Orange Creamsicle Pie is one of the smoothest, creamiest, best-tasting no-bake pies you will ever have! And that flavor! Who doesn’t love Orange Creamsicle? If you love this recipe (and I know you will) be sure to try my Orange Creamsicle Mousse and Lemon Mousse for easy No-Bake Dessert options! (Maybe my Orange Creamsicle Puppy Chow is a fun warm-weather option!)
Orange Creamsicle Pie
This orange creamsicle pie is super easy. How easy? Only 7 ingredients it pulls together in under 5 minutes!
Let’s talk for a minute about how I achieve that traditional “creamsicle” flavor. A creamsicle bar that you find at the grocery store typically has a vanilla ice cream base and is coated with flavored orange ice. Since we are creating a creamsicle pie, I wanted that same flavor combination, but in a light and creamy version. I attempted to get that same flavor by using a combination of REAL orange juice and orange extract, combined with a powdered sugar and cream cheese base. The results were dreamy!
How to Make Orange Creamsicle Pie
As I mentioned, making this orange creamsicle pie is really simple. There are a few key tips to follow that will make this even easier!
Room Temperature Cream Cheese
If you aren’t able to set out your cream cheese for a couple of hours ahead of assembly, here is a fun tip to quickly get it to room temperature. I remove the cream cheese from the box but keep it in the foil packaging. Set the cream cheese in a bowl of hot water and let it warm slowly. This usually takes 10-15 minutes.
Tools Matter
You will want to make sure your cream cheese is completely lump-free, which means beating it with an electric hand mixer (or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment) until it is light and fluffy before adding any other ingredients. This is what gives my creamsicle pie the creamy texture as well as helps to blend the flavors perfectly.
Orange Extract vs. Fresh Orange Juice
If you don’t have immediate access to orange extract, (Amazon can deliver it to your door!) you can just substitute additional fresh orange juice. Here is a simple equivalency:
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice = 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
This recipe uses 1 teaspoon of orange extract, so you will need 2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice. If you opt for the fresh orange juice, I do recommend adding about 1/2 tsp. of orange zest to the shortbread crust to maximize the orange flavor.
How to Make Shortbread Pie Crust
Grab your shortbread cookies (hopefully homemade shortbread cookies) and a large sealable plastic bag. Start smashing the cookies and get all your aggressions out! Shortbread cookies are naturally delicate so this is an easy job and should not take you more than a minute.
In a medium bowl, add the shortbread crumbs and the melted butter. Using a fork, work the butter into the crumbs until every crumb is coated in butter. Because we are not baking this crust, the butter will act as the glue in the chilled pie. If some crumbs are not coated with butter, they will fall apart when you try to cut the pie.
Now take your pie dish (I used an 8-inch pie dish) and press the shortbread crumbs into the bottom and slightly up the sides. You want an even layer of crumbs, so use a kitchen glass or something with a flat bottom to help create a smooth layer.
Whipped Topping vs. Homemade Topping
I freely admit that I love a big ole bite of a cool whip and love how easy it can make recipes. This recipe benefits from the stability of cool whip. However, I do like to whip up a small batch of homemade whipped cream for the topping.
Here is a recipe for Homemade Whipped Topping should you want to add it on top.
You can add vanilla extract (about 1/2 teaspoon) or even orange extract for an extra flavor kick!
How to Make Individual Orange Creamsicle Pie Servings
Simply crush up shortbread cookies and place them in the bottom of the serving cup instead of a pie pan. After testing we found that a thinner layer was best. (Which also means you can make more servings!) The dishes I used were a bit larger (they hold about 1 1/2 cups of orange mousse) so I was only able to make 3 servings. Plan accordingly if you are feeding a crowd! 🙂
How to Serve Orange Creamsicle Pie
Chilling is an important step in this recipe. It helps the creamsicle filling firm and creates the velvety texture essential in a no-bake cream pie. I recommend letting it chill for at least one hour, but you can let it go all the way up to 3 days. However, if you are letting it sit that long, I do not recommend adding the garnish until just before serving, as fresh orange will not look as pretty after sitting out.
More No-Bake Cheesecake Desserts
Orange Creamsicle Pie
Ingredients
Shortbread Pie Crust
- 6 ounces finely crushed shortbread cookies
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
Pie Filling
- 2 packages (16 ounces) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 â…“ cups (293 g) confectioners sugar
- 1 medium orange, zested (optional) and juiced (about ¼ cup)
- 1 tablespoon orange extract (start with 2 teaspoons and taste test)
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 2 cups (476 g) whipped topping
Topping
- 1-2 cups whipped topping, for over the creamsicle pie filling
- 4 wedges orange, for garnish
Instructions
Shortbread Pie Crust
- In a large bowl, combine the shortbread cookie crumbs with the melted butter. Pour into a prepared 8 in pie dish and firmly press to the edges to form a pie crust.
Pie Filling
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until it is light and fluffy.
- Add in the confectioners' sugar, orange juice, orange extract, and salt and beat until everything is combined. (If you are adding the zest, add it here.)
- Gently fold in the whipped topping.
- Pour creamsicle filling into prepared pie crust. Smooth out with a small offset spatula.
Topping
- Smooth out a layer of whipped topping (about 2 cups, can use more or less depending on preference) over the creamsicle filling.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to 3 days if covered. Top with an orange wedge. (optional)
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I can’t wait to try this recipe. I am sure it will be delicious. Is it okay if I dip a toothpick in a little bit of orange food color and then sort of let whatever comes off come off in the batter so that it will give a slight orange color to the cake?
Yes, of course you can! 🙂
Recipe for the Orange Creamsicle Pie says 24oz. of Cream Cheese Does it really take 3 8oz. bars??
LOVE YOUR POSTS
Yup! And thank you. 🙂
I would have made thhis in a NY mionute, but you put the amount of shortbread cookies for the crust in oz., rather than Tbsp, etc. Yet your other measures or correct
How can I make this in a 9×13 dish?
You would need to double the recipe. 🙂
Why not use stabilized whip cream instead of cool whip?
Feel free. I mention options in the post.
Can’t wait to make this! What brand of shortbread cookies do you like best?
Walkers 🙂
cant wait to make some of these
Your recipe sounds so tasty! And, I love the idea of making it in a 9×13 pan for an upcoming potluck.
Thank you!
I made this today for dinner at the club tonight. I made 3 of them. I did the 1st according to the directions and couldn’t taste the orange enough so I added in the zest. Still not enough so on the second I put in an entire tablespoon of extract and the zest and of course the juice but it just isn’t creamsicle enough. Any suggestions?
Oh my goodness! You are my favorite kind of reader, one who makes the recipe then tests out options and tries to make it fit YOUR tastes. Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
My thoughts are this: You can stick to what you did, adding the fresh orange juice, orange extract, and zest, and then adding more orange extract to the whipped topping.
You could also add zest to the shortbread crust.
I made this recipe again today to test again and agree that it could handle up to 1 tablespoon of orange extract, and will alter the recipe to reflect that. However, any more than a tablespoon and it just starts to taste orange-y, not creamsicle-y.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your feedback! I appreciate your dedication to the recipe and willingness to try again. While we love it, I do hope that YOU will love it too.
I wonder if you can use orange jello instead of juice and orange extract. Use it dry in cr cheese
It’s an idea! I haven’t tested that.