Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake

Last week I made the decision to cut sugar out of my diet. Completely. Which also meant giving up coffee because coffee without sugar is just not my thing. I had a headache for 3 straight days and finally, a week later, I feel good. I really put off posting this cheesecake because I was struggling with the sugar addiction. I craved the cheesecake for weeks after it was gone and, if I had another one, I could probably eat the whole thing in one sitting.

I made this as my birthday cake and the week leading up to my birthday I was searching for the perfect peanut butter chocolate cheesecake. This was definitely it. As mentioned in previous posts, my favourite cheesecake bakery has amazing peanut butter chocolate cheesecake…. but this recipe totally blows theirs out of the water!

Be warned, if you are a sugar addict, this will NOT help the addiction.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients

2 cups Oreo crumbs

2 tablespoons butter, melted

4x 8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature

5 eggs, room temperature

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 bag mini peanut butter cups

Topping:

1/2 cup peanut butter

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

3/4 cup heavy cream

15-20 mini peanut butter cups (saved from the cheesecake ingredients)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together Oreo crumbs and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9″ springform pan and bake for 15 minutes. Cool.

Beat cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each. Add sugar, peanut butter, and cream; mix thoroughly. Stir in vanilla. Pour half of the mixture into the cooled crust, layer with 2 cups of mini peanut butter cups, then top with remaining cheesecake mixture.

Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The sides of the cheesecake should be set but the middle will be a little jiggly. (it should not be runny) Cool slightly then put it into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. 

Chop up the chocolate and melt it in a double boiler (or microwave). Cool slightly then add all but 1 tablespoon of cream. Stir and then pour over the cool cheesecake (while still in the springform pan). Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

Place peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of whipping cream in a bowl and microwave until it’s a runny consistency. Either place the mixture in a piping bag or using a spoon, top the cheesecake with a peanut butter swirl. Before the swirl sets, surround the outer edge of the cheesecake with the remaining mini peanut butter cups. 

Recipe adapted from Baking With Ramen.