There's something utterly magical about the cool, minty aroma mingling with creamy sweetness, and that's exactly what you get with this No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe. It’s easy, festive, and perfect for when you want a show-stopping dessert without turning on the oven.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I remember making this pie the very first time when I needed an easy holiday dessert that didn’t require baking. From the moment I took that first creamy slice, I was hooked — it’s refreshing, festive, and surprisingly simple to pull together.
- Effortless Preparation: No oven means no fuss, which is perfect during the busy holiday season.
- Festive Flavor: Peppermint and cream cheese make a fresh, cool combo that’s both rich and light.
- Eye-Catching Presentation: The red food coloring and crushed peppermint topping make it perfect for Xmas celebrations.
- Customizable: You can easily tweak the peppermint intensity or add your favorite garnishes to suit your taste.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe balances cool mint, creamy textures, and a crunchy base perfectly. Each ingredient brings something special: the Oreo crust offers a chocolaty snap, while the peppermint flavors keep it bright and festive.
- Oreo Pie Crust: The chocolatey, slightly crumbly crust is a great base that complements the peppermint flavor wonderfully.
- Cream Cheese: Adds richness and a smooth, creamy texture essential for a no-bake filling.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the mixture gently without gritty texture.
- Peppermint Flavoring: Boosts the minty notes, especially since real peppermint candy can mellow during mixing.
- Vanilla Extract: Balances the mint with warm sweetness.
- Red Food Coloring: Brings that festive Christmas pop—feel free to adjust amount for your preferred tone.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Whipped to stiff peaks, it lightens the filling so it isn’t too dense.
- Crushed Peppermint Candy: Mixed in and sprinkled on top for refreshing crunch and that signature Xmas bite.
- Whipped Topping: Adds a fluffy, creamy layer on top to finish the pie off beautifully and keep it extra festive.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love most about this No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe is how easy it is to make it yours. I usually adjust the peppermint candy amount depending on how strong I want that cool flavor, and sometimes I swap the Oreo crust for a ginger snap base to change things up a bit.
- More Minty Kick: When I want a peppermint punch, I add extra peppermint flavoring or sprinkle more crushed candies on top for crunch.
- Diet-Friendly: You can swap regular cream cheese for a lighter version, though the richness is a big part of this pie’s charm.
- Festive Twists: Try adding mini chocolate chips or crushed Andes mints for a chocolatey-mint surprise.
Step-by-Step: How I Make No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe
Step 1: Whip the Cream to Perfection
First things first: pour your cold heavy whipping cream into a large bowl and whip it until stiff peaks form. This is literally the secret to that light, creamy texture everyone will rave about. Make sure your bowl and beaters are chilled for best results. It might take a few minutes—don’t rush it! Set this aside once ready.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Peppermint Filling
In a separate bowl, beat your room-temp cream cheese with powdered sugar until silky smooth. Add in the vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and red food coloring, mixing until everything is a consistent, festive pink. Then fold in half of your crushed peppermint candy — this adds delightful bits that surprise your palate later on.
Step 3: Gently Fold Together
Now for the blending magic: slowly fold the cream cheese mixture into your whipped cream, or if you prefer, use a mixer on low speed just until everything’s combined smooth and fluffy. Avoid overmixing or you’ll lose that beautiful airy texture.
Step 4: Fill Your Oreo Crust
Pour that luscious mixture into your pre-made Oreo pie crust and spread it out evenly with a spatula. This crust adds a rich chocolate flavor, acting like a perfect counterpoint to the cooling peppermint.
Step 5: Garnish and Chill
Top your pie with a generous layer of whipped topping and sprinkle the remaining crushed peppermint candy on top to finish. Pop it in the fridge for at least an hour or two so everything can set beautifully before slicing.
Top Tip
Having made this pie several times, I’ve learned that small details really make a difference. Here are a few tips that save time and boost flavor so your pie will come out perfect every time.
- Room Temperature Cream Cheese: I can’t stress this enough — cold cream cheese makes lumps, so leave it out for at least 30 minutes before mixing.
- Chill Your Tools: For whipping cream, I freeze the beaters and chill the bowl beforehand; it helps the cream whip up faster and fluffier.
- Fold Gently: When combining mixtures, folding gently preserves the airy texture—don’t rush or overbeat it.
- Adjust Peppermint Flavor: Start with the suggested amount, but add peppermint extract gradually if you like it stronger—it’s easy to overdo!
How to Serve No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe
Garnishes
When I serve this pie, I love adding extra crushed peppermint on top plus a few fresh mint leaves if I have them handy—that extra green and a slight herbal note make it fresh and festive. You can also add mini candy canes or edible glitter for that wow factor.
Side Dishes
This pie pairs wonderfully with hot cocoa or a cup of spiced tea during holiday gatherings. For a full dessert spread, I serve it alongside gingerbread cookies or a warm fruit compote to mix textures and temperatures.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve served this pie in individual mason jars topped with whipped cream and a peppermint stick—makes it portable and extra charming! You can also pipe the whipped topping decoratively on the pie and sprinkle candy cane shavings in fun patterns.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After a party, I always cover the pie tightly with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It keeps well for up to 3 days, and still tastes fresh and minty without drying out.
Freezing
Freezing this pie can be tricky because of the whipped topping, but if you want to freeze, I recommend freezing before adding the whipped topping and garnish. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil to prevent freezer burn. Thaw in the fridge overnight before adding topping and serving.
Reheating
This pie is served chilled, so no reheating needed — just slice it straight from the fridge and enjoy that cool, refreshing peppermint flavor. If it’s been frozen, just thaw fully before serving for the best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While an Oreo crust adds a lovely chocolatey crunch, you can swap it for a ginger snap crust or graham cracker crust depending on your preference.
This recipe relies heavily on cream cheese and heavy cream, so to make it vegan or dairy-free, you’d need to use plant-based cream cheeses and whipping creams. The texture might vary a bit, but it’s definitely possible with good vegan substitutes.
Chilling the pie for at least 1-2 hours lets it set up properly, ensuring you get clean slices with a creamy, firm filling. If possible, chilling overnight yields even better results.
Definitely! This No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe is fantastic for making ahead. Prepare it a day ahead and keep it chilled until serving to save yourself stress on the big day. Just add the crushed peppermint garnish before serving for the freshest look.
Final Thoughts
This No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe has become one of my go-to holiday treats for a reason—it’s quick without skimping on flavor, and it feels fancy enough to bring to any festive gathering. Trust me, once you try it, this pie will be on your holiday list year after year. So grab your mixing bowl and crushed peppermint, and let’s make some delicious memories!
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No Bake Peppermint Xmas Pie Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This No Bake Christmas Peppermint Pie is a festive and creamy dessert that combines an Oreo crust with a smooth peppermint-flavored cream cheese filling, topped with whipped topping and crushed peppermint candies. It's perfect for holiday gatherings and easy to prepare without any baking required.
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 Oreo pie crust
For the filling:
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup crushed peppermint candy
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon peppermint flavoring
- 10 drops red food color
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
For the topping and garnish:
- 1 tub whipped topping, thawed (like Cool Whip)
- Crushed peppermint candy for garnish
Instructions
- 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.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, cream together the powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Then, add the red food coloring, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Mix until the color is uniform and well combined. Finally, fold in ½ cup of crushed peppermint candy bits.
- 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 thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Fill the Oreo Crust: Pour the combined mixture into the Oreo crust, spreading it out evenly to form the base of your pie.
- Garnish and Chill: Top the pie with a layer of thawed whipped topping, then sprinkle crushed peppermint candy over the top for added texture and flavor. Chill the pie in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or until ready to serve.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps in the filling.
- Use red food coloring gradually to achieve your desired shade of pink or red for a festive look.
- The pie can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before serving.
- For a stronger peppermint flavor, you can add extra peppermint extract to taste.
- Substitute the Oreo crust with a homemade chocolate cookie crust if preferred.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth blending.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (⅛ pie)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
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