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Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake with a nutter butter crust is a dessert win for the peanut butter cup lovers in your life. Filled with Reese’s and topped with a chocolate ganache, it’s guaranteed to be enjoyed by all.

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake on a white cake pedestal

Easy Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Recipe

Cheesecake is one of the richest of dessert pleasures in life. I have friends that shy away from making them because of the general mindset that you have to bake them in a water bath. There truly is science behind the water bath technique, or for the culinary purists, the bain-marie. I’ve used the bain-marie technique myself. Why use a bain-marie?

  • The purpose is not to generate steam but rather; to provide a moist cooking environment in which the cheesecake gently bakes without over browning.
  • It can also help prevent cracks that may form on top. You’ll be relieved to know that it’s not necessary for this particular cheesecake.
  • How to Make a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)
  • Make Crust Mix together the cookie crumbs, peanuts, sugar and butter. Firmly press on bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8 minutes, then set aside on a rack to cool slightly.
  • Filling – Cream together cream cheese, peanut butter, heavy cream, granulated and brown sugar, all-purpose flour and vanilla.
  • Eggs – Add whole eggs, one at a time. Add the egg yolks, pour half of filling over the crust.
  • Reese’s – Sprinkle 1 cup of chopped peanut butter cups over the filling then pour remaining on top. Spread evenly.
  • Transfer to Oven – Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until the center is set when gently shaken. Cool to room temperature on a cooling rack in the springform pan.
  • Cover loosely and chill for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight before cutting.
  • Ganache – Melt chocolate chips and heavy cream in the microwave until completely smooth.
  • Remove outer ring and smooth sides, if needed. Spread ganache on top of cheesecake. Garnish with chopped peanuts while wet then chill until set. Store chilled.
step-by-step preparation images and ingredients for Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

How to Make the BEST Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Recipe

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake: Plain cream cheese, peanut butter, chopped Reese’s cups, heavy cream, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, large eggs, light brown sugar, all purpose flour, crushed Nutter Butter cookies, semi sweet chocolate chips, chopped peanuts and butter.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: Large bowl, small bol, stand mixer or hand mixer, 9 inch springform pan, measuring cups and spoons, nut chopper or sharp knife and cutting board and cooling rack.
  • For the best end result, it’s important to do some ingredient preparation in advance. For example, the cream cheese and eggs need to be at room temperature before you begin.
  • Take time to allow the cream cheese to fully soften and come to room temperature. Doing so will allow it to blend fully with the remaining ingredients.
  • If you prefer, you can use classic graham cracker crumbs for the crust in place of peanut butter cookies.
  • Secondly, a slow oven works wonders. Some tiny cracks will form on top as the cheesecake puffs up, but, they’ll magically repair themselves as the cheesecake cools and settles.
  • Cool the cheesecake completely to room temperature on the counter before chilling.
  • Lastly,  the most delicious reason; we’re covering the top with a decadent ganache, anyway.  When you taste this cheesecake, I assure you, cracks will be the last thing on your mind, it’s all about love.
  • You my also love to try my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Lasagna and chocolate dipped 3 ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies. 
  • Store Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake chilled in the refrigerator for up tp one week.
  • You can freeze this cheesecake for up to 3 months.
Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake on a cake stand

More Cheesecake Recipes to Make

Baked Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Chill time8 hours
Total Time9 hours 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: cheesecake-recipes, peanut-butter-cup-cheesecake, peanut-butter-cups
Servings: 12 Pieces
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • Crust:
  • 2 cups crushed peanut butter sandwich cookie crumbs [i.e Nutter Butters]
  • 1/2 cup salted cocktail peanuts finely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • Cheesecake:
  • 4 (8 oz) packages softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks
  • 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped peanut butter cups
  • Ganache:
  • 1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • chopped peanuts

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mix together the cookie crumbs, peanuts, sugar and butter. Firmly press on bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8 minutes, then set aside on a rack to cool slightly.
  • Using an electric mixer cream together cream cheese, peanut butter, heavy cream, granulated and brown sugar, all-purpose flour and vanilla.
  • Add whole eggs, one at a time. Add the egg yolks, beating well after each addition. Scrape the side of the bowl as needed. Pour half of filling over the crust.
  • Sprinkle 1 cup of chopped peanut butter cups over the filling then pour remaining on top. Spread evenly. Gently, tap on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles.
  • Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until the center is set when gently shaken. Cool to room temperature on a cooling rack in the springform pan. The edges should begin to pull away from the sides.
  • Cover loosely and chill for at least 8 hours, preferably overnight before cutting.
  • Ganache: Melt chocolate chips and heavy cream in the microwave in 20 second increments, stopping to stir each time. Repeat until completely smooth.
  • Remove outer ring and smooth sides, if needed. Spread ganache on top of cheesecake. Garnish with chopped peanuts while wet then chill until set.
  • Store chilled.
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!
 

20 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this cheesecake for Christmas. It was the largest cheesecake I’ve ever made. It completely filled the springform pan but never overflowed while baking. I served it for dessert and everyone loved it!! Absolutely delicious!! Ingredients and bake time were perfect.

      1. Hi Sara, I’ve not tested this cheesecake recipe as bars so I can’t answer that with certainty. Maybe a 9 x 9 inch pan would work since it’s similar to a springform pan.

  2. In the recipe, it calls for “4 [8] oz softened cream cheese”

    Is that 4 8-ounce blocks, totaling 32 ounces? Or just 4 ounces of an 8oz block? Thanks in advance for clarifying… Didn’t want to find myself knee-deep in cream cheese!

      1. Hi, yes the same temperature for around 75 minutes. You can also lower the oven temperature and bake at 325°F for around 90 minutes.

  3. Try to make this the other day. But the cake was 4 inches above the sides like a shuffle. Inside wasn’t cooked. Went back through all steps and checked everything. Will try it another day.

    1. While the cheesecake does puff slightly while baking I can’t imagine how it could puff up 4-inches. I’m thinking something in the ingredients was off. Yes, please do check the amounts if baked properly it should set.

  4. Hi Linda, As usual I’m intrigued with your thinking…I think these might do well in smaller versions, but, I haven’t tried it.. However, you may consider halving the recipe and freezing leftovers. It freezes very well. If your dairy is super fresh, it can also be made up to 1 week in advance and stored tightly sealed in the fridge. I love this cheesecake, simple and forgiving!

  5. I missed this recipe and am so glad I caught it today. You know this has my name it Melissa! Do you think I could make something like this in individual servings? (I don’t have that many friends who will indulge). I was thinking of maybe making half the recipe and triple lining cupcake wrappers since there’s no water bath. If you think it might work, I’ll give this some attention and have some fun creating. Please advise my friend! Thank you:) Sounds so heavenly, if I can’t make the minis, I’ll end up making the whole cake, lol

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