Cold Brew Icebox Pie ~ with its deep dark chocolate crumb crust filled with a refreshing cold brew coffee cream, this easy no bake dessert is what summer dreams are made of.

you can’t go wrong with the combination of coffee and ice cream for the coolest summer dessert
I’m thrilled with how this easy no bake cold brew pie came out ~ I love my coffee desserts, and this didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a quick, no fuss recipe for a summer night, this is it. People love the cool, creamy coffee filling piled into that midnight chocolate crust.
the surprising secret to an easy icebox pie with the best texture
This recipe uses a small convenience (a package of instant pudding mix!) to great advantage ~ it gives the filling stability and a quick set without having to cook it on the stove or bake the pie, making this a true icebox dessert. Actual cold brew coffee, plus a boost from espresso powder, bring the fresh coffee flavor to the fore. The technique of adding strong natural flavors to a package of instant pudding is a useful one ~ the natural flavors disguise anything artificial and you get immediate thickening, it’s a win win. I used this same idea (only with vanilla) in my Strawberries and Cream Tart.
the rich chocolate crust makes this dessert
I made a quick deep chocolate crust using chocolate wafers, just crush them and toss with enough melted butter to hold them together. I love to keep a box or two of Famous Wafers hidden in the cupboard for just such an occasion. You could use another chocolate cookie, like Oreos, but the wafers make it extra special. The trick is keeping them away from foraging snackers. I’ve heard of cooks stashing a couple of packages in an emptied out All Bran box. Genius.
the total prep time for this icebox pie? 15 minutes!
The hardest part is waiting for the pie to chill. But unlike some other icebox pies you don’t have to wait long for this one…just a few hours should do it. Be aware, this is a soft set pie, if you want it faster or firmer, stick it in the freezer, but I like the softly chilled texture from the fridge best.
what kind of coffee to use in this cold brew icebox pie
I usedย Stumptown Cold Brew Coffee in my pie, I love keeping a bottle or two of that in the fridge for instant iced coffee breaks. But you can use regular cold coffee, or make your own cold brew. I boost the coffee flavor with a teaspoon of instant espresso which I keep in the cupboard at all times.
*recipe lightly adapted from The Domestic Rebel
Cold Brew Icebox Pie
Ingredients
crust
- 1 package Nabisco Famous Wafers
- 5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
filling
- 3.4 ounce package Jello Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix, be sure to get the instant, not the cook and serve style
- 3/4 cup cold brew coffee
- 1 tsp instant espresso
- 1 cup cold heavy cream, divided
Instructions
- Crush the wafers in a food processor or with a rolling pin. Make sure to get them nice and fine.
- Toss with the melted butter until well blended. Reserve a few of the crumbs for garnish, and press the rest into a 9 inch regular pie shell (not a deep dish.) If your pie dish is on the small side you might not need all the crumbs. Refrigerate.
- Whip 1/2 cup of the cream and set aside.
- Blend the instant espresso into the remaining half cup of cream. Stir until the granules are completely dissolved, You my want to let it sit for a few minutes.
- Whisk the pudding mix with the cold brew and the coffee infused cream. Whisk for 2 minutes to allow it to thicken. Fold in the whipped cream until no streaks remain.
- Pour into the crust and smooth out the top. Refrigerate at least 3-4 hours before serving.
- Garnish with reserved crumbs.
Nutrition
Make this cold brew icebox pie your own ~
- Make it with a different crumb crust ~ use graham crackers, or another plain cookie for the crumbs. You’ll need about 1 1/2 cups crumbs.
- Make it mocha ~ use instant chocolate pudding instead of vanilla.
- Make it lower fat ~ use whole milk in place of half of the cream.
- Make it gluten free ~ use your favorite gluten free cookie or ground almonds in place of the chocolate wafers.
I had to laugh at the cook stashing cookies in an All-Bran box. I used to hide the pecans in the freezer in an empty Chock-Full-of-Nuts coffee can ๐
Sheila
Brilliant ๐
Can this be done without using the instant type pudding?
You’d need something to thicken it, Jessica, otherwise it would just be like a flavored whipped cream consistency.
Y’all can talk the talk, but yours truly walked the walk! I whipped this pie up two nights ago.
I used a pre-made crust and substituted chocolate pudding for vanilla, as well as using ground sweetened chocolate (I didn’t have any espresso powder). I am the only coffee drinker in the house, so I also wanted to scale down the coffee flavor.
First, it really is a quick prep. Honestly, it takes longer to gather your materials than it is to make the pie.
Second, it started setting VERY quickly…like in under a minute. That’s not a complaint, just a heads-up for those of you following along at home.
Verdict: This pie left us weak in the knees, it was so good! If you go the chocolate pudding route, you might want some whipped cream/topping to complement the chocolate/coffee flavor. The consistency is like a wet mousse or a fluffy pudding. Yum!
This recipe is a keeper! I’m curious about pudding/drink combinations besides chocolate/coldbrew, now! Pistachio Pudding with Almond Milk, anyone?
Wanting to try the cold brew pie on this summer night but confused with the recipe as you mention instant espresso in your narrative but not in the recipe itself. Do you reconstitute it or just mix with the wet ingredients? Thanks.
I just clarified that, thanks for spotting the omission Carolynn. You add the powdered espresso to the 1/2 cup of liquid cream and stir to dissolve before whisking it with the pudding mix.
You make the best desserts! Love this one and itโs on my list to make this week for friends! Thanks for an inspiring recipe!
Hi !! First of all this dessert sounds absolutely delectable !! But I’m lactose intolerant and therefore I cannot use any type of heavy cream in my recipes, do you think a full fat coconut cream would work in place of the heavy cream ? Or should I venture off to find a vegan heavy cream ?
I was thinking of suggesting coconut cream in the post, I think it should work, but I haven’t tried it. I know the pudding package says that soy milk will not work because the pudding won’t set for some reason. You could try a non dairy whipped topping in place of the whipped cream, or try to whip the coconut cream. Let me know if you have any success, I’d love to document a non dairy version for others!
Okay I cannot rest until I’ve tried this pie! I bet the flavor is wonderful and it looks so creamy and light. Brilliant recipe Sue!
Iโd use a purchased chocolate graham cracker crust to make it even easier!
You could totally do that, I think you can purchase an Oreo crumb crust readymade, too.
Just perfect for coffee addicted me !
Love no-bake Summer desserts. And love coffee. Win. Win ๐