Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

Name: Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 130 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese (softened, 1 block); 1 cup creamy peanut butter; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup powdered sugar; 8 ounces cool whip (plus more for topping (optional)); 1 graham cracker crust; 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional topping)

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Pie has a silky, fluffy and seriously delicious filling. Even better, my no bake peanut butter dessert recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep.

Slice of no bake peanut butter pie on a serving spatula.

Table of Contents

Important Note: Although this peanut butter dessert comes together fast, you do need to allow a couple of hours for the pie filling to firm up in the fridge before serving.

A forkful of fluffy pie filling on a graham cracker crust.

Why You'll Love This Recipe:

Perfect hot weather dessert. Too hot to bake? Whip up this no bake pie without breaking a sweat!
Easy to make - Like with most no-bake desserts, it's mostly just mixing and chilling.
Perfect for holidays! - The rich cream cheese in the filling makes it feel extra special; perfect for serving on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Ingredients

cream cheese - The higher the cream cheese fat content is, the richer and creamier the pie filling will be. For this reason, I use full fat, block-style cream cheese.
creamy peanut butter - Use a no-stir variety.
vanilla extract
powdered sugar - You'll find this in the baking aisle of the grocery store. By the way, do you know that you can make powdered sugar from granulated sugar?
Cool Whip - In most stores, you'll find this non-dairy whipped topping in the frozen desserts aisle.
Graham cracker crust - You'll find premade graham cracker crusts in the baking aisle of your grocery store. If you want to make one from scratch, go for it!
Unsweetened cocoa powder - There are two kinds of unsweetened cocoa - regular and Dutch Process. Either will work for this easy no bake peanut butter pie recipe.

Slice of peanut butter silk pie on a plate.

Substitutions and Recipe Variations

Cream Cheese: If you want to use low fat cream cheese, you can. Just be sure to use block-style cream cheese. The spreadable variety that comes in a tub doesn't firm up quite as much.

Creamy peanut butter: Use a no-stir variety. If it requires stirring, you'll see peanut oil floating at the top of the jar. This means it has separated from the solids.

Cool whip: Swap out for chocolate cool whip!

Graham cracker crust: While the graham cracker crust offers a buttery honey flavor, feel free to use a chocolate or Oreo cookie crust.

Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder in this recipe is optional. You can also dust the top of your peanut butter pie with ground cinnamon.

Vanilla Extract: For a more intense vanilla flavor, you can use vanilla bean paste instead of extract. If you use vanilla paste, keep in mind that you will only need about half of the amount of extract the recipe calls for.

How to Make This Easy No Bake Pie Recipe

cream cheese filling mixture in a stand mixer

Using a stand mixer or high speed hand mixer, mix the cream cheese on high speed for at least 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.

Adding ingredients in a stand mixer bowl.

Add the peanut butter and vanilla extract and mix well.
Add the confectioner’s sugar and mix on low speed until completely combined.
Add the whipped topping, then combine well on medium speed.

Spreading easy no bake peanut butter pie filling into a graham cracker pie crust.

Pour the cream cheese and peanut butter mixture into the graham cracker crust. Using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the peanut butter pie filling into an even layer over the crust.

If desired, spread 1 to 2 cups of additional whipped topping over the peanut butter layer.
Cover the dessert with a layer of plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the filling to set up.

Just before serving, dust the top of the pie with some cocoa powder.

Cocoa powder dusted over the top of a no bake Cool Whip peanut butter pie.

Liz's Tips For the Best Results

Thaw the Cool Whip completely in the fridge before using it.
Crust: When buying a store-bought pie crust, double-check it for cracks.
Natural Peanut Butter: Natural peanut butter tends to separate. Use a peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy.
Chill: I know you want to eat this up, but chilling for at least 2 hours will help set this pie and blend the flavors.

Storage

Storing: Cover and refrigerate the pie for up to 5 days.

When serving, don't let the pie sit out longer than 2 hours at room temperature. Cream cheese can spoil after 2 hours.

Check out this post for how to store pies.

Freezing Your No Bake Pie

This easy no bake peanut butter pie recipe is freezer friendly!

Before placing it in the freezer, allow the pie to set in the fridge overnight before wrapping it in plastic wrap and freezing.

You can keep it frozen for up to 3 months.

Thaw for about 20 minutes at room temperature before serving, or enjoy frozen, depending on the texture you prefer.

two plates with two pieces of pie and gold forks

Easy Peanut Butter Pie Recipe FAQ:

What is a peanut butter silk pie?

This is just another name for a no bake peanut butter pie. It is named this because of the silky texture of the peanut butter and cream cheese mixture.

Do I need to make a homemade graham cracker crust?

Nope! We want this to be quick and easy for you. Buy a premade crust from your local grocery store will be perfect!

Other easy peanut butter dessert recipes: