This Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie is a no-bake frozen dessert that delivers big, creamy peanut butter flavor in every slice. Built on a buttery Oreo cookie crust and filled with a light, mousse-like peanut butter and vanilla ice cream filling, it comes together in under 30 minutes of active prep and sets up beautifully in the freezer. Perfect for summer entertaining, birthday celebrations, or anytime you want a make-ahead dessert that genuinely impresses a crowd.
1/2cuppowdered sugarabout 60g; also called icing sugar
1tsppure vanilla extract
Optional Toppings
hot fudge saucewarmed for drizzling over individual slices
mini peanut butter cupssuch as Reese's; roughly chopped
Oreo cookiesextra; crushed, for garnish
salted roasted peanutsroughly chopped, for garnish
whipped creamfor serving
Instructions
Remove the vanilla ice cream from the freezer and let it sit on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes until it reaches a soft-serve consistency. Do not allow it to melt fully, as this will affect the texture of the finished pie.
Pulse 24 Oreo cookies in a food processor until they form fine, even crumbs, then stir in the 5 tablespoons of melted butter until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate, then freeze for 15 minutes.
In a large bowl, beat together the 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Fold in the softened vanilla ice cream in 2 to 3 additions, then gently fold in the thawed Cool Whip until just combined.
Pour the peanut butter filling into the chilled Oreo crust and smooth the top evenly with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Add any desired toppings such as crushed Oreos or chopped peanut butter cups now if you want them frozen into the pie.
Cover the pie loosely with plastic wrap and freeze for a minimum of 4 to 6 hours, or overnight for best results, until completely solid. Do not rush this step as an underchilled pie will not slice cleanly.
Let the pie rest at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing, running a sharp knife under hot water and wiping it dry between each cut. Serve topped with warm hot fudge sauce, whipped cream, and chopped peanut butter cups as desired.
Notes
Use a commercial creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. Natural peanut butters with separated oils can turn grainy or oily when frozen.
Do not over-soften the ice cream. You want a soft-serve consistency, not melted liquid. Overly melted ice cream will refreeze with an icy, dense texture.
Press the Oreo crust firmly and evenly with the bottom of a measuring cup so it holds together when sliced. A loose crust will crumble when cut.
Freeze the pie overnight rather than the minimum 4 hours for the cleanest, most stable slices.
Run your knife under hot water and wipe it dry between each cut for perfectly clean slices every time.
Add warm drizzle toppings like hot fudge or caramel sauce right before serving rather than before freezing to avoid an icy surface.
Make-ahead tip: This pie can be made up to 7 days in advance. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
For individual servings, slice the entire pie, wrap each slice in plastic wrap, and store in a freezer-safe container for easy grab-and-go portions.
Flavor variation: Substitute chocolate ice cream for vanilla for a dark chocolate-peanut butter version, or use coffee ice cream for a mocha twist.
Do not refrigerate this pie in lieu of freezing. Refrigerating will cause the filling to become soft and loose rather than firm and sliceable.