when you buy a pre-made, packaged crust. If you don’t like or can’t eat chocolate, you can make my equally simple graham cracker crust, instead (or substitute the Oreo cookies for Golden Oreos or Biscoff cookies instead… yum!). There’s no need to pre-bake the crust before using, either. Simply form it and pop it in the freezer while you prepare your filling.
Homemade Whipped Cream > Cool Whip
You know what really sets this peanut butter pie apart from any of the others? It’s the homemade whipped cream. Most recipes use Cool Whip to help give their pies structure (and that pillowy consistency), but we’re making our own.
It not only gives the pie a better (and less artificial!) flavor, it’s incredibly simple to make (and if you’ve made my Eton Mess or Strawberry Shortcake, you’ve already done it!). It gives the pie a fluffy, creamy texture and a richer flavor (and did I mention it won’t make the pie taste artificial!?). If you haven’t whipped cream before ordered have questions about stiff peaks or any other aspect of the process, check out my guide on how to make whipped cream.
Freezer Vs. Refrigerator
You can either refrigerate or freeze. Refrigerating requires at least 4-6 hours of chilling. The pie firms up nicely and has a consistency that’s soft, similar to my chocolate pie. Most recipes call for refrigeration rather than freezing.
Freezing requires at least 2 hours of chilling. Frozen peanut butter pie ends up even more firm than when refrigerated and has a consistency that’s closer to my cheesecake or chocolate icebox pie. The photos in this post were of a frozen pie. The original photos shown below the recipe were of a refrigerated pie, if that helps you judge the consistency better!
Storing & Serving
Regardless of whether you keep your pie in the refrigerator or freezer, cover it well with plastic wrap. It will keep in the fridge for about 5 days, or in the freezer for about a month.
Peanut butter pie softens fairly quickly at room temperature, especially during the hot summer months. Because of this, I recommend keeping it chilled whenever you aren’t slicing it (no matter where you store it).
Toppings
First, let me be perfectly clear: This pie is perfect without any toppings. It’s silky smooth, creamy, and fluffy over a crunchy Oreo crust so all of your flavor and texture bases are covered. However, after making and chilling the pie, I like to pipe a decorative border (I use a 2A tip) of homemade whipped cream around the edge and then sprinkle that with crushed Reese’s Pieces. It adds a nice extra pop of color, but again, totally optional.
Alternatively you could drizzle your slice with homemade caramel sauce or chocolate sauce (one of my favorite additions)… yum!
More Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
- Buckeye Recipe
- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Peanut Butter Bars
- BEST Peanut Butter Cookies
Enjoy!
Don’t forget to watch the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card, where I make this pie in my own kitchen! If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Peanut Butter Pie
Ingredients
Oreo Crust
- 24 Oreo sandwich cookies (do not remove the cream filling)
- 5 Tablespoons butter, melted (salted or unsalted) (70g)
Peanut Butter Pie Filling
- 12 oz cream cheese (brick-style, not the "spreadable" kind sold in tubs) softened (340g)
- 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter (375g)
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar, divided (280g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5ml)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream (355ml)
For Whipped Cream Topping (optional)
- ¾ cup heavy cream (175ml)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (30g)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons crushed Reese's Pieces for decorating optional
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
Oreo Crust
- Prepare your pie crust first by placing Oreo cookies in a food processor and pulsing until nothing but fine crumbs remain
- Add melted butter and pulse until well-combined.
- Pour cookie crumb/butter mixture into the bottom of a 9 ½" pie pan. Use the back of a spoon or the clean flat bottom of a measuring cup to evenly, firmly press crumbs into the bottom and sides of pie pan.
- Place in freezer while you assemble your filling.
Peanut Butter Pie Filling
- In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese and peanut butter. Use an electric mixer to stir until well-combined.
- Gradually add 1 cup (125g) of powdered sugar, stirring until completely combined.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour 1 ½ cups heavy cream in a separate, medium-sized, clean bowl. Add remaining 1 ¼ cup (155g) of powdered sugar, and use an electric mixer to beat, starting on low-speed and gradually increasing to high, until stiff peaks are achieved (mixture should be thick, fluffy, and resemble Cool Whip, see image in post or video for a visual).
- Add whipped cream into peanut butter mixture and stir gently, but as well as you can using a spatula. Switch to your electric mixer on low and use that to briefly stir until the ingredients are well-combined and smooth (don't over-mix).
- Spread peanut butter filling evenly into prepared pie crust and refrigerate covered for 4-6 hours (preferably overnight), or freeze¹, covered, for at least 2 hours before serving. Prepare whipped cream shortly before serving (if using).
Homemade Whipped Cream Topping (optional)
- Before serving the pie, combine ¾ cup heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a clean medium-sized bowl.
- Use an electric mixer to stir on low-speed. Gradually increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form.
- Spread whipped topping over the center of the pie, or to be more decorative you can transfer to a piping bag fitted with a 2D Wilton piping tip or similar and pipe a decorative ring around the edge of the pie.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy! Since this pie is a no-bake one, keep it in the refrigerator or freezer when not enjoying because it loses its firmness quickly at room temperature.
Notes
¹Refrigerator vs Freezer
Refrigerating this pie will give you a creamier, softer consistency (similar to my chocolate pie), while freezing it will give you a firmer, easier to slice one with a consistency that reminds me more of cheesecake. I typically refrigerate as I like the consistency best.Storing
Store well-covered. Pie will keep in the refrigerator for about 5 days or will keep frozen for one month.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
This recipe was originally published 08/10/2017, post updated to include more tips and information and a video! Original photos below.
Wanda Farquhar
Is this peanut butter pie firm enough to have ganache on top?
Sam
Hi Wanda! A ganache topping will work great here. 🙂
Trisha Hahn
I look forward to making this but…there are no blocks of cream cheese in Ecuador. I will have to make it with the type in the tub. I am thrilled that there is no COOL WHIP in this…also not available!
Sam
I hope you love it, Trisha! 🙂
Christa
I made this pie with crunchy peanut butter, and it was delicious. I’m not a big peanut butter fan, but I love peanuts. The only peanut butter I ever buy is crunchy. I thought it turned out great and loved the texture. I also froze some Reese’s peanut butter cups , chopped them up and topped the pie with them.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Christa! 🙂
Ida Pletz
Can you use pb2 in this recipie?
Sam
Hi Ida! Unfortunately I don’t think it will work well here. 🙁
Missy
I have to make pies for work. I’ve made homemade cheese cakes before and although delicious, it was a complete disaster. By the time I got there, they went from firm to soft and runny. Will this be the case with this pie since it’s a no bake? They’ll be sitting out on the table for at least 4 hours or so before everyone starts eating. We have no fridge there. Thanks!
Sam
Hi Missy! Unfortunately on this one it should really be served as cold as possible to keep it as firm as possible. 🙁
Bruce
I made a lot of changes to fit my plan, but it’s still your pie at heart. I only had 8 oz of cream cheese, so I had to make 2/3 of the filling. I had a little filling left over from my annual four Concord grape pies, so a friend suggested a peanut butter and grape pie. Naturally, I came here for a recipe. My first taste of the filling made me think the cream cheese made it too tangy, but that thought disappeared with the second taste. The texture is amazing.
With the graph filling being added, I made the crust from peanut butter sandwich cookies (the Family Dollar cheap kind, not Nutter Butter. I spread half the peanut butter filling in the crust, then most of the grape (1 1/2 cups or less), then the rest of the peanut butter, and about 2 Tbl of the grape on top as a decoration. It is in the freezer now, but it will sit out about an hour before we cut it.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds like a delicious mash-up, Bruce! We hope it tastes as good as it sounds. Enjoy!! 🙂
Terry Hanusik
I made this for a golf outing, messed it up slightly but it still received great reviews!!!! Definitely will make this again.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
So glad it still worked out for you, Terry! Thanks for commenting ❤️
Linda
Love this recipe. Turned out great and everyone loved it. Thank you for sharing.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Linda! 🙂
Ren
So far this is the most fun I’ve had making a recipe! There’s a lot of steps but they’re all easy and really fun to do. Not to mention it tastes really great. It’s super rich of course, so I’m also glad I can keep it in the freezer and not stress about it going bad.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Ren! 🙂
Dorothy
The best peanut butter pie ive ever tasted and really easy to make.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoeyd it so much, Dorothy! 🙂
Tracy
I made this but doubled it and everyone loved it thanks for sharing this think I will make this a Thanksgiving tradition.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Tracy! 🙂
Emma
Absolutely best recipe I’ve come across! I initially tried one on allrecipes and it was good but this is GREAT! I’m not a fan of peanut butter (crazy, I know) but this recipe was delicious. I had several helpings and so sis my family. It’s so creamy and it turns up nicely in the fridge. Thanks Sam!
Sam
I am so thrilled to hear it has been such a hit for you, Emma! Thank you so much for commenting, I really appreciate it 🙂
Rinat
Hi Sam! Huge fan! Is it possible to make this as mini pies? Similar to your mini cheesecakes (which I lovvvved!!!)
Sam
I think that should work perfectly fine. I would recommend freezing them so they don’t fall apart. 🙂
Dee Kirkland
Sam,
Any idea what the equivalent would be in chocolate graham cracker crumbs instead of 24 Oreos?
Thanks, this looks amazing!
Sam
Hi Dee! I would check out my graham cracker crust recipe and just use the chocolate ones instead. 🙂
DeAndra Kirkland
Thanks so much! ❤️
Peg
So good!! I made this for my husband’s birthday and it was fabulous!
Sugar Spun Run
I hope that your husband had a nice birthday, Peg! Thank you for trying my recipe. I am happy to hear that everyone enjoyed it. 🙂