10-Minute No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie: The Famous Afternoon Delight Recipe

I’ll never forget my first encounter with Afternoon Delight’s famous peanut butter pie in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After a leisurely lunch at this beloved local restaurant, my friend insisted we save room for “the best dessert in town.” When the waitress placed that perfect slice in front of me—a cloud-like peanut butter filling nestled in a chocolate cookie crust—I was skeptical that anything could live up to such hype.

One bite was all it took to convert me into a peanut butter pie evangelist. The contrast of the silky, mousse-like filling against the crisp chocolate crust created a perfect balance of textures, while the peanut butter flavor was pronounced without being overwhelmingly sweet. It was the kind of dessert that makes conversation stop mid-sentence as everyone at the table savors each bite in blissful silence.

a slice of peanut butter pie with chocolate cookie crust

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Why This No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe Will Become Your Go-To Dessert

  • Quick Preparation: Just 10 minutes of active time to create an impressive dessert
  • No Oven Required: Perfect for hot summer days when you don’t want to generate extra heat
  • Simple Ingredients: Uses common pantry staples you likely already have on hand
  • Impressive Results: Looks and tastes like it came from a high-end bakery
  • Versatile Base: Easy to customize with various toppings and mix-ins
  • Make-Ahead Friendly: Actually improves with chilling time, making it perfect for entertaining

Ingredients

  • Cream cheese – Provides the rich, tangy foundation and creamy texture that holds the pie together
  • Confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar) – Sweetens without the grittiness of granulated sugar and dissolves perfectly into the filling
  • Half and half – Adds richness while thinning the mixture to the perfect consistency
  • Vanilla extract – Enhances the overall flavor profile with its warm, aromatic notes
  • Peanut butter – The star ingredient that delivers that signature nutty flavor (use creamy for the smoothest texture)
  • Whipping cream – Creates the light, mousse-like texture that makes this pie so luxurious
  • Chocolate cookie crust or graham cracker crust – Provides the perfect crunchy contrast to the creamy filling
Afternoon Delight Peanut Butter Pie Ingredients

How to Make Peanut Butter Pie

Combine cream cheese, sugar, half and half, peanut butter, and vanilla using an electric mixer.

peanut butter pie filling in a mixing bowl

In a separate bowl, whip cream in a chilled bowl until stiff.

whipped cream in a mixing bowl

Fold whipped cream into peanut butter mixture.

Place filling into the pie crust.

Refrigerate until serving.

Slice and enjoy a creamy and fluffy peanut butter pie.

a slice of peanut butter pie and a fork on a plate
a slice of peanut butter pie with chocolate cookie crust

Famous Afternoon Delight Peanut Butter Pie

This creamy, fluffy no-bake peanut butter pie is inspired by the legendary dessert from Ann Arbor's Afternoon Delight restaurant. With just minutes of prep time and simple ingredients, you can create this impressive dessert that's perfect for any occasion!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pie Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 441kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
  • 1/3 cup half and half
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
  • 1 Chocolate cookie crust or graham cracker crust – use the already prepared 9-inch pie shell

Instructions

  • Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, sugar, cream, vanilla, and peanut butter. Chill a small bowl and beaters in the freezer. Whip the cream until very stiff in the chilled bowl. Add one-third of the whipped cream to the peanut butter mixture and fold into remaining whipped cream. Spoon into the chocolate pie crust or graham cracker crust.   Keep the pie refrigerated until you are ready to serve, and store the pie in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 785IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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More Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes

Check out my easy pies and homemade dessert recipes.

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenny Wade

    Is it possible to use a frozen whipped topping (i.e. Cool Whip) in place of whipping cream? If so, how much – would an 8 oz. tub be enough?

  2. Judy

    I just discovered you! I read through the top 100 and said to myself, “I think she’s in the Houston area.” Read you bio and was thrilled that you are! After many years in Houston we moved to Colorado (Texas in another life). Have you ever eaten at Kasra, a Persian restaurant? They have a garlic hummus that is to die for. Also a basmati rice with Sour cherries, cranberries, almonds and pistachios that are excellent. Everything there is delicious and the flavors are well balanced. I think you would enjoy it immensely. I used to get their hummus and serve it at holidays, too. Everyone loved it especially those who think they don’t like hummus! Enjoying your blog. Thank you.

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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