This no-bake peanut butter lush dessert features a chocolate cookie crust, creamy peanut butter cheesecake, hidden peanut butter cups, and a silky chocolate mousse topping. It’s an easy make-ahead treat perfect for holidays and gatherings!
I made this dessert just yesterday for our Christmas dinner, and everyone absolutely loved it. In fact, I set the pan of dessert right on the dining room table to photograph with the Christmas tree lights glowing behind it, so you can have it right away if you need something quick, too!
I’m sharing the recipe first so you can save it easily. Be sure to scroll below it for my tips, shortcuts, and a few helpful notes before you make it yourself.
A Little Story Behind This Peanut Butter & Chocolate Dessert Recipe
My sister highly recommended this dessert after she made it for her family’s Thanksgiving dinner. The original recipe comes from one of my favorite food bloggers. I made a few small tweaks, especially swapping in homemade stabilized whipped cream instead of store-bought whipped topping, and it was a definite hit with the family!
A Few Helpful Tips for This Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert
- Short on time? You can absolutely use store-bought whipped topping instead of homemade. Let it soften slightly so it’s easy to fold into each layer.
- Pan size: This recipe was originally made in a 9×9 pan, but I used a larger one (7.5 x 12 in), and it still filled beautifully.
- Rich and filling: This is a very rich dessert, so smaller pieces are perfect. A little goes a long way.
- Perfect for special occasions: This is a wonderful make-ahead dessert for holidays, dinner parties, or family gatherings.
More No-Bake Dessert Recipes
- This Mocha Dessert Recipe is also a make-ahead layered refrigerator dessert, perfect for special occasions.
- A no-bake original scotcheroos recipe is a special treat everyone loves.
- Peanut butter chocolate and oatmeal no-bake cookies are a wonderful solution when you’re short on time!
No Bake Oreo Peanut Butter Lush Dessert
This no-bake peanut butter lush is a creamy, layered treat with a chocolate cookie crust, peanut butter cheesecake filling, and chocolate mousse. It’s an easy make-ahead dessert that’s perfect for holidays, family gatherings, or dinner parties.
Ingredients
Method
- Place your mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer until well chilled.
- Pour the whipping cream into the bowl and begin whipping on medium speed. Once it starts to thicken, add the sugar and vanilla. Keep whipping until soft peaks form, then add the instant pudding powder. Beat until soft peaks form.
- Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Crush the chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor.
- Set aside ⅛ cup of crumbs for the topping.
- Mix the remaining crumbs with melted butter.
- Press firmly into the bottom of a 12 x 7.5 inch pan (or a similar size).
- Place in the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the next layer.
- Beat the cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the peanut butter and powdered sugar, and mix until fully combined.
- Gently fold in half of the stabilized whipped cream.
- Spread evenly over the chilled cookie crust.
- Press mini peanut butter cups gently into the surface (you can leave them whole or chop them).
- In a bowl, mix the pudding mix, milk, and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until thick.
- Fold in the remaining stabilized whipped cream.
- Spread evenly over the peanut butter layer with the peanut butter cups on it.
- Sprinkle the top with the reserved cookie crumbs.
- Cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 to 4 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Slice into small squares and serve.
Notes
If you can’t find mini peanut butter cups, you can chop regular-sized ones into chunks and sprinkle them over the peanut butter cheesecake layer.
Regular-sized peanut butter cups work too: if minis are hard to find, just chop them into chunks and scatter them over the cheesecake layer.
