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Peppermint Pie ~ light and fluffy, simple and sweet, with all the flavors of the holiday season!
Place the entire 9 ounce package (minus one or two) of chocolate wafer cookies in the food processor.
Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie place lightly greased with Pam. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7-8 minutes. Allow the crust to cool to room temperature while preparing the filling.
Place the peppermints in a large Ziploc bag. I took mine out to the garage and used a hammer to crush them on the concrete floor. Crush extra for the garnish.
The filling is made from heavy whipping cream, unflavored gelatin, cool water, crushed peppermints and peppermint extract.
Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water and set aside.
Allow the mixture to soften while preparing the filling.
In a small saucepan add 1/2 cup whipping cream.
Add the crushed peppermints to the heavy whipping cream and cook on low heat until the candy melts.
If you crushed the candy into small pieces this will not take long. This candy turned the cream a bright pink color. If using Bob’s brand peppermint it may turn a brownish-pink color. This is fine too. Once the candy is melted, add the gelatin mixture and peppermint extract and stir to combine. Cool this mixture until room temperature but be sure to watch it carefully. You don’t want it to become set like Jell-O.
In a separate bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the mixtures together until almost completely blended.
Pour the filling into the cooled chocolate crust and spread evenly.
Refrigerate until set (about two hours). Decorate the top of the pie with additional whipped cream and crush peppermints if desired. (Wrapping paper optional 🙂
A pepperminty fresh taste without sugar overload which seems strange since it’s covered in crushed candy!
This is a photogenic pie so I took advantage of the daylight to play with the camera.
Thanks for PINNING!
Peppermint Pie Recipe
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 (9-ounce) package chocolate wafer cookies
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
- 1 (.25-ounce) package plain gelatin (about 2 ¼ teaspoons)
- ¼ cup cold water
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
- 1 cup crushed soft peppermint candy, plus extra for garnish
For the garnish:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ⅓ cup sifted powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla or peppermint extract
- Crushed peppermint
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Add the chocolate cookies and granulated sugar to a food processor and pulse until crushed to a fine crumb. Add the melted butter and pulse until mixed. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with Pam. Gently press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.
- In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over the cold water and set aside to soften. Measure ½ cup whipping cream in a small saucepan. Add 1 heaping cup of the crushed peppermint candy. Cook over low heat until all the candy is melted. Remove from the heat and add the softened gelatin and peppermint extract. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Don't allow the mixture to cool too long and become set.
- Beat 1 ½ cups of heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the peppermint mixture into the whipped cream until almost blended. Spread the filling into the pie crust and refrigerate until set - about 2 hours.
- Garnish with additional sweetened whipped cream and crushed peppermints as desired. The extra crushed peppermint adds a good sweet crunch to this pie without making it overly sweet. Garnish away!
Recipe Notes
- (adapted from a recipe by Paula Dean)
Nutrition
Charles Chamberlain
This recipe should be the standard for this dessert, which my mother made way back in the late1930’s. She called it a “company dessert”. I got to grind up the peppermint candy canes off the Christmas tree in the old cast iron meat grinder. She only made this for New Year’s. Today I use the food processor. The difference in the recipes is that we use hard Star Brite peppermints , and skip the cooking part. Subtle differences.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Charles. Happy Holidays!
Susan
I really want this pie to turn out like the one in your picture. I’m making this for Christmas. Can you please let me know if you added red food coloring to your peppermint mixture because in the picture where you added the peppermint mixture to the whipped cream, it is dark red, but in the previous picture when it was melting, it was more pink. If red food coloring was used, please include the amount and type (gel or liquid). Thanks so much! Hope mine turns out as pretty as your pie.
Tricia Buice
Hi Susan. No I did not add any food color. I would have added it to the directions if I had. One of the pictures shows the peppermints still melting. The one where it’s being poured into the whipped cream shows the cream and candy mixture after it was fully melted. If you don’t think it is pink enough, feel free to add a drop or two of gel food color. Enjoy!
Susan
Did you add red food coloring to the peppermint mixture because your photo of the peppermint mixture when added to the whipped cream is very dark red compared to the previous picture of the melted candy in the cream which is more pink? If so, please include type of food coloring (gel or liquid) and amount of red food coloring you used in the recipe. Thank you.
Tricia Buice
Hi Susan. No I did not. The color came from the peppermint candy. Enjoy!
Debbie Hopwood
I was wondering if you can make this ahead of time and freeze until Christmas?
Tricia Buice
Hi Debbie. I think it would freeze very well. Enjoy!
gretchen garners
thanks so much! great recipe, just what i was looking for and i enjoyed your writing style as well. you’ve inspired me ?
Tricia Buice
Thanks Gretchen!
Victoria
I got all the information I need to know on how to cook this peppermint pie thanks. It was very help full. Thanks again and here to happy cooking.
Tricia Buice
I hope you enjoyed the pie Victoria. Thanks!
Donie
I made this for a party. Just changed a couple of things to cut down on carbs ( I know it still had the peppermint candies). I used an almond flour nut crust, Swerve and doubled the filling recipe for a 9×13 pan. It was delicious. Thanks for the recipe
Tricia Buice
Thanks Donie! So happy this worked out for you.
Toni McWilliams
I made this because I love peppermint. It was wonderful. Thank you for sharing. One question… can it be made with other candies? Thanks again.
Tricia Buice
Hi Toni – great question! However I have not made this pie with other candies so I can’t say for sure. I think you’ll need something that melts like soft peppermints and I can’t think of anything comparable at the moment. Let us know if you try other flavors. I’m sure our readers would love hear if it was successful 🙂
Shawna
This pie was so good!! Even people that aren’t crazy about mint loved the fresh light taste of this pie. It is now a holiday favorite every year.
I used peppermint bark oreos for the crust.
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much for the feedback Shawna! I hope you have a fantastic holiday season. Best wishes 🙂
Summer
I’m so excited to make this for Christmas dessert but I can’t find soft candies anywhere. Do you think it would work with hard candies?
Tricia Buice
Hi Summer. I don’t think this will work with hard candies. If you are near a Cracker Barrel restaurant, they carry these soft peppermints. You can also get them on Amazon – just search soft peppermint puffs. Good luck and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Dianna
I found soft peppermint sticks at Dollar Tree.
Tricia Buice
Great shopping tip Dianna. Thank you!
Shirley Saeger
I always get the mints at Walgreens. I have found them at Walmart too, but I like the ones from Walgreens better. Good luck!
Julie Sullivan
This looks and sounds delicious and I plan to make it soon. I am wondering if it freezes well since I would like to make it in advance. Thanks!
Tricia Buice
Hi Julie. I have not tried freezing this pie so I’m not sure. My guess is that it will be fine. I would wait to add any crushed candy decorations until ready to serve. Good luck and enjoy!
Sam Wilson
This looks just like Paula Deen’s recipe for Peppermint Pie (which is delicious)! I made this years ago (2004…I think) and everyone loved it. I think I may have to make it again this year!
https://www.pauladeen.com/recipe/peppermint-pie/
Tricia Buice
It is Paula’s recipe Sam – I noted that on the printable recipe card. We loved it too – enjoy!
Jodie
Can Oreo cookies be used for the crust?
Tricia Buice
Yes I think that would work! I don’t have a recipe using Oreos but if you do, I’m sure it would be delicious. Happy holidays!
Tamie
We made this today – SOOOO good! Thank you for the recipe.
Tricia Buice
That’s wonderful Tamie! Thanks for letting us know. We appreciate you trying our recipes and for leaving a comment that will help other readers too. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
jennifer899396
Made this for Christmas. We loved it. Beautiful and delish recipe! Thank you.
jennifer899396
I made this for Christmas. A beautiful and absolutely delish recipe! Thank you.<br />
Debby Foodiewife
I love this! It looks creamy, and dreamy, and delicious. So glad I stumbled onto your blog.
Anonymous
Nice that you want us to follow you on Pinterest…… But where is the link to Pinterest for the recipe ??
Debby Foodiewife
Do you not have the "pin it" button on your browser? That would solve the whole problem. I just hit it, select the photo and it's pinned on my board. Easy peasy.
The Food Hunter
how pretty!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE
Alright Tricia, you need to open a pie shop. I would be the first in line!
Angie's Recipes
What a stunning pie to complete the pie project! Congratulations!<br />Happy New Year 2012 with lots of hope, joy and happiness!<br />Angie
Stella B's Kitchen
Great job! I've enjoyed your series so much and am also feeling sad it's done. I look forward to the pies every Monday!! Thank you for taking on this challenge and sharing it with all of us here.<br />~Stella B's Kitchen
Anna and Liz Recipes
Congratulations you did it! Job well done! This pie looks delish and very appealing too! thanks for sharing such great recipes! 🙂 Anna and Liz
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow
Tricia, I know it must be kind of bittersweet to be at the end of the 52 Pie Project! You did an amazing job and I have enjoyed seeing your beautiful pies and reading your posts every week. I can't wait to see what you will be up to in 2012!! Best of all to you and yours! blessings ~ Tanna<br />ps this peppermint pie is almost too PRETTY to eat!! GORGEOUS (great photos!!!)!
Chatty Crone
Oh my goodness that looks like I've died and gone to Heaven. Do you eat all these and if so how do you stay so thin??? sandie