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No Bake Kool-Aid Pie is a creamy, no-fuss dessert made with just 3 ingredients in a graham cracker crust. Ready in 10 minutes, no oven needed!
As soon as the weather starts to get warm I am all about no bake desserts. They are so easy to make and always delicious! Something like this No Bake Oreo Cheesecake is super creamy and has all the cookies and cream flavor that everyone loves.
What I love most about this recipe is how forgiving and customizable it is. Grape, mixed berry, lemon, tropical punch… any flavor works, and each one gives you a completely different-looking, differently-flavored pie. It’s simple enough that my son can put it together on his own, which in my house means it’s officially a keeper.
Erin’s Notes
- Just 3 ingredients (plus the crust) — no baking, no candy thermometer, no fuss.
- Ready in 10 minutes of hands-on time, then the fridge does the rest.
- Endlessly customizable — a different Kool-Aid flavor gives you a brand new pie every time.
- Kid-friendly to make — simple enough for little hands to help with.
- Perfect make-ahead dessert for potlucks, cookouts, and hot summer days.
Ingredient Notes
- Sweetened Condensed Milk — this is what sweetens and binds the filling, so reach for the classic canned version, not evaporated milk.
- Kool-Aid Drink Mix — use an unsweetened packet (the small envelope meant to be mixed with sugar and water for drinks). You won’t add any sugar or water here — just the dry powder goes straight into the filling for flavor and color.
- Cool Whip — thaw it in the fridge first so it folds in easily. A tub of any whipped topping works, or see the Variations section for a homemade swap.
- Graham Cracker Crust — a store-bought crust keeps this a true no-bake recipe, but a homemade graham cracker crust works too if you don’t mind turning on the oven briefly.
No Bake Kool-Aid Pie
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 graham cracker crust, (homemade or store bought)
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- 1 package Kool-Aid drink mix, (flavor of your choice)
Instructions
- In a bowl mix together sweetened condensed milk and kool-aid packet. Fold in Cool Whip.14 oz sweetened condensed milk, 1 package Kool-Aid drink mix, 8 oz Cool Whip
- Pour into graham cracker crust.1 graham cracker crust
- Place in fridge for 4 hours or in freezer until set and ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Kool Aid Pie
- Mix the filling: In a large bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and the Kool-Aid packet until fully combined and no streaks of powder remain.
- Fold in the Cool Whip: Gently fold in the Cool Whip until the mixture is smooth and evenly colored. Fold rather than stir so the filling stays light and fluffy.
- Pour into the crust: Spread the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Chill: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or place in the freezer, until set enough to slice cleanly.
Recipe Tips
- Let the Cool Whip thaw completely before folding it in. Cold and stiff Cool Whip is harder to fold smoothly and can leave streaks.
- Fold gently rather than stirring vigorously; overmixing can deflate the whipped topping and leave you with a denser filling.
- For the cleanest slices, chill the pie the full 4 hours (or longer) before cutting.
- Keep your Kool-Aid flavor in mind when choosing a garnish – a few fresh berries or citrus slices on top hint at the flavor inside.
Recipe Variations
- Cheesecake-Style: Beat an 8 oz block of softened cream cheese smooth before adding the sweetened condensed milk and Kool-Aid powder. This gives the filling a denser, cheesecake-like texture.
- Add Fresh Fruit: Fold in chopped strawberries, drained mandarin oranges, or chopped cherries along with the Cool Whip for extra texture and a fresh pop of flavor.
- Swap the Flavor: Any Kool-Aid flavor works – mixed berry, grape, lemon, tropical punch, and blue raspberry are all popular choices, and each one changes the color and flavor completely.
Storage
Store the pie covered in the fridge, where it stays creamy and holds its shape well for slicing. Some readers like to freeze this pie for a firmer, frozen-pie texture instead.
Hmp! just think …if you wud have gotten a melon baller and scooped out sum mango fruit placed it on top of the whipped cream … …it wud have looked like the sun coming over the cloud in the sky …oh! welp! i guess maybe next time
I want to throw this pie out a window and hit you in the face
Wow, it is a pie from like the 60’s. No need to get mean and violent with it.
Can I use a&w add in would that be like a root beer float
I am not sure it would set up with that much liquid
I was thinking chocolate chips in watermelon . also as far as the A& W they do make a drink mix in rootbeer flavor
Good to know – thanks! Also love the idea of watermelon with chocolate chips – fun combo!
I have diabetic family members, and they were wondering what they can use to make it diabetic friendly?
I am sorry, I am not an expert on diabetic friendly recipes. I know Carolyn at alldayidreamaboutfood.com has diabetic recipes and she has a sweetened condensed milk recipe. You could make homemade whipped cream in place of the cool-whip. But I honestly don’t know enough about a diabetic diet to know if kool-aid is safe.
Wow, this is a blast from the past! We made this recipe in my 7th grade Home Economics class…in in 1977! Thanks for the memory! It’s really good with lemon or strawberry Kool-Aid too.
Made this for the first time! It was so easy and delicious! I made it with mixed berry koolaid!
Which is it? Unsweetened koolaid (mentioned in the written dialog) or just kool aid (mentioned in the ingredients)?
The kool-aid packets you buy are unsweetened, that is what you need. There is also a video in the post that shows what is used.
I make this all the time for different events and it’s always a hit! my favorite is cherry. I sometimes like to add a block of softened cream cheese and whip it in a stand mixer and that is sooo good.
This is a WONDERFUL recipe and its quick and delicious, easy clean up.Its GREAT…THANK YOU.. APPRECIATE, GREAT, DELICIOUS RECIPES..
I love it, any color kool-Aid.makes any pie.takes great. I have made Kool-Aid pie before it is wonderful.
This pie recipe (the finished product)looks like the pie banquet (who famous for TV dinner)used to sell in the grocery store as chocolate,banana, or strawberry ice cream pie, but they don’t sell them anymore,I would try to make it with grape koolaid and get a purple pie out of it, and how cool is that to have a pie that is purple that it matches your purple ATM card?So I would try it as soon as I can get the time and money to get everything together for this one of a kind pie.