Peanut butter pie (thing)

I think the idea of a pie with peanut butter scares quite a few people. They assume the pie will be incredibly rich and thick and gritty just like plain peanut butter. This pie is actually very light and fluffy, like I imagine a fluffernutter sandwich would be. (Well, forget that notion. mkb states that fluffernutters are heavy and sticky also.) I like using a crust made from chocolate cookies and dousing the top with hot fudge sauce simply because peanut butter and chocolate go so well together.

This is an easy no-bake recipe, so it's ideal in the summer when turning on the oven transforms your house into a reasonable approximation of Hell.

Makes one 9 inch pie

Assemble!

• half an 8 oz. package of cream cheese -- low-fat can be substituted, but avoid the fat-free stuff like the plague.
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter -- you can use creamy or chunky depending on the consistency of pie you want. I use natural peanut butter because it has a better peanut flavor.
• 1/2 cup milk -- whole, low-fat, or non-fat
• half a 16 oz. container of Cool Whip or generic version. anthropod chastises me, look: "No, not cool whip!! Make your own from whipping cream!!" I agree this is better if you have the time.
• one 9 inch pie crust made from chocolate cookies -- I take the easy route and use a store bought version, but you can certainly make your own.
• chocolate syrup or hot fudge sauce, homemade or bought

Create!

• In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer or a spoon to blend together the cream cheese and the powdered sugar. Add the peanut butter and milk and mix everything until it is smooth. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the Cool Whip.
• Spoon the filling into the pie crust. Pour the chocolate syrup or hot fudge sauce over the filling.
• Cover the pie and place it in the freezer. Leave it for at least an hour to firm up the pie so it is easier to cut. Serve immediately and keep leftovers in the freezer.

There are tons of variations that I can think of for this recipe. Some are:

• Substitute a plain graham cracker crust for the chocolate crust. Better yet, substitute a nut crust for added nutty flavor and texture.
• Add thinly sliced ripe banana to the peanut butter cream filling. Garnish with more bananas on top.
• Add some strawberry jam or grape jelly on top of the filling and gently swirl it in.
• Top the pie with roasted, honey roasted, chocolate covered, or even toffee glazed peanuts.
• Add pieces of Snickers, Mr. Goodbar, or Butterfinger candy bars to the filling and on top.