Looking for a tasty frozen dessert this Christmas? This easy, no bake peppermint pie is a treat that the whole family will love. With this cheesecake-like filling and Oreo crust, it has a great texture and flavor.
Craving more mint-flavored desserts? Check out these recipes for shamrock shake, peppermint cookies, and peppermint milkshake.
Ingredients
Wondering what ingredients you need to make this no bake frozen peppermint pie? Let me tell you about the most important ones before you get started.
- Crust: We like to make our own crust with Oreos and melted butter, but you can use a store-bought one to save time.
- Cream Cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese that's in bricks; not the whipped or spreadable varieties.
- Whipping Cream: Instead of Cool Whip, make your own by whipping cream until it holds stiff peaks.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This sweetens and thickens the filling, making it extra rich and creamy.
- Peppermint Extract: This is what adds the flavor to the filling. You'll only need a little bit, as it's quite strong.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- On a lower fat diet? Use Neufchatel cheese instead of cream cheese.
- Allergic to red food coloring? Use all-natural food dyes instead of artificial food coloring.
- Decorate with a variety of toppings, such as whipped cream, chocolate shavings, chocolate chips, red and white mint candies, or crushed candy canes.
- Use store-bought Oreo crust. This will definitely shave off some time.
- Don't use Reddi Whip or Cool Whip. Not only are these whipped toppings unhealthy, but they also do not taste as good as homemade whipped cream.
How to Make No Bake Peppermint Pie
Gather the ingredients.
- Beat the softened cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. (image 1)
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in the sweetened condensed milk. (image 2)
- Add the extract and red food coloring. (image 3)
- Beat the whipping cream on medium speed until it holds its shape, but isn't too stiff. (image 4)
- Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth. Folding keeps some of the air from the whipped cream in the mixture. (image 5)
- Pour the filling into an Oreo crust and freeze for at least 20 hours. (image 6)
- Decorate as desired with whipped cream and peppermints. (image 7)
- Slice this no bake pie and enjoy! (image 8)
Recipe FAQs
It is made from a cream cheese filling inside of an Oreo crust. The top is usually decorated with whipped cream, peppermints, or chocolate.
There are quite a few ways to decorate it! Spoon or pipe the whipped cream in different patterns. Next, add half or whole Oreos around the edge to add an extra level of goodness. Also, you can add chocolate chips or chocolate shavings on top make it look fancy. For more minty flavor, add crushed candy canes, peppermint candies, or white chocolate bark shards.
It tastes the best if it is frozen solid. You can refrigerate it, but it won't have the same cheesecake-like texture as it does when it's frozen. It will keep very well in the freezer for up to 1 month, as long as it's covered with aluminum foil. If you don't want to squish the whipped cream decoration, cover it with a clear plastic lid from a store-bought Oreo crust, then cover with foil.
Yes, you can. In fact, this will keep very well in the freezer for up to 1 month.
This pie must be stored in the freezer to maintain its texture. It will keep for up to 1 month in the freezer as long as it is tightly sealed.
Serve
If you're looking for other desserts that don't need the oven, make sure to try our recipes for grasshopper pie, Nanaimo bars, sour cherry pie, no bake cookies, and chocolate turtles.
If you want to make other Christmas desserts, your family and friends will enjoy these edible gingerbread ornaments, vegan gingersnaps, mincemeat tarts, and gingerbread bundt cake.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to freeze it for at least 20 hours before serving. Otherwise, it will not have its cheesecake-like texture.
- Decorate with starlight peppermints, candy canes, Oreo cookies, or chocolate chips.
- Is it too hard to slice? Let it sit on the counter for a few minutes or run your knife under hot water before slicing.
- Serving at an event? Pre-slice the pie and put it on top of ice so it stays frozen longer.
More Pie Recipes
Recipe
No Bake Peppermint Pie
Ingredients
For the Pie
- 8 ounces brick-style cream cheese, softened
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- Few drops of red food coloring
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 9-inch homemade Oreo crust
For the Decoration
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 12 round peppermint candies
Instructions
Making the Filling (20 min + 20 hrs freezing)
- Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment until smooth, then scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the sweetened condensed milk on medium-high speed until smooth.
- Add the peppermint extract and a drop of red food coloring, then blend until well mixed. Add more red food coloring to get the desired shade of pink.
- Whip the whipping cream with a handheld mixer on medium speed until it holds its shape, but is not stiff. Fold the whipped cream into the peppermint mixture until the mixture is smooth and free from lumps.
- Pour the filling into the Oreo crust and smooth with a rubber spatula. Freeze for at least 20 hours before serving.
Decorating (15 minutes)
- Whip the cream with a handheld mixer on medium speed until stiff. Spoon it into a piping bag fitting with a star nozzle.
- Pipe continuous swirls of whipped cream around the edge, then decorate with peppermint candies. Serve frozen.
Video
Notes
- Freeze for at least 20 hours before serving for the best cheesecake-like texture.
- Decorate with starlight peppermints, candy canes, Oreo cookies, or chocolate chips.
- Too hard to slice? Let it sit on the counter for a few minutes or run your knife under hot water before slicing.
- Serving at an event? Pre-slice the pie and put it on top of ice so it stays frozen longer.
Nutrition
Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.
Libby
Liam (14) made us this pie this week, and everyone LOVED it! It was easy enough for him to make alone; he had a lot of fun. The pie turned out great. He decorated the top with mini candy canes. Several of us commented that it has almost a frozen cheesecake-like taste; delicious! Just the perfect amount of mint flavor. Only complaint, it was gone so fast we couldn't get a picture!
Emma Fajcz
That's lovely to hear, Libby! I'm so happy that Liam had fun making it and that you all enjoyed it so much!
Kelly
i can't beat heavy cream to whip cream to save my life. How much store bought whip would that equal?
Emma
You'd need 2 cups of store-bought whipped cream. If you want to try making your own, use a stand mixer or hand held mixer to beat the cream until it's stiff--it takes only a minute or two. Happy baking, Kelly!
Rachel
Great recipe! I am going to make these for Christmas gifts. How long do you think they will stay in the freezer? I would like to give them to Neighbors and just tell them to “keep in the freezer for up to three weeks and enjoy whenever” or something like that.
Emma
They should keep in the freezer for up to 1 month, as long as they're well wrapped to prevent freezer burn/odors from other foods affecting the taste.
Erin Phillips
I made this peppermint pie for Christmas, and it was delicious! Even those in my family that don't appreciate peppermint all the time, loved it! Oreo crusts are a favorite for us, so it was perfect all around. The pie is so pretty, too!
Emma
Thank you, Erin! We're so glad that you and your family enjoyed the peppermint pie so much!
Beth
The minty taste is complimented by the Oreo crust and the fluffy whipped cream. I really like frozen pies, and this one is my favorite. It has a smooth and creamy texture.
Emma
I'm glad you like this pie so much, Beth!
Alex
The Oreo crust is crunchy, and the filling is very good. The peppermint adds a very good, good flavor! I love it!
Emma
Peppermint desserts are such a nice treat at Christmas.