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.