Candy Cane Peppermint Pie

Name: Candy Cane Peppermint Pie
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 25 Oreos; 6 Tablespoons salted butter, (melted); 2 cups heavy cream; 3/4 cup powdered sugar, (divided); 8 ounces white chocolate, (chopped); 8 ounces cream cheese, (softened); 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon peppermint extract; Red food coloring; 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy canes (or starlight mints + extra for decorating)

If you are looking for a fun and festive holiday dessert, this Candy Cane Peppermint Pie is a creamy, no-bake treat with an Oreo crust that everybody will love! Top with swirls of freshly whipped cream and broken up candy canes for an irresistible showstopper that only takes 15 minutes to whip up.

An overhead image of a candy cane peppermint pie decorated with soft peppermint striped candies, and mini candy canes.

This time of year I am all about all things peppermint. As much as I love gingerbread and eggnog, I think the red and white stripes of candy canes are my favorite flavor of the holidays. So I thought it would be fun to experiment with a peppermint cream pie!

This pie reminds me of the chocolate covered Peppermint Joe-Joe's that we get at Trader Joe's this time every year. Those things are dangerous to have around because we can't resist eating one whenever we pass through the kitchen!

It would be easy to make a peppermint ice cream pie that would be similar to this just using an Oreo crust and peppermint ice cream with some chocolate sauce drizzled on top, but I wanted something a little creamier and not frozen this time around. So I played with my no-bake cheesecake recipe and came up with this irresistibly cute red and white Christmas treat that is sure to bring smiles when friends and family see it on the dessert table.

Peppermint is one of our favorite holiday flavors! If you are candy-cane obsessed as well, be sure to try our Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies or homemade Peppermint Ice Cream next!

Why this recipe works

It's an easy no-bake pie unless you opt to make your own homemade Oreo crust. But store-bought will work just as well for this recipe.
The filling can be made in under 10 minutes and garnishing the pie takes hardly any time at all. The hardest part is waiting for the pie to chill so it can set up before slicing.
White chocolate, cream cheese, and peppermint were meant to go together. The flavors and textures are perfect for each other and make this essentially a no-bake peppermint cheesecake.

A slice of peppermint pie on a white plate in front of the whole pie.

Ingredient Notes

White chocolate: I recommend using high quality white chocolate or white chocolate chips for the best results so it melts well. The Ghiradelli white chocolate baking bars are my personal favorite.
Cream cheese: Use the kind that comes in bricks, not the kind from a tub. You will get best results with the full-fat original kind, but reduced-fat neufchatel works too.
Peppermint extract: Make sure you are using peppermint extract and not just mint extract for that classic candy cane flavor in this pie. I prefer McCormick brand peppermint extract, both in terms of flavor and convenience.
Oreos & butter: These are for making the Oreo crust, although a pre-made store-bought crust will serve just as well in this recipe that is all about making an easy but impressive Christmas dessert.

Ingredients for making a candy cane peppermint pie like Oreos, cream cheese, white chocolate, candy canes, and heavy cream.

How to Make This Recipe

Make the Oreo crust: If you are making a homemade Oreo crust rather than using a premade one, start by pulsing the Oreos in a food processor (affiliate link) until finely crushed. Don't bother to remove the creamy filling first - it helps sweeten and bind the crust. Add the melted butter and pulse again to evenly moisten the crumbs.
Shape the crust: Press the crust into a 9-inch pie plate (affiliate link) using a flat-bottomed measuring cup or glass to pack it tightly into the bottom and sides as best you can.
Set the crust: I like to bake my Oreo crust in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes so it has a little crunch, but you could just stick it in the freezer for 15 minutes to set it up before filling instead if you want this to be a truly no-bake dessert.

Oreos in a food processor to be ground up for a pie crust.

Finely ground Oreo cookie crumbs in a food processor.

Melt the white chocolate: To make the filling, you will first need to melt some white chocolate. This can be done in a heat-safe bowl set over simmering water or in the microwave, which is my preferred approach. Just heat in short 20 second bursts, stirring well between each burst, until the white chocolate has completely melted. Set aside to cool slightly.

Chopped white chocolate in a glass bowl.

Melted white chocolate in a bowl with a spoon.

Make the whipped cream: Beat the heavy cream with half of the powdered sugar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Set aside in the fridge since you will use some of it for the filling and the rest for the top of the pie.
Combine cream cheese and white chocolate: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. It helps a lot to start with cream cheese that has been allowed to sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes to soften slightly first. Add candy cane pieces, vanilla, and peppermint extract, and a drop or two of red food coloring (affiliate link) along with the melted white chocolate, then mix well.
Add ⅔ of the whipped cream: I always just eyeball this part, but add about ⅔ of the whipped cream to the pie filling and fold it in with a rubber spatula until evenly combined. Reserve the remaining ⅓ of the whipped cream in the fridge for topping the peppermint pie once it's set up.

Adding crushed candy cane pieces, vanilla, and peppermint extract to white chocolate no-bake cheesecake filling.

Folding whipped cream into peppermint cream cheese pie filling.

Fill the pie crust and chill: Transfer the filling to the prepared Oreo crust and smooth it out on top. Transfer to the fridge and chill for at least 2 hours to set up so it is firm enough to slice.
Decorate: Once the pie is chilled, you can pipe swirls of the reserved whipped cream on top around the edges. Or just plop it all in the middle and spread it out in swirls like in my Chocolate Cream Pie. Sprinkle with some additional crushed candy cane pieces or decorate with mini candy canes and soft striped peppermint candies, then slice and serve!

An Oreo pie crust filled with pink peppermint cheesecake filling.

Recipe FAQ's

How long can this pie sit out of the fridge?

The pie is sturdy enough to sit out of the fridge for 1-2 hours, but otherwise it should be stored in the fridge because of the cream cheese and whipped cream. Keep in mind that if you try to shortcut things and use Reddi-Whip or Cool Whip instead of real whipped cream, it will melt much faster and your swirls decorating the top of your pie won't hold up as well. No shade if that's the route you take, but you might want to wait and top each slice of pie just before serving in that case.

Can this pie be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze either the whole pie or individual slices. Just freeze for 2 hours to set the top of the pie, then cover it well with plastic wrap for longer term storage. Thaw overnight in the fridge or on the counter for a couple of hours before topping with whipped cream, then slicing and serving.

How long does this pie last in the fridge?

Peppermint pie will be good in the fridge for about 5 days. It's great for making a day or two ahead.

A no-bake peppermint cheesecake with an Oreo crust topped with whipped cream and candy canes.

Recipe Tips

Red food coloring (affiliate link): You really don't need much food coloring (affiliate link) to get a vivid color in this recipe. I recommend starting with a small amount - just a drop or two - and going from there.
Peppermint candy garnish ideas: There are so many good choices this time of year like Hershey's peppermint kisses, peppermint bark (either homemade or we like the Ghiradelli's squares and the Williams Sonoma tins), soft striped peppermint sticks, or actual candy canes if you want more crunch.
Variation: If you want to take things to the next level, consider adding some crushed Oreos or Trader Joe's Peppermint Joe-Joe's to the filling for an Oreo peppermint pie that is a hybrid of this recipe and my No-Bake Oreo Pie!
Chocolate ganache: If you want an even more over-the-top approach, consider heating ½ cup of heavy cream in the microwave for 1 minute, then pouring it over 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips in a bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth and pour over the top of the pie for a decadent chocolate ganache.

A slice of creamy no-bake peppermint cheesecake on a white plate.

More Peppermint Recipes

Did you make this recipe?

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