No Bake Chocolate Peppermint Pie
This no bake Chocolate Peppermint Pie (also called “candy cane pie” at my house!) will become a holiday favorite. It’s layered with fluffy peppermint cream cheese, chocolate pudding and whipped cream, all on top of a chocolate crust. This easy pie is the perfect holiday dessert, but it can truly be enjoyed ANY time of year!
Five Star Review…
“We loved it!”
– TAMMY
EASY, no-bake or semi-homemade desserts are the name of the game around here at Get On My Plate! Since my true baking skills are limited (dough just DOES NOT LIKE ME!!), I have found ways around these limitations…with no-bake treats like this chocolate peppermint pie!
Two of my other favorite no-bake desserts are this easy cream cheese pie, this cherry fluff salad, this no bake chocolate pudding pie, and if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, you HAVE to try this no-bake mini sheet cake hack!
If you are looking for more holiday desserts try these addicting white chocolate cranberry cookies or these Starbucks cranberry bliss bars!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious chocolate peppermint pie recipe:
INGREDIENT NOTES
Chocolate pie crust: These are pretty easy to find around the holidays. I can also find Oreo cookie crust at my grocery story year-round.
Peppermint extract: Start with 1/4 tsp, per the recipe. Taste. Then, if you feel like you can handle more peppermint flavoring, add a bit more. Keep in mind a little goes A LONG way with peppermint extract. I have found that 1/4 tsp. is the perfect amount of peppermint for my family’s taste.
Whipped topping: Cool Whip or the store-brand whipped topping works just fine!
Red food coloring: I just love the “pink” peppermint layer! But this is totally optional.
Candy canes: These are just to decorate the top of the pie and add more pepperminty flavor! If you don’t have any candy canes, you can also use the round peppermint candies (I also have some alternative toppings listed below)!
HOW TO MAKE NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT PIE: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the chocolate pudding and milk. Refrigerate.
Step 2: With a hand mixer, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and red food coloring until light and fluffy. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping and stir until well combined.
Step 3: Layer the cream cheese/Cool Whip mixture onto the Oreo crust.
Step 4: Layer on the pudding mixture
Step 5: Layer on the remaining Cool Whip.
Step 6: Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Sprinkle on crushed candy canes.
Casey’s Top Tip: For best results and nice cleans slices, refrigerate the pie overnight.
STORAGE
- Storage: This pie stores well in the fridge (if there are ever any leftovers!) tightly covered with plastic wrap or foil. Pie will keep up to 5 days.
- Make Ahead: This pie is perfect as a make ahead dessert! It’s best chilled in the fridge 4 hours or overnight.
- Freezing: This pie can be frozen! To freeze, wrap pie tightly in both foil and plastic wrap (or in an airtight container). Freeze up to 2 months. To enjoy after freezing, defrost pie on the counter for a few hours, slice and enjoy!
Other Yummy Toppings!
- Crushed peppermint Oreos
- Crushed regular Oreo cookies
- Crushed chocolate wafer cookies
- Chocolate shavings
- Chocolate chips or peppermint chocolate chips
- Melted chocolate
Did you try this recipe?
Let us know your thoughts on this chocolate peppermint pie by leaving a star rating below or sharing it on Instagram!
Thank you! ~ Casey
Chocolate Peppermint Pie {No Bake!}
Ingredients
- 1 5.9 oz. box of chocolate pudding large box
- 2 1/2 cups milk whole or 2%, not skim
- 4 oz. package of cream cheese, softened or at room temperature half of an 8 oz. package (See Note 1)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
- 3-5 drops red food coloring optional
- 1 8 oz. tub whipped topping, divided such as Cool Whip
- 1 10 inch Oreo pie crust regular graham cracker crust is also great
- 2-3 candy canes, crushed, for topping optional (See Note 1)
Instructions
- Prep pudding: To a large bowl, add chocolate pudding mix and milk. Beat with a whisk until slightly thickened (about 2 minutes). Refrigerate 5-10 minutes until you are ready to use (this will allow the pudding to set up).
- Make the cream cheese layer: With a hand-held mixer, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and red food coloring until light and fluffy (about 1 1/2 minutes). Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping and stir until well combined. Note: You can also use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.
- Layer 1: Layer the cream cheese/Cool Whip layer (pink layer) over the pie crust. Spread gently with a knife or the back of a spoon.
- Layer 2: For the next layer, spread on the chocolate pudding right over the cream cheese/Cool Whip layer.
- Layer 3: Finally, spread the remainder of the whipped topping (plus more if you like!) as the final layer. Allow a small gap around the edges so the chocolate layer shows through.
- Finish: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight for best results. Top with crushed candy canes right before serving.
Loved this pie! Delicious! Used a gluten free chocolate pie crust, but otherwise followed the recipe as written.
I had waaay too much chocolate pudding for that layer, and not nearly as much cream cheese layer. I sent this with my daughter back to college with her roommates (Cal! Go Bears!), so I can’t rate it, but my kid and husband licked every bowl clean! To make the drive home I froze it overnight. Other Cool-Whip pies I have frozen; I hope this does not affect the taste. Next time I might opt for the small box of pudding, all of the cream cheese and Cool Whip, and homemade whip cream with just a bit of sugar for the top layer.
How far ahead can you make this pie? I know you can chill it overnight but would it still be good two days in the fridge? Thanks!
I have made it and kept it in the fridge overnight. I think it would be fine for 2 days. Another option is to make the pudding and cream cheese layers two days in advance–store those. Then assemble the night before! Let us know how it turns out! xo
Hi, I was wondering where you can find peppermint oreos?
Hey there!
Target has them around the holidays! They have both Oreo and “peppermint creme cookies” from their Favorite Day brand…you can even order them online 🙂 If you have a Trader Joes nearby, they have them too! Hope that helps!
This looks AMAZING and so easy ! Will be making for Christmas this year for sure.
Yay! Hope you love it! Merry Christmas! XO ~ Casey
We loved it!