No Bake Christmas Peppermint Pie

Looking for a new holiday dessert that’s sure to become a family favorite?

This Christmas Peppermint Pie combines the cool, refreshing taste of peppermint with a smooth, creamy filling and a simple chocolate cookie crust.

It’s become my go-to dessert for December gatherings, and I love how quick it is to put together. The best part? You can make it a day ahead, which is perfect when you’re juggling all those holiday preparations.

My kids always ask for seconds, and there’s rarely a slice left by the end of the night!

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Which Kind of Cream Cheese Should I Use?

For this festive peppermint pie, regular full-fat block cream cheese is your best bet. While it might be tempting to use low-fat cream cheese or cream cheese spread from a tub, stick with the original blocks – they’ll give you the best texture and help your pie hold its shape.

Make sure to let your cream cheese sit out for about an hour before using it, as room temperature cream cheese blends much more smoothly and helps prevent any lumps in your filling.

If you’re in a hurry, you can cut the blocks into smaller cubes to speed up the softening process, but avoid microwaving as this can affect the texture.

Options for Substitutions

Need to make some swaps for this festive pie? Here are some helpful substitutions:

• Oreo pie crust: You can easily swap the pre-made Oreo crust with a graham cracker crust, or make your own by crushing chocolate wafers or regular Oreos with melted butter and pressing into a pie pan.
• Heavy whipping cream: While heavy cream gives the best results, you could use whipping cream (slightly lower fat content) – just whip it a bit longer to get stiff peaks.
• Cool Whip: Instead of Cool Whip, you can use an extra cup of freshly whipped cream (whip 1 cup heavy cream with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar until stiff peaks form).
• Cream cheese: This is a key ingredient that’s hard to substitute, but in a pinch, you can use Neufchâtel cheese – it has a slightly lower fat content but works similarly.
• Peppermint candies: Any hard peppermint candy works here – candy canes, starlight mints, or even Andes mints (though these will add a chocolate touch). Just make sure to crush them finely.
• Red food coloring: This is purely for looks – you can skip it entirely or use natural alternatives like beet powder, though this might slightly change the taste.

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Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when making peppermint pie is using cream cheese straight from the refrigerator – make sure it’s properly softened at room temperature for at least 2 hours to avoid lumpy filling that won’t mix smoothly.

When whipping the cream, stop as soon as stiff peaks form – overbeating will give you a grainy, butter-like texture instead of the silky smoothness you’re after.

Another common error is adding too much peppermint flavoring in one go – start with half the amount and taste as you go, since different brands vary in strength and too much can make your pie taste like toothpaste.

For the best texture, let the pie chill for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) before serving, and avoid crushing the candy canes too finely – you want small pieces that add a pleasant crunch, not powder that will dissolve into the filling.

What to Serve With Peppermint Pie?

This cool and creamy peppermint pie is perfect with a hot cup of coffee, cocoa, or even a peppermint mocha if you’re really feeling festive!

Since it’s pretty rich, I like to keep the accompaniments simple – a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top is really all you need.

For a fun holiday dessert spread, serve small slices alongside some warm chocolate chip cookies or brownies to give your guests options.

If you’re serving this at a Christmas gathering, a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side creates a nice temperature contrast with the chilly pie.

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Storage Instructions

Chill: Keep your peppermint pie in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container. It’ll stay fresh and tasty for up to 5 days. The cool temperature helps maintain that perfect creamy texture we all love in a cream cheese pie!

Freeze: Want to plan ahead? This pie freezes really well for up to 2 months! Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then add a layer of aluminum foil. I’d suggest waiting to add the crushed peppermint garnish until you’re ready to serve, as it can get a bit sticky in the freezer.

Serve: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen pie, transfer it to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. For the best texture and flavor, let it sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving. This helps the filling become perfectly creamy and easier to slice.

 

Preparation Time	15-30 minutes
Cooking Time	0-0 minutes
Total Time	75-120 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Ingredients

• 1 oreo pie crust
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 packages cream cheese (8 ounces each, softened)
• 10 drops red food color
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 1 teaspoon peppermint flavoring
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy canes or mints
• 1 tub cool whip
• Crushed peppermint candies for garnish

Step 1: Whip the Heavy Cream

In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

Once done, set the bowl aside to be used later in the recipe.

Step 2: Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture

In a medium bowl, cream together the powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth.

Then, add the food coloring, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to the cream cheese/powdered sugar mixture.

Mix until the color is uniform and well combined.

Finally, fold in ½ cup of peppermint candy bits.

Step 3: Combine the Mixtures

Gently add the cream cheese mixture to the bowl of whipped heavy cream.

Using a low speed on your mixer, blend the two mixtures together until they are thoroughly combined, ensuring a smooth consistency.

Step 4: Fill the Oreo Crust

Pour the combined mixture into an Oreo crust, spreading it out evenly.

This will serve as the base of your pie.

Step 5: Garnish and Chill

Top the pie with a layer of Cool Whip, then sprinkle crushed peppermint over the top for added texture and flavor.

Chill the pie in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours, or until you are ready to serve it.

Enjoy your delicious peppermint pie!