This copycat version of the viral Costco chocolate peanut butter pie might just be better than the original, (not that I’ve had it) because it’s vegan! That pie is 5 pounds but this recipe is for a regular sized pie. From the graham cracker crust to the creamy layer of peanut butter and chocolate-marshmallow topping, it’s a delight in every bite.
I was intrigued by this pie because I love everything chocolate and peanut butter and it looked pretty simple to make especially if you start with a premade graham cracker crust like I did. There’s a layer of a no bake cheesecake like peanut butter filling at the bottom and then a chocolate ganache like layer on top with more peanut butter filling piped on top. Delicious.
As I’ve never had the original I had to scour the internet for other copycat recipes and they varied somewhat in their preparation but most had the cream cheese peanut butter layer. The chocolate layer was a little more complicated as some were straight up ganache, some had more cream cheese and some incorporated marshmallows into it. I’ve made a similar type of pie filling for my s’mores pie so I went this route as even vegan marshmallows help the filling set even without gelatin. The sweetness of this layer will depend on the chocolate you use. If you use a vegan milk chocolate it will be very sweet, a semisweet chocolate will make it less sweet and bittersweet chocolate will be the least sweet. I used a bit of bitter and semisweet as I like the combo of both.
It’s a pretty simple process of adding each layer then piping the decoration on top but I let each layer set a bit before adding the other. You can serve this with whipped cream or just as is but it’s rich so a small slice should suffice unless you’re like me and will have two probably. I just served this to omni friends at a party and every single person thought it was amazing and said they would never have known it was vegan, enjoy!
Vegan Copycat Costco Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
12
servings30
minutesA delicious and decadent vegan copycat recipe for the viral chocolate peanut butter pie sold at Costco!
Ingredients
1 prepared graham cracker crust (see notes)
- Peanut Butter Layer
1 cup creamy peanut butter (see notes)
8 oz vegan cream cheese (see notes)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup vegan heavy cream (cold, whipped – see notes)
- Chocolate Layer
2 cups mini vegan marshmallows (approx. one 10 oz bag)
1 cup vegan heavy cream (divided with 1/4 cup needed first, then 3/4 cup whipped)
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 cup chocolate (semisweet, bittersweet or a combination – see notes)
Directions
- In a medium sized bowl, mix the peanut butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt with a hand or stand mixer until combined. Add the whipped cream and keep mixing until completely combined and silky smooth. Spread about half the mixture into the prepared crust and even out with a knife or offset spatula. Reserve the extra for the swirled decoration on top. Let the layer set in the fridge for about a half hour or more.
- For the chocolate layer, place the marshmallows, 1/4 cup vegan cream and salt in a microwave safe bowl and cook in 30 second intervals until they’re almost melted. Add the chocolate and mix until completely melted and combined. Set aside until cool to the touch (about a half hour). Whip the remaining 3/4 cup cream and blend into the chocolate mixture until completely combined scraping down the bowl as needed.
- Spread the chocolate layer over the peanut butter layer and smooth out. Let set for an hour or preferably overnight.
- Using a pastry bag and a large shell or star tip, pipe swirls of the peanut butter mixture around the edges of the pie. You could also dollop with a spoon if you don’t have a pastry bag. Cut into slices and serve and refrigerate leftovers.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Many graham cracker crusts are vegan but it can be hard to find plain ones to make your own. There are hundreds if not thousands of recipes online for basic graham cracker crusts if you can’t find a prepared one.
- It’s best to use a creamy not natural style peanut butter for this recipe. If you avoid those types of peanut butter just know the texture may suffer.
- I use a thick style vegan cream cheese like Tofutti or Violife. A thinner or whipped style may not be the best choice for this recipe.
- You can use a vegan whipping cream, or a tub of vegan whipped topping. I’m not sure coconut cream would work as I haven’t tested it. I used Country Crock plant cream but Violife and Silk also make vegan heavy creams that whip.
- The sweeter the chocolate you use, the sweeter the chocolate layer will be. I prefer a less sweet layer so I used half semi and half bittersweet chocolate. You could use a vegan milk chocolate too but I feel that would be the sweetest option and I wouldn’t advise that.
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This is sooooooo GOOD!!!! I love how easy it was to put together and how freaktastik amazeballs this is!!! I could go on about this pie but ummm…it’s calling my name and I need to go back fir another slice. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Haha best review EVER! Lol
Made this recipe and followed notes for using violife and country crock plant cream. This pie is obscenely sweet. If I could remake it I would forgo the chocolate layer instructions for just plain melted chocolate.
Sorry it wasn’t to your liking. I mention a number of times that the sweetness of the chocolate used affects the chocolate layer greatly so using a bittersweet or 70%+ cacao chocolate would make it much less sweet. None of my taste testers or other reviewers have found it too sweet but everyone has their own tolerance so seems this just isn’t for you. Thanks for the feedback!
Amazing – it looked delicious but tasted even better!! I will definitely be making this again. I had it for a Halloween party and non-vegans loved it and were asking for seconds. Highly recommend- make this immediately!
Thank you so much for the kind review and I’m so glad it was a hit!
This is super easy and a great option for people who, like myself, don’t really like to bake. It is rich and sweet but in the best way. I used trader joes’ new vegan heavy whipping cream and it worked great along with their marshmallows and choc chips. Delicious!
Love that you used all those Trader Joe’s items! Thanks so much for taking the time to review, I appreciate it!
I made this for a game night at my house. I was the only vegan present……I wasn’t sure how the “meat eaters” would like it. They loved it. I really came here to say…….this is my go-to “fancy” dessert from now on. Also…….I had a couple of pieces left over……about 4 days later, I wanted a piece and I wasn’t sure how the pie had held up in the fridge. It was perfect. It had not become soggy or “weepy” like standard cream pies do. It was the same as the first day. Just FYI.
LOVE THIS! Yes! It stays so great in the fridge it’s true! Thanks for the wonderful review, I really appreciate it.
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