My "Famous" Peanut Butter Pie

My husband, my kids and most of my in-laws LOVE peanut butter and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I absolutely hate them - which is ironic because I do so much baking with these ingredients (but never eat any of it). I tried several peanut butter pie recipes over the years, but this is the one everyone loves the most. Its a very simple recipe, takes only about 10 minutes to make.

My Famous Peanut Butter Pie aka Peanut Butter Cup Pie



Ingredients
8oz package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup confectioners sugar
16oz container cool whip, thawed & divided in half
2 packages instant chocolate pudding (3.9oz each)
2 1/2 cups milk
10 peanut butter cups, divided
1 9 inch ready made pie crust (graham or chocolate)

Directions: Using an electricc mixer, beat together cream cheese, peanut butter & confectioners sugar until creamy. Fold in 8oz of the cool whip. Set aside

In another bowl, beat pudding and milk together until thickened. Set aside.

Finely chop 6 of the peanut butter cups. Set aside.

Cut the remaining peanut butter cups in half. Set aside

Remove plastic cover from pie crust. Carefully spoon peanut butter mixture into bottom of the crust. Sprinkle with chopped peanut butter cups. Spoon pudding mixture over peanut butter cup layer. Spread the remaining cool whip over pudding. Place the halved peanut butter cups evenly around the pie. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours before serving.

Note:
1. You may use instant vanilla pudding instead of chocolate.
2. Try adding 1 tablespoon of peanut butter to the pudding when beating the pudding & milk together.
3. Everyone tends to fight over getting a piece of peanut butter cup on the top of the pie, so I started cutting them into fours and layering them all around the top of the pie so everyone gets a piece.