Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

By

Ingredients

  • Brownie Crust:
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup peanut butter chip
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Cheesecake Filling:
  • 2 lbs cream cheese, softened
  • 5 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter (not natural-style
  • )
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 6 peanut butter cups, cut into quarters
  • Decoration:
  • 6 peanut butter cups, cut carefully in half
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup peanut butter cup

Preparation

Step 1

For the Brownie Layer:

* Heat oven to 350°F Grease 9-inch springform pan with butter.

* Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with spoon or wire whisk.

* Add eggs; stir until well blended.

* Stir in flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; blend well.

* Spread in prepared pan.

* Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until brownie begins to pull away from side of pan. (While brownie layer is cooking, make cheesecake layer.)

* Immediately after removing brownie from oven, sprinkle milk chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and peanut butter cups over brownie surface.

* Spoon cheesecake mixture over chips. Turn oven down to 325°.

**********************************************************************

For the Cheesecake Layer:

* Beat cream cheese in bowl of electric mixer until smooth.

* Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

* Add sugar, peanut butter and cream; mix until smooth.

* Stir in vanilla.

* Pour filling into prepared crust (brownie).

**********************************************************************

* Double-wrap springform pan with aluminum foil to prevent water seeping inches.

* Place springform pan into a larger baking pan.

* Pour hot water into the larger pan so that the water comes 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan.

* Bake at 325 degrees 1-1/2 hours, or until firm and lightly golden.

* Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for one hour.

* Run a knife along the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan somewhat.

* Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before decorating.

**********************************************************************

To Decorate- (makes a lot extra-try using it on individual slices after cutting):

* Remove cake from pan and set on plate.

* Bring whipping cream to boil in a small saucepan.

* Remove from heat and add semi-sweet and peanut butter chips. Stir, stir, stir until melted and smooth.

* Drizzle over cake and then add peanut butter cup halves around the edge of the cake.

***********************************************************************
***********************************************************************