Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

Name: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie
Prep time: 3 h 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: PT-481160H36M48S
Ingredients: 1 1/2 Cups (171g | 6 Ounces) Fine Pretzel Crumbs; 3 Tablespoons Dark or Light Brown Sugar; 1/2 Cup (113g | 1 Stick) Unsalted Butter, melted; 4 Ounces (113g) Milk Chocolate or Semi-Sweet Chocolate, finely chopped; 1/2 Cup (113g) Heavy Cream; 8 Ounces (227g) Full-Fat Cream Cheese Block, room temp; 1 Cup (270g) Regular Peanut Butter like Jif or Skippy (not natural); 1 1/4 Cup (141g) Powdered Sugar; 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract; 1 Cup (227g) Heavy Cream, cold; 2 Cups (473g | 1 Pint) Heavy Cream, cold; 3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

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This Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie is a salty and sweet dessert that's hard to resist! A beautiful layered pie featuring a salty buttery pretzel crust, with layers of chocolate ganache, creamy peanut butter filling and fresh whipped cream.

A close up cross section of a slice of Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

Can we just take a moment to appreciate these layers? 😍 This chocolate peanut butter pretzel pie truly is the dreamiest.

The pretzel crust is buttery, salty and bakes up crisp with notes of caramel from the dark brown sugar. The chocolate ganache layer is silky smooth. The peanut butter filling is made with cream cheese and a generous amount of peanut butter and whips up ulta creamy with a mousse-like texture. It's very similar to my no-bake cheesecakes. The thick layer of fresh whipped cream is a must as it lightens up this decadent pie and looks so impressive. A showstopper of a dessert, guaranteed to wow your family and guests.

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♡ Why You Will Love This Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie
Ingredients Notes
Step-By-Step Instructions
💡 Tip
💡 Tip
Substitutions
Variations
Key Equipment
Storage
✨ Expert Tips
FAQs
You May Also Like
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♡ Why You Will Love This Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

Flavor. Who doesn't love a good salty and sweet combo? The crust is buttery and salty and the filling is perfectly sweetened and full of peanut butter flavor! If you're a huge fan of peanut butter, definitely check out my Brown Butter Peanut Butter Cookies or No-Bake Snickers Cheesecake Bars.
Can easily be made ahead. Prep it 3 days ahead and make the whipped topping the day you plan on serving it. It's perfect for birthdays, parties, potlucks and holiday get togethers.
Quick and SO easy to make. This is nearly a no-bake recipe, with the exception of the pretzel crust. It gets baked for just 10 minutes to get nice and crisp. The rest of the components don't require any baking and comes together quickly.

Plate with half eaten Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

Ingredients Notes

Here are some notes about all the ingredients used in this Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie. Quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card below!

Pretzel Pie Crust

Salted Pretzels - You can use any pretzel shape, as these will be crushed. Make sure they are salted as well!
Unsalted Butter - Not only does it add flavor, it also helps the crust bind together, and makes it crispy when baked.
Dark Brown Sugar - A tiny bit of sugar is added to the crust to add a touch of sweetness to balance the salty pretzels.

Chocolate Ganache

Chocolate - I'm using a 60% chocolate, but you can use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate as the pie is not very sweet. However, I recommend sticking with a chocolate bar rather than chocolate chips because they don't melt as easily.
Heavy Cream - Helps create a creamy and decadent filling.

Peanut Butter Mousse Filling

Cream Cheese - Use full-fat cream cheese brick for best results. Do not use whipped or cream cheese spread.
Regular Peanut Butter (not natural) - Use a conventional peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy. You can use smooth or chunky peanut butter.
Powdered Sugar - Also known as confectioners' sugar or icing sugar.
Vanilla Extract - You can also use vanilla paste.
Heavy Cream - Helps thicken the filling.

Fresh Whipped Cream

Heavy Cream - Make sure your cream is COLD.
Powdered Sugar - We will lightly sweeten the whipped cream with a little bit of powdered sugar.
Vanilla Extract - For flavor.

*See recipe card for quantities.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Here are step-by-step photos and instructions on how to make this Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie! Please find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Food processor with crust pretzel crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter is being drizzled in

Step 1: Make Pretzel Crust - Finely pulse pretzels and in food processor fitted with an ‘S’ blade. Add brown or white sugar and melted butter and the pulse until combined. It should resemble wet sand.

Hand pressing pretzel crust into pie pan

Step 2: Bake Crust - Transfer crumbs into a 9-inch pie pan and press into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely.

💡 Tip

If you are pressed for time, allow crust to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes and then place in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Bowl with chopped chocolate and hot heavy cream

Step 3: Make Ganache Layer - Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan until simmering. Add finely chopped chocolate into a heatproof bowl and submerge completely with the hot cream. Let stand, untouched for 4 to 5 minutes and then gently stir until combined.

Step 4: Add Ganache Layer - Pour chocolate ganache into the bottom of your cooled crust. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes and allow to set.

💡 Tip

We want to make sure the chocolate ganache layer is firm before adding the peanut butter filling to prevent it from sinking to the bottom of the pie.

Bowl of cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and vanilla

Step 5: Make Filling - Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, add room temperature cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed until combined. About 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed.

Electric mixer beating heavy cream into peanut butter filling.

Step 6: With the mixer on medium speed, slowly drizzle heavy cream into the peanut butter mixture until combined. Mixture should be thick and silky.

Spatula spreading Peanut Butter filling into pie

Step 7: Add Peanut Butter Filling - Remove crust from the fridge and spread filling into your crust. Return to the fridge and allow to set for at least 2 hours before serving.

Step 8: Make Whipped Topping - In a large bowl, add cold heavy cream and sifted powdered sugar. With a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip on medium speed until you get medium to stiff peaks. Do not overmix!

Step 9: Top & Serve - Remove pie from the fridge and top with whipped cream and decorate with any toppings you'd like. I added chocolate shavings. Serve and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie with two missing slices

Substitutions

Pretzels 🥨- No pretzels? No problem! Try graham crackers, Oreo cookies, Nutter Butter Cookies, digestive biscuits or Biscoff cookies.
Brown Sugar - I recommend using dark brown sugar because it makes the crust taste like caramel when baked, but you can use light brown sugar or white sugar.
Peanut Butter 🥜 - If you're out of peanut butter or unable to consume peanuts, try using cookie butter or Nutella instead! You'll need to decrease the powdered sugar quantity by half though.
Chocolate - I'm using a 60% chocolate, but you can use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate as the pie is not very sweet. However, I recommend sticking with a chocolate bar rather than chocolate chips because they don't melt as easily.

Variations

Swirl It! - Try swirling the chocolate ganache into the peanut butter filling for a fun twist.
Make a Chocolate Whipped Cream - If you're a huge chocolate lover like I am, top it with a chocolate whipped cream. The recipe could not be any easier and can be found in our delicious Black Forest Eton Mess recipe!
Make a Chocolate Pudding - You can replace the chocolate ganache layer with a store bought chocolate pudding.
Add-Ins - Try adding in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, peanut butter chips or toffee bits right into the peanut butter filling.
Additional Toppings - Drizzle the top with melted peanut butter, salted caramel or melted chocolate or all 3!! You can also top it with Peanut Butter Cups, peanut butter chips or honey roasted peanuts!
Make it Gluten-Free - Use gluten-free pretzels for a gluten-free version.

Key Equipment

Food Processor or Grinder - To make the crust. If you don't have a food processor, you can place the pretzels in a large ziploc bag and crush it with a rolling pin or mallet. You'll just want it as fine as possible.
Bowls - For the filling, chocolate ganache and whipped topping.
Electric Mixer - You'll need an electric mixer for making the filling and whipped cream.
Standard 9x2 inch Pie Pan (not an affiliate link)
Small Pot - For if you're heating the cream on the stove for the ganache.

Storage

Refrigerator - Store your chocolate peanut butter pretzel pie in an airtight container in the fridge 4 days.

✨ Expert Tips

Crush the pretzel crumbs as fine as you can. Some coarse pieces are okay, but keep in mind that it will be harder to slice through and it falls apart more easily.

Soften Cream Cheese to room temperature. It will help create a smooth and creamy texture.

Use Conventional Peanut Butter, such as Jif or Skippy for best results. Natural peanut butter separates and is not ideal for this pie.

Use fresh pretzels. You can taste when it's stale and it won't be as crisp.

Use "Heavy Cream" for a sturdier whipped topping. Heavy cream has a higher percentage of milk fat than in "whipping cream." When whipped, heavy cream holds its shape for much longer and is more firm. However, either one will work. You will need a total of 3 ½ cups (1 ½ pints) of heavy Cream for this recipe.

FAQs

Can I make this chocolate peanut butter pretzel pie ahead?

You can make this pie 3 days in advanced. Just make the whipped cream right before serving.

Can I make this without a pie plate?

Yes you can! You can use a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan or 9-inch (23cm) square pan.

What's the difference between conventional and natural peanut butter?

Conventional or "no stir" peanut butter, such as Jif or Skippy contains sugar and hydrogenated fats to keep it from separating. Natural peanut butter only contains peanuts and possibly salt and naturally separates.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes! Use gluten free pretzels.

Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie with milk bottle in the back

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