Cookies & Cream Pie (Oreo)

Preheat to 350°F (177°C).

Bake the crust: In a food processor or blender, pulse 22 Oreos (including the cream filling) into a fine crumb. You should have about 2 cups (packed) crumbs, or 250g. Pour crumbs into a large bowl. Add the melted butter and stir to combine. The mixture will be thick and quite wet. Try to smash/break up any large chunks. Pour the mixture into an un-greased 9-inch pie dish. With medium pressure using your hand, pat the crumbs down into the bottom and up the sides to make a compact, thick crust. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool as you prepare the filling.

Make the filling: Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the cold heavy cream into stiff peaks on medium-high speed, about 4 minutes. Set aside. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until perfectly smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a silicone spatula as needed. Add the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract and beat on medium-high speed until combined. Make sure there are no large lumps of cream cheese. If there are lumps, keep beating until smooth.

Using your mixer on low speed or a silicone spatula, fold the whipped cream and chopped Oreos into the cream cheese mixture until combined. This takes several turns of your silicone spatula. Combine slowly as you don’t want to deflate all the air in the whipped cream.

Spread filling into cooled crust. Use an offset spatula to smooth down the top.

Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 6 hours and up to 2 days. The longer refrigerated, the better the pie will set up. You could also freeze the pie for at least 4 hours and up to 3 months. The crust is a little difficult to eat frozen, though.

Feel free to garnish the pie with whipped cream. Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean between each slice.

Cover and store leftover pie in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 5 days.