Peanut Butter Pie - A luscious, no-bake dessert with flaky graham cracker crust, fluffy peanut butter filling, and velvety chocolate topping. This super easy, not-too-sweet chocolate peanut butter pie is a fan favorite among my easy dessert recipes.
Chocolate peanut butter pie is a scrumptious dessert that tastes like it's made at your favorite restaurant. It’s rich, decadent, and satisfies sweet cravings ... without being overly sweet. This no-bake pie recipe is for anyone who wants to throw together a super simple, crowd-favorite dessert using mostly pantry ingredients. Trust me, chocolate peanut butter pie takes peanut butter and chocolate to a level that will find you, and your people, totally impressed with your (secretly minimal) effort.
Peanut butter pie recipe ingredients
* see recipe card below for FULL PRINTABLE recipe
- graham crackers
- brown sugar
- butter
- cream cheese
- peanut butter
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
- Kosher salt
- heavy cream
- chocolate chips
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How to make peanut butter pie from scratch
* see recipe card below for FULL PRINTABLE recipe
- Make graham cracker crust - Process graham crackers and sugar into fine crumbs, add butter, press into pie plate, and refrigerate.
- Make the pie filling - Blend together cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt.
- Whip the cream - Whip heavy cream into stiff peaks and fold into peanut butter filling.
- Fill the pie - Pour filling into pie crust, spread evenly, and refrigerate.
- Make the ganache - Microwave heavy cream and chocolate chips together, stir until silky. Allow to cool a few minutes and pour over pie, spreading into a uniform layer.
- Chill the pie - Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours up to 3 days (or freeze up to 30 days). Serve chilled.
I adapted this peanut butter pie recipe from my America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book. I used a simple graham cracker crust in place of the suggested cookie crust (for less sugar). I also made a chocolate ganache topping sprinkled with graham cracker crust and a little salt because ... that's my jam (see my Chocolate Eclair Icebox Cake).
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How to serve peanut butter pie
- chilled - PB pie served straight from the refrigerator will be perfectly chilled and refreshing. The pie texture is semi-firm yet soft enough to require a sharp knife when slicing to avoid ruining the appearance. The flavor ... divine.
- frozen - When frozen, this PB pie becomes PB ice cream pie. It has a firm texture so it's easy to slice and serve without ruining the appearance. It's super refreshing on warm days and the flavor ... also divine.
It doesn't take very long for chilled PB pie to work its way to room temperature. It starts to become super soft and is difficult to maintain its shape and appearance. When this happens, it should be eaten immediately, which shouldn't be a problem because it's a lot like biting into a chocolate peanut butter cloud 😂
Peanut butter pie ingredient substitutions
• graham cracker crust - you can swap chocolate graham crackers for the classic grahams (my personal fav). Also, you can buy packaged graham cracker crumbs, but they'll be more expensive than whole crackers. You can always skip the homemade crust entirely and use pre-made graham cracker crust (or any pie crust).
• heavy cream (whipping cream) - if you don’t have a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip the heavy cream into whipped cream for the filling, you can use 4 oz whipped topping (such as Cool Whip). Just thaw and fold it into the filling.
• chocolate ganache - use milk chocolate or dark chocolate for this recipe. You can use the equivalent amount of any chocolate bar. I'm a fan of semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate for this recipe.
Alternatively, you can use packaged chocolate sauce in place of the ganache. But, if you do, you'll miss the soft, rich, ganache experience like the one pictured here...
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Recommended tools:
- 7 cup food processor (fitted with mixing blade)
- 9" pie plate
- measuring cups and spoons
- mixing bowls
- hand-mixer or stand mixer
- rubber spatula
- microwave-safe bowl (to melt chocolate)
- whisk or fork
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No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 8 sheets Graham Crackers or 1 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter melted
Peanut Butter Filling
- 4 oz Cream Cheese softened
- 1/2 cup Natural Peanut Butter
- 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream or 4 oz whipped topping
- 1/8 tsp Kosher Salt
Chocolate Ganache Topping
- 1/4 cup Heavy Cream 2 oz
- 1/3 cup Chocolate Chips 2 oz
Recipe Instructions
For the crust
- Blend whole GRAHAM CRACKERS and SUGAR into crumbs using a food processor (or ziploc and rolling pin). *see footnote #1
- Add BUTTER and pulse until mixture is well-coated and appears crumbly. Reserve a healthy pinch of crumbs to garnish top of pie.
- Press graham cracker crumbs evenly into baking pan and refrigerate until ready to use. *see footnote #2
For the filling
- In a mixing bowl, blend CREAM CHEESE, PEANUT BUTTER, POWDERED SUGAR, VANILLA, and SALT until well-combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, blend the HEAVY CREAM until stiff peaks form (about 2 minutes). *If using frozen whipped topping, allow to thaw.
- Gently fold whipped cream into peanut butter filling. Pour filling into graham cracker crust and spread evenly. Refrigerate while making the ganache.
For the chocolate ganache topping
- Add HEAVY CREAM and CHOCOLATE CHIPS to a microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in 30 second intervals on HIGH setting until it's almost boiling (don’t let it bubble up).
- Gently stir with a whisk until it's smooth and velvety.
- Allow the ganache to cool about 10 minutes, give a stir, then pour over peanut butter pie surface.Spread ganache into an even layer. Garnish with sprinkles of the reserved graham cracker crust crumbles and a few flecks of Kosher salt (the secret weapon). Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight before serving.
Serving and storage
- Serve chilled or frozen ... and watch it disappear!
- To store, refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days or in the freezer up to 30 days.
RECIPE NOTES
Nutrition
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Recipe looks fantastic. About to try it and note that salt is mentioned as an ingredient for the filling but I can’t seem to figure out how much salt. Any advice? Do I need to brush up on my reading comprehension?
Hi John, you are correct and I just fixed it. The salt isn't a critical ingredient in this recipe, but it does create that sweet and salty flavor profile. Thanks for letting me know 🙂
This peanut butter pie is outta hand! It's my new favorite dessert. Fluffy, chocolatey, and not too sweet (as promised). I can't wait until we make it again!
Thank you, JB! This really makes my day ... I'm so glad you love it as much as I do 🙂
What a gorgeous looking pie! It really looks so tempting.
Thanks, Priya...glad you think so 🙂
Very easy recipe! Can't wait to make my own version- my family will love it!
Indeed! So glad you can enjoy this one, Maria 🙂 Thanks!
I LOVE no bake desserts and your peanut butter pie was just perfect. It was so easy to make and the pie was amazing - a total crowd pleaser.
Awesome, Pavani! So glad to hear it and glad it was enjoyed 🤩 Thank youuuu
Anything peanut butter is good with me and this is even better with it being no bake. It looks incredible.
Thanks, Dannii! Glad you can enjoy this 🙂
Peanut butter and chocolate belong together and this no bake pie is the perfect way to bring them together!
Yessss, thank you 🙂 My feelings exactly. Love peanut butter and chocolate 4evr ❤️
No-bake pie recipes are my favorite right now since it's still pretty warm where I live so this peanut butter pie is perfect! And I love peanut butter and chocolate together, it's the best combo ever! I can't wait to make this pie, I'm saving it for my family dinner this weekend!
Yay Luci! Yep, warm here too so we're loving this pie right now 🙂 So glad you can enjoy this one...thanks!
OMG I love a good PB pie! def need to make this soon, it looks so good & easy
Thanks, Rebecca! Glad you love peanut butter pie too!
This was SO good and simple to make. I always love a no bake dessert. This is a keeper!
Yayy thanks, Tawnie...so glad you enjoyed it! Peanut butter pie is one of our favs too because of how easy it is 🤩
One of my absolute favorite things to indulge! Love peanut butter and this pie is top on my list. Yum!
Thanks Chichi! It's one of my favorites too! 🤩
Yummy! I love peanut butter! Love this healthier version and easy peasy recipe! ❤️
Awesome, Maria! I'm a big fan of desserts that aren't overly sweet too! Glad you enjoyed...thanks! 🙂