Indulge in the ultimate dessert experience with this Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie—a luscious, no-bake creation that pairs velvety chocolate and creamy peanut butter in perfect harmony. Whether you’re looking to impress at a dinner party or simply treat yourself, this pie delivers the kind of flavor and texture that feels luxurious yet is surprisingly easy to make. Here’s everything you need to know, plus tips, variations, and ways to make it your signature dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Pie
- Effortless elegance: This pie combines simple, everyday ingredients into something that feels gourmet. No oven required.
- Perfect flavor balance: Rich chocolate meets creamy, nutty peanut butter with a touch of vanilla — every bite is satisfying.
- Versatile & crowd-pleasing: Whether for holidays, birthdays, or an ordinary weeknight, this dessert hits the spot.
- Make-ahead friendly: Chill time does the heavy lifting. You can prepare it ahead, which frees up time later.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- For the crust
• 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• 6 tablespoons melted butter - For the peanut butter filling
• 8 oz (about 225 g) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup powdered (confectioners’) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - For the whipped cream
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream - For the chocolate layer
• 1 cup chocolate chips or about 6 oz melted chocolate
Instructions
- Prepare the crust
Crush graham crackers (or substitute cookies if you prefer) into fine crumbs. Mix with melted butter and press into the bottom and up the sides of a pie dish until firm. Chill while you prepare filling. - Make the peanut butter filling
Beat together the softened cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until fully combined. - Whip the cream
In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold this whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture to lighten the texture. - Add chocolate
Either fold in chocolate chips for bursts of chocolate or swirl in melted chocolate for a marbled effect. - Assemble & chill
Pour the filling into the prepared crust, smoothing the top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight so the pie sets well and flavors meld.
Pro Tips & Variations
- Use room-temperature ingredients for the creamiest texture—especially the cream cheese and peanut butter.
- Don’t over‑whip the cream; stopping at soft peaks helps keep the pie light and airy.
- For a different twist:
• Substitute crunchy peanut butter for a texture contrast.
• Go gluten-free by using a cookie base or gluten-free graham crackers.
• Try a vegan version with dairy-free cream cheese, coconut cream, and vegan chocolate.
• Add a swirl of caramel or sprinkle chopped peanuts on top for extra crunch.
How to Serve & Store
- Garnish with chocolate shavings, peanut butter drizzle, crushed peanuts, or whipped cream for presentation.
- Serve with fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream to lighten each bite.
- Keep leftovers refrigerated, covered, up to 4 days.
- You can freeze the pie: wrap well (plastic + foil), freeze up to 1 month, thaw overnight in fridge before serving.
Nutrition & Time Facts
- Total Time: about 4 hours + chill time (prep ~15 min)
- Yield: 8 generous slices