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Desserts | November 21, 2022

Peanut Butter Pie with Homemade Fudge Topping

Peanut Butter Pie has had a special place at our Thanksgiving pie table for over 20 years. It is always at the top of our family request list! Move over chocolate pie. This chocolate graham crust, peanut butter filling, thick fudge topping all in one incredibly rich dessert is guaranteed to steal the show late November.

Peanut Butter Pie with Homemade Fudge Topping

Are you a Reese’s lover? I am. If I were going to create a pie that is most like biting into my favorite candy, it would be this pie. Many chocolate peanut butter pies are light and airy, but this pie is more dense, like biting into a refrigerated slice of homemade Reese’s. It’s like one huge peanut butter cup in a pie plate!

Peanut Butter Pie with Homemade Fudge Topping

One warning, this pie is super rich. A small slice will satisfy even the most serious chocolate-peanut butter lover! One 9″ pie will easily feed 10-12. Make sure to assemble this early in the day, or better yet, the day before. Sheri’s Southern Peanut Butter Pie (original name) with Homemade Fudge Topping will keep for days in the fridge (if hidden properly).

homemade fudge topping for pie

Cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and heavy cream round out the filling line up. Baked in a homemade chocolate graham cracker crust, and topped with a simple, but decadent 4-ingredient fudge topping, this pie satisfies every chocolate peanut butter lovers wildest dreams.

Here’s why I love this pie so much. First, my SIL Sheri makes it for us every year for our annual family pie night. It’s her recipe and I haven’t tasted another quite like it! When she arrives, I immediately take a slice and place in the fridge for consumption while making Thanksgiving dinner the next day. Second, it’s the easiest pie to make. Bake the crust- which consists of crushed chocolate grahams, sugar and butter; make the peanut butter filling, assemble, chill and top with a layer of fudge. That’s it. Third, it’s distinctly different than most other pies we eat at Thanksgiving. Fourth, if you have leftovers (big IF), it keeps for days!

southern peanut butter pie

This is definitely a beginner pie. The key is to make sure the cream cheese is softened (room temperature works) to get a smooth blend on the filling. Also remember to fold, (not beat) in the whipped cream to the filling, this will give the filling a bit of a light lift instead of being super dense. I make this the day before I want to serve so it sets up properly. Also, who doesn’t want to check one more item off of the to-do list on busy days?!

refrigerator peanut butter pie

If you are a guest for Thanksgiving, pick out a pretty pie plate and give the plate to your host as a gift. You won’t have to awkwardly retrieve your pie plate when ready to leave! This pie works best in a 9 inch by 1 inch pie plate.

First posted on ABK in 2011, this pie recipe has been updated with new content, edits to the recipe and photos. Also printed in the ABK Cookbook 2022.

Peanut Butter Pie with Homemade Fudge Topping

A peanut butter chocolate dream pie! Rich peanut butter filling between a homemade chocolate graham crust and delicious homemade fudge topping. Best served cold!

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword chocolate, graham cracker crust, peanut butter, pie
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
cool, set up time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 35 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate graham crackers 10-11 crackers, crushed
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted

Filling:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (not low fat)
  • 1 cup chunky peanut butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped until stiff

Fudge topping:

  • 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rack in the center of the oven. Lightly grease a 9 inch pie plate.

for pie crust:

  1. In a food processor, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter. Pulse until well blended. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of the prepared pie plate.

  2. Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool completely.

for filling:

  1. Clean the food processor; add cream cheese, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. Process until almost smooth, leaving a few chunks of peanut butter. Gently fold in the 1 cup whipped cream and spoon the filling into the crust. Chill for at least 2 hours.

for fudge topping:

  1. In a saucepan, stir 2/3 cup whipping cream, granulated sugar, and chocolate over low heat until thickened. Remove from heat; add vanilla and stir until smooth. Let cool completely.

  2. Top peanut butter pie with fudge topping. Chill 8 hours or overnight before serving.

Recipe Notes

  • The crust will shrink when baked but will not affect the finished product. Nine chocolate graham cracker rectangles make about 1 cup of fine crumbs.
  • Whip the heavy cream for the filling before folding in, but do not whip ahead for the fudge topping. 
  • Best made with homemade crust and topping. 
  • I use a 9 inch x 1 inch pie plate. 

11 thoughts on “Peanut Butter Pie with Homemade Fudge Topping

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  1. That chocolate pie recipe calls for whipping cream into places, but whipping cream is only listed once in the recipe. How much whipping cream goes into the filling and how much goals for the fudge topping?

  2. Hi. The peanut butter pie recipe lists 2/3 cup whipping cream.
    Then the recipe says ‘fold in the whipped cream’ but the recipe does not tell you to whip it.

    Then then fudge instruction tells you to add the cream, but how much?

    Something is missing and I’m not sure what amount if cream goes into the fudge part.

    I’m looking forward to making this pie!

    Thanks,

    1. Hi Janice,
      Sorry I did not catch this earlier! Yes, the cream was left out of the filling earlier when the recipe was updated. It is now correct. 1 cup cream whipped for the filling and 2/3 for the topping Hope you love this pie!
      Xo
      Si

  3. I’d love to make this pie!! Can I get the measurements for the whipping cream? How much for the pie and how much for the fudge?! Thank you so much … it looks amazing!

  4. Can’t wait to make this one! I cannot find chocolate Graham crackers though. Apparently Honey Maid discontinued them. Any tips on where to find them or would Chocolate Teddy Graham crushed work? That seems like my only option!

    1. Hello Shari, Yes if you cant find chocolate graham crackers then any type of chocolate cookie will work: Oreos, chocolate shortbread, etc. Happy Baking!
      XO,
      Si