If you love peanut butter cups (and really, who doesn’t?) you’ll go nuts over this cheesecake recipe.
Photo by Gina Moore
SERVES 12
Crust
1¾ cups chocolate cookies, crushed
4 tablespoons butter, unsalted, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
Filling
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup peanut butter, natural with salt and peanuts only
¾ cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
Topping
8 Reese’s Peanut Butter Mini Cups (more if desired)
1/3 cup Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips
Chocolate ganache (recipe follows)
Crust
Preheat oven to 350 F. Blend three crust ingredients and press firmly into a 9-inch springform pan, wrapped on the bottom and sides with foil.
Filling
In the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and peanut butter for 3 minutes. Add both sugars; beat 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla, then eggs, one at a time, then beat in sour cream. Pour into prepared pan.
Place cheesecake pan inside a larger pan and place in oven. Fill the larger pan halfway with hot water—this prevents the cheesecake from cracking or falling on top. Bake 60–70 minutes or until barely firm. The center should still be shaky. Turn off oven, leaving door ajar about 6 inches, and cool for 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan. Chill in fridge overnight or at least 8 hours.
Topping
Remove the side of the springform pan. Halve the peanut butter cups and arrange over cheesecake, followed by peanut butter chips. Drizzle with chocolate ganache.
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Chocolate Ganache
MAKES APPROXIMATELY 1½ CUPS
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces
¾ cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon cognac or brandy (optional)
Place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl and set aside. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, but do not allow cream to boil. Immediately pour the hot cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 1 minute. Stir with a whisk until smooth. If desired, add the liqueur. Allow to cool until slightly thickened, then drizzle over prepared cheesecake.
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Great ganache!—Chef Belinda demonstrates how easy it is to make ganache in this how-to video. .