Velvety Peanut Butter Cream Pie with Flaked Sea Salt and Whipped Topping

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture, then fold in the remaining half until well combined.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.