Best Peanut Butter Crunch Cheesecake Squares Recipes

CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE SQUARES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line (with foil) and grease (either non-stick spray or butter) a 9x13 pan (I use a glass casserole dish from Pyrex).
• 2. For chocolate crust:
• 3. Mix together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. With beater, beat in the butter and egg. Spread with spatula in bottom of 9x13 pan.
• 4. Sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips (might be less... I just sprinkle until evenly coated) onto crust.
• 5. For Cheesecake Batter:
• 6. Place the bowl and beater for whipping the whipping cream in the freezer for about 5 minutes until frosted. Whip the whipping cream until stiff (whipped cream doesn't fall off the beater.) Set aside.
• 7. Cream together the cream cheese, peanut butter, and sugar. Scrape bowl occasionally to ensure it's evenly mixed. Add, vanilla extract and whipped cream and blend together. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated.
• 8. Pour batter onto crust. Take butter knife and swirl just through batter (not all the way to the bottom) to ensure no air bubbles in batter.
• 9. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.
• 10. Turn off oven, LEAVING THE DOOR CLOSED!!!!! Leave cheesecake in oven for 35 minutes longer.
• 11. Take out cheesecake and cool completely. (In a pinch I throw it in the freezer after cooling on the counter for 15 minutes)
• 12. For chocolate ganache:
• 13. Heat 1 cup heavy cream over medium heat until warm- almost hot.
• 14. Pull from heat and add semi- sweet chocolate chips. DO NOT STIR!!!
• 15. After the cream has cooled, transfer mixture to mixing bowl. (the chocolate will have melted) Beat on high until smooth and creamy. To make frosting instead of ganache (like pictured) add in 1 stick butter. before beating until smooth)
• 16. Spread over cooled cheesecake. (I do this step after removing the cheesecake from the pan- which is why I line the pan with foil).
• 17. Cut into bars and serve.

PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE SQUARES

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2. For base, combine crumbs and 3 tablespoons sugar in small bowl.
• 3. Combine melted butter flavor shortening and one tablespoon milk.
• 4. Stir into crumbs.
• 5. Press lightly into 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan.
• 6. Bake at 350 for 20 to 22 minutes.
• 7. For filling, beat cream cheese and peanut butter in small bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended.
• 8. Add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup milk and egg.
• 9. Beat well.
• 10. Stir in chopped nuts.
• 11. Spread over baked crust.
• 12. Return to oven.
• 13. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, or until set.
• 14. For drizzle, melt chocolate chips and butter flavor shortening on very low heat or at 50% power in microwave.
• 15. Stir to combine.
• 16. Drizzle from end of spoon back and forth over top.
• 17. Chill.
• 18. Cut into 2 x 2-inch squares.
• 19. Cover.
• 20. Store in refrigerator.

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.