Triple Peanut Butter Threat Cheesecakes Recipes

HEALTHY NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Line an 8-inch square pan with foil so it overhangs on two sides and lightly spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Put the chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Put the graham crackers in a food processor and process until finely ground. Add the melted chocolate mixture and process until the mixture is the texture of very wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of the prepared pan, cover and refrigerate while preparing the cheesecake layer.
• For the cheesecake: Clean out the food processor bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tablespoons water in a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside to soften, about 5 minutes. Microwave the dissolved gelatin, stirring every 10 seconds, until melted.
• Combine the cream cheese, buttermilk, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and melted gelatin in the food processor and process until smooth and the sugar has dissolved. Rub a little of the mixture between your fingers, if it is still gritty then continue to process.
• Pour the cream cheese mixture over the crust and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle the top with the peanuts. Wrap the pan loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the cheesecake layer is set, about 2 hours. The bars can be assembled and refrigerated overnight. Cut into 12 bars.

OVER-THE-TOP REESE'S CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• For the crust: Pulse the cookies and sugar in a food processor to fine crumbs. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake until crisp and set, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Cover the crust with the peanut butter cups. Wrap the bottom and sides of the pan with a large piece of foil and put it in a large roasting pan.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl for 1 minute. Add the sour cream and beat until just combined. Mix in the eggs by hand, one at time. Mix in the vanilla by hand until just combined. (Take care not to overmix, or the cheesecake will puff up and crack.)
• Put the chocolate chips and peanut butter in 2 separate large microwave-safe bowls. Microwave each in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until the chips and peanut butter are smooth and pourable, about 2 minutes.
• Ladle 2 cups of the cheesecake batter into the bowl with the chocolate and fold until combined. Fold the remaining cheesecake batter into the bowl with the peanut butter until combined.
• Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon and drop alternating scoopfuls of the batter onto the crust. Drag a long wooden skewer through the batter, making sure the skewer reaches the bottom, to marble the colors in a tie-dye effect. Add enough hot water to the roasting pan to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan.
• Bake until the outside of the cake is set, but the center is still slightly loose, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. Remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
• Run a knife around the edge of the pan once more, unmold the cheesecake and transfer to a serving plate or cake stand. Smooth the edges with the knife. Drizzle the hot fudge sauce around the edge of the cake, letting it drip slightly over the sides. Make a decorative ring around the edge of the cheesecake with the miniature peanut butter cups, overlapping them slightly. Make another ring on the inside of the peanut butter cups with the Reese's Pieces. Slice and serve cold with whipped cream and more hot fudge sauce.

PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cream cheese and peanut butter in a large bowl. Beat the mixture in an electric mixer (using a wire whip) until smooth. Gradually add sugar and flour. Beat on medium speed until sugar and flour are incorporated well into cheese and peanut butter mixture. Scrape ingredients from side of bowl before adding eggs. Add eggs gradually and continue to beat on medium speed for two or three minutes until mixture is smooth. Mix in the vanilla extract. Be careful not to over-mix. Remove bowl from mixer. Pour mixture into prepared peanut butter cookie crust. Place cheesecake in oven on center rack. Bake cheesecake in a water bath for approximately 2 hours in 350 degree oven or until tip of a knife comes out clean when inserted in center of cake. Dust with powdered sugar or sprinkle with chopped mint. PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE CRUST: 10 peanut butter cookies 1 teaspoon sugar 2 or 3 tablespoons melted butter Vegetable oil spray
• Use hands to crumble peanut butter cookies in a small mixing bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of melted butter (depending upon the desired consistency). Mix all ingredients well. Spray a 9 by 3-inch springform pan with the vegetable oil. Place ingredients into the bottom of spring form pan. Using fingertips or spoon, press ingredients to form crust.