This Chocolate Peppermint Mud Pie recipe is easy and fun, can be made ahead, and is oh-so-pretty. It’s perfect for dinner parties!
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Of the countless desserts I love, I seem to keep going back to my mud pie recipe whenever I host a dinner party. Yep, a mud pie!
I love making mud pies for dinner parties because they’re super easy and fun. They present beautifully and everyone loves them. Everyone! Oh, and you can make them well in advance.
Here’s the deal, I like to make a bunch of different things when we have people over, so some of them have to be kept simple. My Chocolate Peppermint Mud Pie is indeed simple to put together. It’s essentially three layers of ice-cream and a cookie crust.
And as simple as it is to make, it tastes complex and amazing!
What is Mud Pie?
The name Mud Pie comes from Mississippi Mud Pie, which isn’t specifically an ice cream pie. I started calling my ice cream pies mud pies because that’s what my mom called them. Reason enough for me. 😉
So what is a Mississippi Mud Pie?
Though there are many variations, Mississippi mud pie is a very rich chocolate dessert typically that typically includes pudding, cake, biscuits, ice cream, whipped cream, marshmallows, and liqueur — all in a cookie crust.
So either my mom thought the ice cream and cookie crust were enough to merit the name mud pie, or she got it from someone else.
How far Ahead Can You Make Mud Pie?
You can make your mud pie at least one day ahead of time. Imagine, your dessert for your dinner party being totally ready to serve a whole day before your guests arrive. Brilliant.
It will obviously keep for a long time because it’s frozen, but the fresher the better for a party, so I don’t usually make it more than two days ahead.
What are the Best Flavors of Ice Cream for Mud Pie?
You can choose any flavors of ice cream you like!
I have two favorite flavor combinations: chocolate-coffee and chocolate-peppermint.
And McConnell’s is my brand of choice. My favorite flavors? Dark Chocolate Chips & Nibs, Turkish Coffee and Peppermint Stick.
(This is not a sponsored post, I just love McConnell’s and it’s my favorite for mud pies.)
Tips for making the perfect mud pie . . .
- Choose a very good quality of ice cream.
- Choose flavors that compliment each other, and that vary in color.
- Have the time and patience to wait until each layer of ice cream is 100% frozen before adding the next.
- Make sure the ice creams are the proper consistency — they should be soft but not at all melted when you add them to the pie.
I really hope you try this Chocolate Peppermint Mud Pie recipe and love it as much as my family and I do. And if you make it with other flavors, I would love to hear about your delicious creations. Please let me know.
You also might be interested in my Individual Mud Pies with Espresso Chocolate Sauce. 🙂
Chocolate Peppermint Mud Pie recipe is easy and fun, can be made ahead, and is oh-so-pretty. It's perfect for dinner parties!
- approximately 40 Oreo cookies (or other band of chocolate sandwich cookies you like — gluten-free is okay too!)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 pint chocolate ice cream (I use McConnell's Dark Chocolate Chips & Nibs)
- 1 pint peppermint ice cream (I use McConnell's Peppermint Stick)
- 1 pint vanilla bean ice cream (I used McConnell's Vanilla Bean)
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Set the chocolate ice cream out to soften while you make the crust.
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To make the crust, use a food processor to finely grind the Oreos until they're smooth and without large cookie chunks. Pour the ground Oreos into a large mixing bowl and remove about 1 cup. From that 1 cup, remove 2 tablespoons, and set both aside. Then add the melted butter to what’s remaining in the mixing bowl and stir to combine.
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Add the butter-Oreo mixture to a 9 1/2 inch pie plate. Using your hands, gently press the mixture to evenly coat the inside of the plate (bottom and all the way up the sides) to form the crust. It should be about 1/4 inch thick. Put the plate in the freezer until firm, about 10 minutes.
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Spread the pint of vanilla ice-cream evenly on the crust. Use a small, flat- bottomed spreader to make the layer smooth. Sprinkle about half of the reserved 1 cup of Oreo crumbs evenly over the ice-cream and return the pie plate to the freezer for at least 40 minutes. After about 20 minutes of freezing time, set the peppermint ice-cream out to soften.
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Being sure the chocolate layer is frozen solid, spread the peppermint on top and sprinkle it evenly with the rest of the Oreo crumbs. Again, freeze for about 40 minutes and now set the vanilla ice-cream out to soften about 20 minutes in. Being sure the peppermint layer is frozen solid, spread the vanilla ice-cream on top and this time, followed by a sprinkling of the last 2 tablespoons of the Oreo crumbs.
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The pie should be kept in the freezer for at least 1 hour before serving, and for easier slicing, remove it from the freezer about 10 minutes before serving.
What gorgeousness is this?!
I love it, Valentina. Perfect for late-night TV watching.
oh yes it is! 🙂 Thank you xo
Chocolate and mint are a favorite flavor pairing! This is a fabulous recipe, easy and with so much ice cream goodness!
Thanks, Deb. I LOVE minty chocolatey desserts. 🙂
I’m with Deb — chocolate and mint play together so nicely. A terrific pairing — one of my favorites. And speaking of terrific, this definitely is. Neat recipe — thanks.
Thanks so much John! I’m with both of you. 😉 Enjoy!
Chocolate and mint really are such a great pairing, I usually don’t associate it with chilled or specifically frozen desserts though, but this sounds fantastic!
Thanks so much, Brian. Hope you give it a go! 🙂
Definitely a “Oh-o pretty” mud pie! Love chocolate and mint pairing and the recipe is so simple.. I am sure you had all the mothers at Oreo! 🙂
Thanks for sharing
I love that! Yes, Oreo is somewhat of a magical word, isn’t it? 😉
After not thinking about or eating any for years, I saw a mississippi mud pie a few days ago and keep thinking about it. Now I see your recipe and looks amazing. It has to be a sign. Bookmarking this to try. Sharing it too!
Yay! That makes me happy. Good timing. Hope you try this one and love it. 🙂
I have never had a Mud Pie but now I’ve seen this I really want to try! Chocolate and mint are one of my favourite flavour combinations too!
Camilla, I hope you try it! Even just for fun. 🙂
Such a delicious dessert. I drool a little bit when I think of how delicious and rich this might be. Totally an awesome dessert!
Thanks, Danielle. I can’t help but agree (and drool a little too). 😉
I am all about a good mud pie! I must admit that I’m not familiar with mud pies with ice cream…but I love ice cream, so count me in! And the look of this mud pie with the 3 layers is stunning. No wonder they’re such a party favorite! And I’d definitely need to make this for a party or else I’d eat the whole thing by myself. Hah!
Thank you, David. I made this pie a week ago for 4 guests, even with seconds, there was still a bit left for “breakfast.” Just a bit, so I was fairly safe. 😀
I’ve never had a mud day pie! But anything with chocolate and mint gets my vote!
My oldest son is a chocolate mint fanatic – he would go crazy over this! Looks amazing!!
Yay! Hope you flips for it like my boys do. 🙂
I have heard so much of this pie but never tried it. Your recipe sounds very doable and good! Will try it.
I hope you do try it. Thank you!
What a pie! I love the layers of flavors! I know this will be a big hit at our holiday table this year!
Oh yay. Hope you love it!
What a gorgeous dessert! Love the layered colors.
Thanks so much!
O my!! This looks so yum. It must really taste amazing. Will definitely give this a try. Thanks for the recipe.
Than YOU for checking it out. 🙂