No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

This easy no-bake peanut butter pie is perfect for peanut lovers! With a graham cracker crust and a light, silky peanut butter filling, it’s the perfect combination of salty-sweet flavors with smooth-crunchy textures. Best of all, this no-bake pie requires just a few minutes of hands-on effort!

Easy no-bake peanut butter pie {without Cool Whip}

No-bake peanut butter pie is a decadent, no-bake pie made with a creamy peanut butter filling and a crunchy graham cracker crust that is the best counterpart to the light filling.

The good news is that it’s really easy to enjoy the decadence of this pie! The make-ahead dessert comes together with a handful of staple ingredients and just a few minutes of prep.

The filling consists of 5 ingredients, which are mixed together until smooth and thick, then chilled in the pie shell until set. It doesn’t get much simpler!

This old-fashioned no-bake peanut butter pie is perfect year-round. You can make it for Sunday suppers, casual cookouts, birthday celebrations, holiday tables, and your Thanksgiving dessert buffet. Your whole family will love this dreamy treat!

Ingredients

Given the simple ingredients, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make no-bake peanut butter pie from scratch before. And I bet you have everything you need in your pantry right now! See the recipe card at the end of the post for specific measurements.

Graham cracker crust

Graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar combine to form the crust. You can buy pre-made crumbs or crush the graham cracker yourself.

If you do, make sure the crackers are fine crumbs, so the crust holds together well. I recommend salted butter, but unsalted butter with a pinch of salt is fine too.

Of course, you can also use a store-bought graham cracker crust to make this pie a total breeze.

Peanut butter pie filling

• Peanut butter: You want a creamy, smooth peanut butter like Skippy of Jif. Natural peanut butter that has oils and needs to be stirred together before use won’t work.
• Cream cheese: Let your cream cheese soften at room temperature so it easily blends with the peanut butter. Just like with my no-bake cheesecake recipe, you need a block of full-fat cream cheese, not a tub.
• Powdered sugar: Opting for powdered sugar sweetens the filling and keeps the texture super smooth. No grittiness here!
• Heavy whipping cream makes the filling so silky and smooth. Chill the cream well so it beats into stiff peaks and holds up when folded into the peanut butter mixture.
• Vanilla extract adds a hint of sweetness. This ingredient is optional – the pie tastes delicious either way.

Topping

I spooned sweetened cream on top of the pie and finished with a drizzle of lightly warmed peanut butter and a sprinkle of roasted peanuts.

We love salted roasted peanuts because they contrast beautifully with the sweet filling. Of course, unsalted roasted peanuts taste just as delicious.

Kitchen equipment

• Pie pan: You need a 9-inch, deep-dish pie pan.
• 2 large mixing bowls to mix the peanut butter filling and heavy cream.
• Electric mixer or stand mixer with the paddle and whip attachment
• Rubber spatula or spoon to fold the filling together.
• Blender or food processor to crush the graham crackers.

How to make no-bake peanut butter pie

My no-bake peanut butter pie recipe is easier than you think! The pie is going to be a hit at your get-togethers and parties. The crunchy crust and sweet, creamy filling will blow everyone away.

#1: Make graham cracker crust

1. Form the pie crust. Add the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter to a large mixing bowl. Stir until the crumbs are coated and everything is well combined.
2. Fill pie pan. Pour the mixture into a deep-dish 9-in / 23 cm pie pan. Press the crumb mixture tightly into the bottom and up the sides of the pie dish.
3. Chill crust. Place the pie crust in the refrigerator to chill for 10 minutes.

#2: Mix peanut butter pie filling

1. Mix filling. Place the peanut butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to high and mix for 1 minute, until fluffy.
2. Whip heavy cream. In a separate mixing bowl and using the electric mixer, beat the heavy cream on high speed until stiff peaks form.
3. Fold together. Gently fold the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture until evenly combined. It will take a bit of folding until it comes together. It won’t seem to want to incorporate at first.

#3: Assemble & refrigerate pie

1. Assemble pie. Pour the filling into the chilled pie crust and spread it into an even layer.
2. Refrigerate. Put the pie into the refrigerator and chill for 4 hours or overnight.

#4: Garnish & serve

1. Garnish. If desired, dollop whipped cream onto the pie. Then drizzle lightly heated peanut butter over the pie and sprinkle roasted peanuts on top.
2. Serve. Cut the pie into wedges and serve cold. Enjoy!

Tips for success

Make no-bake peanut butter cream cheese pie even easier by checking out my handy tips. A top-notch no-bake peanut butter pie is coming your way!

• Use processed peanut butter like Skippy or Jif rather than all-natural peanut butter. Processed nut butters don’t separate and will give you a perfectly smooth filling.
• Block-style cream cheese: The texture will not turn out right if you use cream cheese spread from a tub or low-fat cream cheese.
• Sift the powdered sugar to prevent any lumps in your filling.
• Allow the pie to set: Chill the pie for at least 4 hours in the fridge. I like to make the pie a day in advance and refrigerate it overnight.
• Garnish the pie just before serving. Don’t add the peanuts too early, or they might become soft.

Variations & mix-ins

There are a few things you can do to switch up this easy no-bake peanut butter pie. Try one of these fun twists:

• Oreo crust: Make or buy an Oreo crust instead of graham crackers. An Oreo crust will give you that scrumptious chocolate and peanut butter flavor combination. Chocolate graham crackers would also be delightful.
• Chocolate: Add 1/2 cup cooled, melted semi-sweet chocolate into the peanut butter cream cheese mixture for a chocolate filling.
• Chocolate chips: Fold 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips into the filling. A few chopped-up Reese’s peanut butter cups would also be delicious.
• Topping ideas: Garnish your peanut butter whipped cream pie with chocolate fudge sauce, chocolate shavings, or Reese’s peanut butter cups.

Can I make no-bake peanut butter pie with Cool Whip?

Absolutely! It’s totally possible to make this peanut butter pie recipe with Cool Whip or another whipped cream topping.

First, let the Cool Whip thaw, then fold it into the peanut butter mixture and proceed with the rest of the recipe.

Serving suggestions

No-bake peanut butter pie is best served cold and straight from the refrigerator. We love it with a drizzle of peanut butter and a sprinkle of crunchy, salted peanuts on top.

You can enjoy the pie with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream (or take a shortcut and use Cool Whip). Or pile the whipped cream onto the pie like you see in the photos.

If you’re feeling extravagant, garnish the pie with a sprinkling of miniature chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, hot fudge sauce, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Storage instructions

How to store no-bake peanut butter pie

Cover the pie and store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It tastes best when eaten within 2 days of preparation.

Make the no-bake peanut butter pie ahead of time

Prepare the pie a day ahead of time if you need a delicious make-ahead dessert that you can pull from the fridge when it’s time to serve.

Can you freeze peanut butter pie?

Yes, no-bake peanut butter pie freezes and thaws well. Freeze either the whole pie or slices of pie, then wrap them with a couple layers of plastic and freeze for up to 2 months.

Let frozen peanut butter pie thaw at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours before serving. The pie tastes delicious slightly frozen.

Reasons to love no-bake peanut butter pie with graham cracker crust

• Taste: The flavors are amazing in this no-bake peanut butter pie with cream cheese. From the buttery graham cracker crust, to the sweet peanut butter filling, to the roasted peanuts on top, it’s a delight.
• Texture: This pie has it all – crunchiness from the crust paired with an unbelievably creamy filling, tasty nuts, and fluffy whipped cream.
• Time: The active prep time for the recipe is only 15 to 20 minutes. The rest of the time is spent waiting until the pie is firm enough to dig in.
• Ease: The no-bake peanut butter cream pie recipe has a handful of steps, but they are all nice and easy. And no-bake means you don’t have to fire up the oven!

More cream pies you’ll love

Aren’t homemade pies just the best? They are so perfect for every occasion! Whether you love rich and chocolatey or prefer citrusy and refreshing, there is a cream pie recipe for everyone. Enjoy!

• Nutter Butter Pie
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Pie
• Lemon Pie
• Key Lime Pie
• Chocolate Pie
• Butterscotch Pie
• Coconut Cream Pie
• Chocolate Silk Pie