Peppermint Pie

THIS IS THE BEST PEPPERMINT PIE RECIPE

This no bake candy cane pie recipe has lived on my site since 2016 and has served as my personal perfect holiday dessert many years following for a few reasons.

Second, this easy recipe brings everything you love about peppermint flavor into the spotlight. The creamy peppermint filling is filled with chopped candy cane Kisses for some added texture (we’ll talk about why there aren’t any actual candy canes in this recipe in a bit), and for good measure, there are some chopped Kisses thrown into the Oreo cookie crust for maximum peppermint flavor in every single bite.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS PEPPERMINT CREAM PIE

While the majority of the ingredients you’ll need for this pie are pantry staples, there is a short window for the candy cane Hershey’s Kisses, so be sure to stock up if you think you’ll want to make this candy cane pie any other time of the year.

WHY AREN’T THERE ANY CANDY CANES IN THIS PEPPERMINT PIE RECIPE?

While candy canes are the quintessential treat for peppermint representation not only because of their flavor but also their texture, candy canes + moisture = dissolving sugar.

HOW TO MAKE PEPPERMINT PIE

While this is a no bake dessert, you will need to set aside time to chill the Oreo crust before filling it (only 30 minutes and up to 1 day). Adjust this portion of the recipe to fit your schedule and available time. 

MAKE THE HOMEMADE OREO CRUST

STEP #1

Place the crushed Oreos and ¼ cup of the chopped Kisses in a medium size bowl. Toss together to combine. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the mixture.

STEP #2

Stir to mix completely, then press evenly into the bottom of a 9″ springform pan (a regular 8″ or 9″ pie plate will work just fine as well). Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

MAKE THE FRESH WHIPPED CREAM 

STEP #3

In a medium size bowl with a hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form (about 3-4 minutes; see this tutorial for step-by-step instructions for homemade whipped cream).

STEP #4

Place bowl in the refrigerator (or transfer to smaller bowl if using a stand mixer) until ready to use.

MAKE THE PEPPERMINT PIE FILLING

STEP #5

In a large bowl with a hand mixer or the same bowl of the stand mixer (no need to clean) now fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth.

STEP #6

Reduce mixer speed to low and add the powdered sugar, increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and beat again until smooth. Add the vanilla and peppermint extracts and the red food coloring (if using) and continue beating until smooth. Scrape down the sides as necessary.

STEP #7

Turn off the mixer and fold in the cold whipped cream with a large spatula until red swirls disappear.

STEP #8

Pour ⅔ cup of the chopped Kisses and mix again with the spatula until evenly dispersed.

STEP #9

Pour the filling onto the prepared crust and spread evenly with the spatula (I prefer to use a small offset spatula). Sprinkle with remaining chopped Kisses. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 4 hours (for best results, overnight) before serving.

CAN I USE A PRE-MADE OREO CRUST?

Yes, you can absolutely use a pre-made Oreo crust, but know that it won’t have any peppermint flavor in it since you won’t be adding the Kisses to the crushed Oreos. There is no need to chill the crust before filling it.

CAN I USE COOL WHIP INSTEAD OF WHIPPED CREAM?

While you can use Cool Whip in place of the whipped cream, it is pre-sweetened, so will make your peppermint pie sweeter as well. You may need to add a bit of salt to the recipe in order to balance out the sweetness, but know that I have not tested this pie with that ingredient swap, so I cannot guarantee results.

HOW TO SERVE OREO PEPPERMINT PIE

While this delicious pie is perfect as is, there are a few ways I have served it to make it a little more fun. 

CAN I FREEZE THIS PIE?

This pie can absolutely be frozen, which makes it a great option for an easy Christmas dessert. You can make it up to 2 months in advance and either serve it frozen or thawed in the refrigerator.

SUCCESS TIPS

BE SURE TO USE PEPPERMINT EXTRACT AND NOT MINT EXTRACT

Mint extract contains peppermint extract as well as spearmint extract, which is the taste you’ll find in toothpaste. If you think the filling needs more minty flavor, taste the filling as written in the recipe and add more extract as needed, keeping in mind that peppermint extract is very strong, so add carefully.

FOOD COLORING

I always use gel food coloring, which is a lot more intense than traditional liquid food coloring. You only need a tiny bit of red gel food coloring to achieve a pretty pink color, and about 6-7 drops of liquid to achieve the same shade.