Ingredients:
For the Pie:
- 1 9-inch pie crust (pre-baked and cooled)
- 1¼ cups creamy peanut butter (not natural type)
- 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups whipping cream (or Cool Whip)
For the Topping:
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- Flaked sea salt
Instructions:
- Start with a 9-inch pie crust. You can make your own or use a store-bought crust; just be sure to blind bake it according to the package instructions and let it cool.
- For the filling, mix together the creamy peanut butter, room temperature cream cheese, salt, and powdered sugar in a medium bowl until the mixture is smooth and lump-free.
- In a separate bowl, whip the whipping cream with a mixer on high speed until you achieve stiff peaks. If you prefer, you can substitute this step with Cool Whip.
- Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture, then fold in the remaining half until well combined.
- Pour the creamy peanut butter filling into the cooled pie crust. Smooth the surface and refrigerate to set, ideally for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results.
- For the crumbly peanut butter topping, combine 2 tablespoons of peanut butter with ¼ cup of powdered sugar, using a fork to mix until it reaches a crumbly consistency.
- Once the pie is chilled and set, top it with a generous layer of whipped cream. Sprinkle the peanut butter crumbles over the whip cream and finish with a pinch of flaked sea salt for a savory touch.
Notes:
- This pie pairs beautifully with a graham cracker crust as an alternative to the traditional pie crust.
- If you like, prepare a batch of homemade whipped cream to spread over the pie before serving, or use a pre-made whipped cream for convenience.
- Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature for seamless blending into the filling.
To Serve:
- Present this peanut butter cream pie as a luxurious dessert that offers a decadent mix of sweet and salty flavors, crowned with a cloud of whipped cream and the delicate crunch of peanut butter crumbles. It's a sumptuous treat that's sure to please any peanut butter aficionado.
