This recipe is not healthy.  Not at all.

But ’tis the season to make your kids the sweet foods that they’re asking for, so I’m singing “Fa la la la la, LA LA LA LA!” with my fingers in my ears when it comes to sugar consumption right now.

OK, OK… <insert fake, dramatic eye roll here> I guess I can make Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie.  Twist my arm whydontcha.

When I went searching the web for a clue on how to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, more than one recipe called for Cool Whip and Oreo’s.  (Head –> Desk)  Given that these are two of the worst foods we could possibly eat, (Oreos can be compared to crack and Cool Whip is made with both high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable oil and is not fit for human consumption – but this post isn’t supposed to be a downer so I’ll shut up now) I was determined to figure out the real food alternative to Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie and spare us from those two frankenfood superstars.  Fillers and artificial ingredients scare way me more than sugar.  Let’s do this.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

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Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust

6 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 (7oz) bag Newman’s Chocolate Alphabet Cookies*

Crumble cookies in food processor or blender (or even by hand with a large zip lock bag, a towel and a hammer!)

It was at this point that Zak said, “I can tell this is going to be good.”

Mix cookies, sugar and butter and press the into a pie pan.  Chill while preparing the filling.

*Newman’s Own Alphabet Cookies are probably a stretch when it comes to “real food”, but the ingredient list was shorter and better than the graham crackers I considered that were also on the shelf at my natural food store.

Peanut Butter Pie Filling

1 c heavy whipping cream
1 c creamy organic peanut butter
1 (8 oz) package of organic cream cheese
1 c powdered sugar

Whip cream to stiff peaks.  In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese, sugar and peanut butter until smooth, then gently fold in whipped cream.  Pour mixture into crust, chill for two hours before serving.  Top with shaved chocolate or pipe on melted chocolate.

Suddenly I’m thinking about that song “Happy Together” by The Turtles.

If I should call you up, invest a dime, and you say you belong to me, and ease my mind –

imagine how the world could be, so very fine…

SO HAPPY TOGETHER!

Cue “Deck the Halls”, fingers in ears, “Fa la la la! La la LA LAAAA!”

This pie was seriously delicious, I have to admit it.  The good news?  It is VERY rich, one small piece is plenty!

The bad news?  It is VERY rich, one small piece is plenty.  This means the leftovers from our holiday gathering this weekend just keep hanging on.

Apparently Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie comes with a soundtrack because I’ll be singing “You Keep Me Hanging On” by the Supreme’s until somebody else eats the last piece and it’s out of my fridge.

Real butter, real cream cheese, heavy whipping cream.  Now you’re singing my tune.

Happy holidays to you and yours!  Eat well, be merry and give thanks that calories don’t count the week between Christmas and New Years.**

**The fourth song on the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie soundtrack is “Would I Lie to You?” by The Eurythmics.