When it come to pie recipes, there are three elements that immediately rope me in: 1) peanut butter 2) chocolate 3) no-bake. Sold -- just tell me how to get started. This recipe has all three of these magical elements -- plus it's grain-free and low carb! Also, unlike other so-called "no bake" recipes that require you use a pre-baked crust, this pie features a bake-free, fudge-like chocolate almond crust. So give your oven a rest and make this rich, decadent, and surprisingly simple PB cream cheese pie.
![No-bake low-carb peanut butter cream cheese pie with a chocolate almond crust, garnished with sugar-free ganache, whipped cream, and peanut-butter cup.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/a0f319bb-c6ac-4695-a220-55b00f269ffb.jpg)
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Things You'll Need
1 cup blanched almond flour
¼ cup melted butter
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 or 2 pinches of salt
20 ounces cream cheese
1 cup creamy salted peanut butter
½ cup heavy cream
¾ cup powdered sweetener plus ⅛ cup for crust (I prefer Swerve)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Optional toppings: sugar-free semi-sweet chocolate, sugar-free ganache, sugar-free chocolate peanut butter cups (see recipe below for brand suggestions)
Prepare the Crust
Step 1
In a large bowl, mix the almond flour, butter, cocoa powder, and salt until moist and crumbly. It's easiest to use your hands.
![Mixing ingredients for gluten-free no-bake chocolate almond crust by hand.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/b1b663c2-88a9-42db-beee-41a51605bd9c.jpg)
Step 2
Put crumbly mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and press into the pan evenly to form a crust about ⅛ of an inch thick.
![Pressing no-bake gluten free chocolate almond crust into pie pan.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/602f6606-a8d4-4a71-ad3f-957d8f96341d.jpg)
Tip
This recipe yields a fudge-brownie like crust that’s soft but holds its shape after setting. If you’d like a firmer crust and are not averse to a little bit of baking, you can throw it in the oven at 350° Fahrenheit for about 8 minutes and allow to cool before pouring in your filling.
Step 3
Chill your pie crust in the fridge while you make your filling.
![Gluten free chocolate almond no-bake pie crust.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/de2b23d7-d4a1-487d-8775-871b77aaf765.jpg)
Make the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Filling
Step 1
In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, salted peanut butter, heavy cream, powdered sweetener, and vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer to blend until smooth, thick, and creamy.
![Mixing ingredients for no-bake peanut butter cream cheese pie filling.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/27d5f023-ebaa-42b1-a904-74e012b0c0c3.jpg)
Step 2
Put your filling into your prepared pie crust, then even out the top with a spatula.
![Pouring filling for no-bake peanut butter cream cheese pie into prepared pie crust.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/530c4fd6-ccf2-4d94-9570-72cf4148b302.jpg)
![Evening out the top of pie filling for no-bake peanut butter cream cheese pie into prepared pie crust.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/7ef66560-8f17-4971-acce-ba798528107b.jpg)
Step 3
This is an optional step, but will bump your presentation up a notch. Take a piece of sugar-free semi-sweet chocolate and grate your desired amount over the top of your pie, concentrating on the center.
![Grating sugar-free semi-sweet chocolate over peanut butter cream cheese pie.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/5d0e20ee-0f4b-4709-a3d3-0820ca88184b.jpg)
Step 4
Chill your pie in the fridge for about 2 hours to set, and it's ready to enjoy!
![No-bake peanut butter cream cheese pie -- chilled and ready to eat or further garnish.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/89d84d28-08ed-4e42-8e47-5a39f8265875.jpg)
Additional Toppings (Optional)
Although your pie looks (and tastes!) fab as is, you can choose to further gussy up your pie (or individual slices just before serving, like I did) by drizzling some sugar-free ganache over the top. (Find a recipe for ganache here -- simply sub regular bittersweet chocolate with a sugar-free version, like ChocoPerfection, to keep your pie low carb.)
![Drizzling ganache over no-bake low carb peanut butter cream cheese pie.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/4d697cc7-a9a3-4e0b-b1a8-acdb7892ce2b.jpg)
For an even more dressed-up slice, add a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream, and/or insert a half of a sugar-free chocolate peanut butter cup (I used Russell Stover brand).
![No-bake low carb peanut butter cream cheese pie with ganache, whipped cream, and peanut butter cup.](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/20282542-d185-420e-b31d-4f3178d45517.jpg)
Voilà! All the rich, peanut-buttery goodness your heart desires without any of the baking or the carbs. Can't beat it.