This Cheese Pie with Graham Cracker Crust is one of my favorite no-bake desserts! It’s made with a creamy cheese filling with a lovely graham cracker crust. I love this version because it reminds me of “cheesecake” while having a great taste and taking less work. Made with just a few ingredients, this no-bake dessert will have you returning for seconds!
If you love Cheese Pie, you will also love these recipes: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheese Pie Shooters, Berry Cheesecake Trifle, as well as one of my warm-weather favorites, Southern Peach Pie!
My First Experience with Cheese Pie
I’ll never forget the first time I had Cheese Pie. I didn’t have a clue what it consisted of. It was on the menu at a restaurant I frequently liked to dine at while living out of town. It was love at first bite! It was so creamy, dreamy, and delicious!
What is a Cheese Pie?
Cheese Pie is what I like to call a vintage dessert. It’s a southern classic, and parents and grandparents have made it over the years. It’s like cheesecake but without all of the steps. At least in my opinion.
Cheese Pie was popularized in American cuisine over a century ago. Of course, the addition of the graham cracker crust made the sweet treat even more popular because who doesn’t love a buttery, graham cracker crust? Combining the decadence of cream cheese filling with the subtly sweet and textured graham cracker crust makes this pie a magnificent dessert!
Ingredient dEATS (details) for Cheese Pie with Graham Cracker Crust:
Cream Cheese: milk and cream make everything so delicious! The texture brings this pie to life, and the reason it’s so popular in desserts like Cheesecake and Cheese Pie! You can beat cream cheese until it is whipped to make it fluffy.
Vanilla Pudding OR Cheesecake Flavored Pudding: Because I love a shortcut! I like to use pudding mix. You can opt for using cream cheese, whipped topping, vanilla extract (to taste), and sweetened condensed milk (14 oz.) in place of traditional milk to make your filling. You will have to mix it well using an electric mixer to give it a whipped texture.
Whipped Topping: This element adds a fluffiness to the cheese pie. It’s often used in trifles. You know I have a recipe. Find it here!
Milk (Dairy or Non-Dairy): Whether you go with traditional dairy, 2% milk, or even almond milk, they all work great! I usually use whatever I have on hand, and I’ve used dairy and plant milk. Milk will help create the consistency that you desire.
Graham Cracker Crust: Butter and graham cracker crumbles—enough said!
Unsalted Butter (if making your crust from scratch).
Two Options to make a Graham Cracker Crust:
Premade crust: The Keebler Ready Crust or any store-brand ready-to-bake (eat) crust works! The past few I’ve purchased were a little too crumbly, so I’ve opted to make my own. Instructions will be listed in the recipe portion.
Make Your Crust: Use butter and graham cracker crumbs. You can buy your graham crackers already crumbled or add sheets to a food processor and pulse for a few seconds.
Revisions and Swaps
See the Notes section if you do not want to use vanilla pudding mix.
If you want your cream cheese to be fluffier, use an electric mixer before adding whipped topping.
Zero Sugar Whipped Topping is absolutely delicious if you want a lower-calorie, lower-sugar option.
Using Zero Sugar pudding mix is also an option! You can mix up the flavors. Try vanilla and/or Cheesecake flavors!
If you are making your own crust, you can add sugar to the graham cracker crumbles, but you don’t have to. To me, it’s perfectly fine without it.
Other recipes to enjoy!
Baked Honeycrisp Apples with Pecan-Crusted Topping
Strawberry Butter Golden Dump Cake
Cherry Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake
I hope you love one of my favorite vintage desserts! If you make it, tag me (@myprettybrowneats) on social media. You may also find me by following the #myprettybrowneats hashtag on FB and IG! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Cheese Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
Equipment
- 8-10-inch Pie Dish or Spring Form Pan
- Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 8 ounces softened Cream Cheese If you want your cream cheese fluffier, you can use an electric mixer to fluff it up before folding it into mixture.
- 1 3.4 ounce boxes Jell-o Vanilla Pudding OR Cheesecake Flavored Pudding or (3) 1 oz boxes
- 8 ounces Whipped Topping
- 2 Cups Cold Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 homemade graham cracker crust or you can use a No-Bake Graham Cracker Crust
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter melted
- 1¾ Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (or 2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar totally optional – only if you like it sweeter
Instructions
Instructions for Cheese Pie Filling – Fluffy
- Beat softened cream cheese with an electric mixer in a large mixing bowl until whipped.
- Starting with 1 cup of milk, add milk, then fold in pudding mix, and whipped topping.
- Start slowly adding second cup of milk until you reach your desired consistency. You don't want your filling to be too thin.
- Once your pie crust is set, pour in your cheese pie filling evenly.
- *See Notes if you do not want to use vanilla pudding mix.
Instructions for Graham Cracker Crust
- Combine 1 ½ to 1¾ cups of Graham Cracker Crumbs (approximately 14 Graham Cracker Sheets) and melted unsated butter.
- Crumbles will be thick. Break up any clumps and smooth them out into the dish.
- For best results, refrigerate overnight. If you can't resist, a minimum of 2 hours refrigerated is a must.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Option for making Cheese Pie Filling Without Using Vanilla Pudding Mix:
- 8 oz. Package of Cream Cheese
- 8 oz. Whipped topping
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/3-1/2 cup of white granulated sugar (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (optional)
Leave a Reply