Kool-Aid Pie Recipe: Easy No-Bake Dessert for Summer

Kool aid Pie Recipe

This Cherry Kool Aid Pie is the easiest way to make a cool and refreshing sweet treat during the hot summer days. It is a creamy, no bake summer dessert that uses just 5 ingredients plus a garnish, and it comes together in under 10 minutes without turning on the oven.

The method is simple. Combine 4 ingredients in one bowl, spread the mixture into a premade graham cracker crust, chill it in the refrigerator, then top each slice with a swirl of Cool Whip and a cherry. That is it. No stovetop, no baking, no fuss.

I love that this recipe is customizable, so kids can pick their favorite Kool Aid flavors and colors or combine several for a one of a kind pie. One weekend my niece chose blue raspberry and my nephew picked orange, so we made two pies and let everyone vote. The blue one disappeared first, but both plates came back clean.

If you are looking for easy summer desserts that still feel special, this one belongs on your list. It is a retro dessert with a bright, fun look, and it works for potlucks, pool parties, and simple weeknight cravings alike.

Why we love this recipe for Kool Aid Pie

There is a lot to love here, and most of it comes down to how little effort it takes.

• No oven is needed, so the kitchen stays cool on hot days.
• The recipe uses only 5 simple ingredients plus garnish.
• A light, creamy, cool mixture is layered into a crispy graham cracker crust.
• The retro recipe can be customized with favorite Kool Aid flavors.
• It is suited to pool parties, potlucks, backyard barbecues, and picnics.

I keep the ingredients on hand all summer because it is the kind of dessert I can start after dinner and serve the next day. It travels well in a cooler, and it always looks cheerful on a dessert table.

Kool Aid Pie Recipe Ingredients

The ingredient list is short and easy to shop for. You need a pre made graham cracker crust, cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, a packet of unsweetened black cherry Kool Aid mix, Cool Whip, and maraschino cherries with stems.

That is 5 main ingredients plus the cherry garnish. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find.

Kool Aid Pie Recipe Substitutions and Additions

This is where the recipe gets really fun. Many Kool Aid flavors can be used, including pink lemonade, grape, blue raspberry, fruit punch, orange, watermelon, cherry limeade, and lemonade. Each one changes both the taste and the color of the filling.

The pie color can also be customized for holidays and celebrations. Here are some ideas I use throughout the year:

• Orange for Halloween
• Pastel for Easter
• Green for Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day
• Pink or red for Valentine’s Day
• A mix of colors for a custom version

Several colors can be mixed to create a custom pie, which is a great job for kids. Give each child a flavor and let them stir a small bowl of filling, then swirl the colors together in the crust. The result is never perfect, and that is exactly why it is fun.

For a homemade crust, you can absolutely use one, but make sure it is completely cooled before you fill it. A warm crust will melt the creamy mixture and prevent the pie from setting properly.

Recommended tools for How To Make Kool Aid Pie

You do not need much equipment for this recipe.

A handheld mixer, a mixing bowl, measuring tools, and either a decorators bag or a quart size ziploc bag are all you need.

How to make Kool Aid Pie

This Cherry Kool Aid Pie comes together quickly in one bowl with no cooking or oven needed. The pink color can be changed simply by using a different Kool Aid flavor.

To make the mixture, beat the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, Kool Aid, and Cool Whip with a handheld mixer on medium high speed. Spread the filling into the graham cracker crust, cover it, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Before serving, pipe a swirl of Cool Whip along the edge of each slice and add a cherry on top.

The full step by step method is below in the recipe card, and it is worth reading once before you start so the chilling time does not catch you off guard. I usually make mine in the morning and let it set while I go about my day.

Kool Aid Pie Recipe tips

These small tips make a big difference, and they come straight from years of making this pie for my own family.

• Any Kool Aid flavor can be substituted for black cherry, so use whatever is in your pantry.
• The graham cracker crust’s plastic cover can be used as a lid for the pie after removing the paper center.
• If you freeze the pie with that plastic lid, wrap it tightly in a layer of aluminum foil.
• When making other flavors, garnish with the matching fruit, like lime slices for cherry limeade or orange segments for orange.
• Keep the pie chilled until ready to serve, especially on hot days.

Make ahead note: this pie needs at least 4 hours of chilling, so it is a perfect candidate for preparing the day before and refrigerating overnight.

How to store Kool Aid Pie

Leftovers should be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I use the plastic crust lid when I can, and a sheet of plastic wrap pressed gently over the surface when I cannot.

The pie can be frozen without the Cool Whip and cherry garnish for up to 1 month. Wrap it tightly in aluminum foil before freezing, then thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before serving. Add the garnish fresh after thawing so the topping stays fluffy.

Another Kool Aid Favorite!

If your family loves Kool Aid desserts as much as mine does, this next one is worth trying too.

Kool Aid Slurpee

A Kool Aid Slurpee is a fun, flavorful homemade slushie for hot summer days. It can be made in 5 minutes and blends 2 ingredients with water and ice into a refreshing sweet treat.

My kids ask for these after every trip to the pool. It is the same bright, fruity flavor as the pie, just in frozen drink form, and it takes almost no effort at all.

Ingredients

• 6 ounce pre made graham cracker crust
• 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
• 14 ounce container sweetened condensed milk
• 0.13 ounce packet unsweetened black cherry Kool Aid mix
• 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed, plus 1 cup extra for optional garnish
• 8 maraschino cherries with stems

Instructions

1. Using a medium size mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium high speed, beat the softened cream cheese for 1 minute until smooth.
2. Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue mixing for 1 more minute until completely combined.
3. Sprinkle the Kool Aid mix and continue mixing until the color is uniform.
4. Add the thawed Cool Whip and mix on low until the pie filling is well incorporated.
5. Spoon in and evenly spread the pie filling into the graham cracker crust. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Once properly chilled, slice the pie into 8 slices.
6. Using either a decorators bag, or a quart size ziploc with a corner snipped off, pipe the extra Cool Whip in a nice swirl at the edge of the slices.
7. Place 1 cherry on top of each swirl of Cool Whip. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Recipe details

This recipe makes 8 servings, or 8 slices, with 1 serving as the serving size. Each serving comes in at 348 kcal, with 52 g carbohydrates, 10 g protein, 11 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 1 g fiber, 39 g sugar, 383 mg sodium, and 25 mg cholesterol.

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KOOL AID PIE RECIPE

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Kool aid Pie Recipe This Cherry Kool Aid Pie is the easiest way to make a cool and refreshing sweet treat during the hot summer days. It is a creamy, no bake summer dessert that uses just 5 ingredients plus a garnish, and it comes together in under 10 minutes without turning on the oven.

• Total Time: 250 min
• Yield: 8 slices 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

6 ounce pre-made graham cracker crust
8 ounce cream cheese, softened
14 ounce sweetened condensed milk
0.13 ounce unsweetened black cherry kool-aid mix
8 ounce Cool Whip, thawed (+ 1 cup extra for optional garnish)
8 maraschino cherries with stems

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Instructions

1-Using a medium size mixing bowl and: Using a medium size mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened cream cheese for 1 minute until smooth.
2-Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue: Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue mixing for 1 more minute until completely combined.
3-Sprinkle the kool-aid mix and continue mixing: Sprinkle the kool-aid mix and continue mixing until the color is uniform.
4-Add the thawed cool whip and mix: Add the thawed cool whip and mix on low until the pie filling is well incorporated.
5-Spoon in and evenly spread the pie: Spoon in and evenly spread the pie filling into the graham cracker crust. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Once properly chilled, slice the pie into 8 slices.
6-Using either a decorators bag, or a: Using either a decorators bag, or a quart size ziploc with a corner snipped off, pipe the extra cool whip in a nice swirl at the edge of the slices.
7-Place 1 cherry on top of each: Place 1 cherry on top of each swirl of cool whip. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Last Step:

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• Author: Brandi Oshea
• Prep Time: 10 min
• Method: no_cook

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 348 kcal
• Sugar: 39 g
• Sodium: 383 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Carbohydrates: 52 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg