Candy Cane Pie (Chocolate Peppermint No-Bake Recipe)

Candy Cane Pie is sweet, creamy, and full of peppermint flavor. This easy recipe is a perfect addition to your holiday baking list.

Candy Cane Pie is actually very easy to make and the perfect holiday dessert for any seasonal occasion. It uses store-bought crust, which helps with time management and the yummy peppermint flavor.

A plate of Candy Cane Pie topped with whipped cream and peppermint candy.

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Table of Contents

Why You Should Make This Peppermint Pie

Simple Ingredients – Made with just a few simple ingredients and requires no baking, what’s not to love about this Peppermint Pie?
Festive Dessert – Not only does it taste great, but it looks gorgeous. It makes for a perfect dessert after any holiday dinner or family gathering.
Easy to Make – With the easy instructions, you can whip up this easy pie without much effort at all.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Peppermint Bark Muddy Buddy recipe.

Ingredients For Candy Cane Pie

Oreo cookie crust: A sweet, crunchy base for our delicious pie, made from the all-time favorite Oreo cookies, giving a delicious chocolatey twist.
Instant chocolate pudding: This ready-to-make pudding mix adds a rich, creamy layer to the dessert, offering a delightful chocolate flavor.
Milk: Brings together the other ingredients smoothly and contributes to the creamy texture of the pudding.
Cream cheese: Adds a tangy flavor and a luxurious, velvety texture to the dessert, providing a perfect balance to the sweet elements.
Powdered sugar: Used to sweeten the recipe, it melts easily into the mixture, ensuring every bite is delightfully sweet.
Clear vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor profile of the dessert, adding a hint of warm, sweet, and woody flavor that complements the chocolate.
Whipped topping: Adds a light, fluffy layer to this easy dessert, making it more visually appealing and providing a pleasant contrast of textures.
Peppermint extract: Injects a refreshing, minty note that cuts through the richness of the chocolate, creating a well-balanced flavor.
Chocolate chips: These little bursts of chocolate lend an extra crunch and richness to the dessert, appealing to the taste buds of every chocolate lover.
Cold water: Helps in dissolving the gelatin evenly, ensuring a smooth, consistent texture in the pudding.
Unflavored gelatin: Acts as a stabilizer, helping the pudding hold its shape while maintaining its creaminess.
Heavy whipping cream: Heavy cream is used in whipping up the topping; it adds a luscious, creamy finish that makes the dessert truly indulgent.

Substitutions and Variations

Fresh whipped cream or cool whip can be used in place of the whipped topping if you prefer.
Use a graham cracker crust for a traditional twist on this Peppermint Pie recipe.
Top your Candy Cane Pie with chocolate shavings or crushed peppermint candies for a festive look.
Chopped Andes mints would also work well in this Candy Cane Pie recipe.

The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

How To Make Candy Cane Pie

Collage of mixing the ingredients for Candy Cane Pie.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the pudding mix and milk together with a hand mixer. Put in the fridge for 5 minutes to set. (Photo 1)
Take out the pudding, add the chocolate pie crust to a bowl, then add the pudding mixture on top. Smooth it, then freeze it for 2 hours. (Photo 2)

Collage of assembling the Candy Cane Pie.

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with powdered sugar. Add peppermint and vanilla extract. Fold in whipped topping and chocolate chips.
Put this mix on top of the pudding mix. Freeze for another hour. (Photo 3)
To make the whipping cream topping, put cold water and gelatin in a cold bowl. Wait for 5 minutes.
Pour heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar into a large bowl. Beat the mix on medium speed first, then high speed for 2 minutes until soft peaks appear. Put the whipping cream in a piping bag.
Pipe a star design on top of the pie. Sprinkle crushed peppermints or candy cane pieces on top. Serve it cold. (Photo 4)

A slice of Candy Cane Pie sitting on a red plate with a fork on the side.

Expert Tips

You can use crushed Andes mints in place of candy canes for a different twist.
Be sure to allow each layer to fully set before adding in the next layer.
Instead of covering your pie with plastic wrap, which can smear the whipped topping, use the top of the pan crust to keep your candy cane pie covered
When adding the chocolate pudding to the Oreo crust, ensure to spread it evenly to create a smooth base for the subsequent layers.
For a pleasant crunch, consider adding crushed Oreos to the cream cheese mixture.
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing it with the powdered sugar to avoid lumps in the filling.
Be careful not to overbeat the whipped cream. It should hold its shape but still have a soft, creamy texture.
Before serving, consider dusting the pie with a bit of cocoa powder for an added touch of chocolate flavor.

Storing Tips

Store the Candy Cane Pie in the fridge for up to five days if you can manage to not eat it all before then!

Chocolate pie topped with whipped cream and peppermint candy.

What to Serve With Candy Cane Pie

This Candy Cane Pie is a versatile dessert that pairs well with a variety of beverages and other sweet treats. A hot cup of coffee or cocoa can complement the rich, minty flavors of the pie, highlighting the sweetness and providing a comforting warmth.

If you’re looking for an extra indulgent dessert course, consider serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, as the cool creaminess would meld perfectly with the pie’s chocolatey peppermint layers. For a festive touch, a glass of eggnog can also be a delightful accompaniment.

If you’re serving a crowd, a selection of holiday cookies or a fruit platter would also pair beautifully, offering a range of flavors and textures to please everyone’s palate.

Recipe FAQs

Can I prepare Candy Cane Pie ahead of time?

Yes, you can certainly prepare Candy Cane Pie in advance. It’s a perfect dessert for this purpose, as the flavors meld together even more beautifully with time. Simply assemble the pie as instructed, cover it securely, and store it in the refrigerator. It can be made up to 2 days ahead of serving.

How can I make a homemade Oreo pie crust?

Making your own Oreo pie crust is quite simple. You’ll need about 24 Oreo cookies and 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted. First, crush the Oreos in a food processor until finely ground. Then mix in the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly coated. Press this mixture into the bottom and up the sides of your pie dish and refrigerate until set.

Can I use another type of cookie for the crust?

Yes, you can use other cookies to form the base of your Candy Cane Pie. Graham crackers, shortbread cookies, or even ginger snaps would all make delicious alternatives.

Can I use white chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate chips?

Absolutely. Using white chocolate chips can introduce a different flavor profile and color contrast to the pie. However, keep in mind that white chocolate is sweeter than regular chocolate chips, so you may want to lessen the amount of powdered sugar in the cream cheese filling to balance it out.

I don’t have unflavored gelatin; what can I use instead?

You can use Agar Agar as a plant-based alternative to unflavored gelatin. It’s a type of seaweed that acts as a thickener and gelling agent, similar to gelatin. Keep in mind that Agar Agar sets more firmly than gelatin, so you might need to adjust the measurement accordingly.

Can I use a different extract other than peppermint?

Yes, feel free to experiment with different extracts like almond, orange, or even coconut. However, peppermint is the classic flavor for Candy Cane Pie, especially around the holiday season. If you decide to use a different extract, just remember to complement the flavors with the other ingredients in the pie.

More Christmas Recipes You May Enjoy

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5 Comments

Shelby says:

December 17, 2023 at 10:57 am

This is such a festive treat for the holidays! I love that I can make it ahead of time, too. Perfect for hosting the family!

Carrie Robinson says:

December 17, 2023 at 10:54 am

I just love that this is no-bake dessert! A quick and easy sweet treat for the holidays. 🙂

Andrea says:

December 17, 2023 at 9:01 am

Yummy! This fun and festive chocolate peppermint pie is so easy to make and will be the perfect addition to my holiday dessert table.

Traci says:

December 17, 2023 at 8:56 am

What a fun holiday recipe! Candy canes by themselves don’t really hold my interest LOL. But in this dessert – omgosh it’s a match made in heaven! Great job, and thanks for sharing! We love this!

Dana says:

December 17, 2023 at 8:18 am

This is such a great idea for a pie! I love candy cane treats but I’ve always limited myself to cookies and bars. Can’t wait to make this!!! The instructions are super approachable.