Gluten-free Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Pie

Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.  Do you ever feel like "adults" sometimes put you in a box of thinking just because of the people they have previously met who are your age?  Like the Millennials aka Generation Yers have too great of expectations; don't really want to work hard; think that some jobs are below them, but everyone on the Intenet has a different opinion.  I myself hear at least several times a year comments like..."well people your age"..."your generation tends to"...why do we have to be put into a box. Granted we all did basically grow up with the Internet, social media, and were the beginning of everyone really having cell phones, but that doesn't mean I am the same as a friend/co-worker/other 27 year old at a random bar going to a happy hour.  

So, don't judge me for being 27...I really can't control my age.  I can only control my actions, try to get my job done, work hard, try to follow the instructions when baking and preheat the oven to the right temperature, but even then, sometimes I get it wrong. That's when I just have to try and learn from the experience, and try to get it right next time.

It is worth it to try though, sometimes the best things come from trying something new, like with this pie or getting to experience a new place.  There has been a lot of travel this month that will continue into next month.  But with surroundings like the above and below, it makes working long hour worth it. 

I didn't make it onto the boat this time, but I enjoyed the view for a bit.

Plus trying coffee at a local coffee shop is always fun.

Down to the pie though, it was made for a co-worker/friend for her birthday.  She gave me options and ideas, and this is what I came up with.  It turned out exactly how I wanted, and was so delicious!  Definitely rich...like you might want a cup of coffee or a glass of milk, but a fun twist on a classic dessert.  You can make this gluten-free or not, but either way you should give it  try.  Enjoy!

Crushed chocolate wafers and pretzels ready for the melted butter.

Press into the pie pan and then bake.

Time for the filling...

Whip together and then into the pie pan.

Gluten-free Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Pie: (recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

For crust:

25 gluten-free chocolate wafers or Oreos, scraped of cream filling

1 cup gluten-free salted pretzel sticks

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 package (8 Ounce) 1/3 fat cream cheese, softened

1-1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 package (8 Ounce) Cool Whip, thawed

Crust:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  Crush the chocolate wafers and pretzels until they’re fine crumbs. I used a food processor.

3.  Pour melted butter over the top and stir with a fork to combine. Press into pie pan and bake in preheated oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until set.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Filling:

4.  Beat the peanut butter with the softened cream cheese until smooth. 

5.  Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add in the thawed Cool Whip and beat mixture until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.

6.  Pour filling into cooled pie crust.  Top with crushed cookies and pretzels.  Chill the pie in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.  Serve and Enjoy!