Southern-Style Peanut Butter Pie with Chocolate and Bourbon Whipped Cream: A Creamy Classic with a Kick

Rich, nostalgic, and made from scratch — this Southern peanut butter pie delivers old-school charm with a modern bourbon twist

Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D May 31, 2025

Amy Jeanroy/Foodista [CC BY 3.0]

If there’s one dessert that perfectly captures the heart of Southern hospitality, it’s peanut butter pie. Rich, creamy, and unapologetically indulgent, this pie is a staple at potlucks, Sunday dinners, and family reunions from Georgia to Mississippi. But this isn’t your average peanut butter pie. This one’s got soul — milk chocolate chips and a splash of Southern bourbon to tie it all together.

Peanut butter as a pie ingredient first gained popularity in the South during the mid-20th century, when post-war kitchens embraced convenience foods like peanut butter and graham crackers. But don’t be fooled — this pie is anything but basic. With its silky peanut butter filling, chocolate cookie crust, and bourbon-infused whipped cream, it’s an irresistible collision of old-school charm and grown-up flavor.

Fun Fact — Peanuts were once called “goober peas” in the South, and they’ve been a beloved ingredient in everything from soups to candy bars. George Washington Carver, born into slavery in Missouri and later a professor in Alabama, helped popularize hundreds of uses for peanuts — though not peanut butter itself, which was patented before his time. Still, it’s safe to say that without Southern roots, this pie might not exist at all.

Servings and Prep Time

Servings: 8 slices

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Chill Time: 4 hours (or overnight)

Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

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