Peanut Butter-Brownie Cheesecake

Since we had the no-bake cheesecake, my family wanted me to make another one right away.  When it's that good, there's no stopping the craving!

This one is obviously a baked cheesecake, which I haven't made for a long time I didn't think I would be successful.  I managed to bake it just right with only a sliver of crack.  That 2 minutes extra time I added at the end was unnecessary obviously.

The combo flavor is the one that everyone loves.  But don't be alarmed that I used up a small jar of peanut butter to make the filling!  I'm sure my PCP won't be too happy with the cholesterol-laden food I'm eating at home.

The brownie bottom has bits of bittersweet chocolate which I thought was nice.  The recipe calls for finely chopped, but I went with perhaps bigger pieces.  Brownie was chewy and chocolaty, a perfect vessel for the creamy and smooth peanut butter filling.

We didn't polish this off in one day, we couldn't anyway.  We ate sliver by sliver until it's no more.  I found out that I like eating cheesecake when it's really cold while my son likes it at room temperature.

Well, here is the recipe; give it a try!

Peanut-Butter Brownie Cheesecake

Serves 12 servings


Crust:
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, diced
1/2 cup sifted unbleached all-purpose flour (sifted, then measured)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 ounce bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Filling:
12 ounces Philadelphia-brand cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/3 cups creamy peanut butter

Topping:
3/4 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

To make the crust:  Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350F.  Butter 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides.  Dust pan lightly with flour; tap out excess.

Stir unsweetened chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth.  Cool.  Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder in small bowl to blend.  Using electric mixer, beat eggs and brown sugar in medium bowl until very thick, abut 4 minutes.  Scrape down sides of bowl.  Beat in melted chocolate mixture, vanilla, and chopped bittersweet chocolate.  Add flour mixture and beat until just blended.

Spread 1 cup brownie batter over bottom of prepared pan.  Bake until firm, about 17 minutes.  Cool bottom crust in pan in freezer 15 minutes.  Maintain oven temperature.

To make the filling:  Blend cream cheese and brown sugar in processor until smooth.  Add eggs and sour cream; using on/off turns, process until mixture is smooth, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl.  Using on/off turns, blend in peanut butter.  Using small knife, spread remaining brownie batter evenly around sides of pan, sealing batter to bottom crust.  Pour in filling (filling will not be as high as brownie batter).

Bake until center of cheesecake is gently set and brownie sides have fallen to form 1-inch-wide ring around filling, about 30 minutes.

To make the topping:  Whisk sour cream and sugar in small bowl to blend.  Spread evenly atop hot cheesecake to within 3/4 inch of edge.  Bake cheesecake 1 minute longer.

Set cake on rack.  Cut around top edge of pan sides to loosen cake.  Cool cake completely.  Place peanut butter in pastry bag fitted with small (No.1) star tip.  Pipe tiny rosettes of peanut butter around edge of sour cream.  Chill cake until rosettes are firm, about 30 minutes.  Cover pan tightly with foil and chill cake overnight.

Cut around pan sides to loosen cake.  Remove pan sides.  Transfer cheesecake to platter.  Cut into wedges and serve.


Source:  adapted from Bon Appetit Desserts