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Over the top Reese’s Cheesecake is a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake dream! This peanut butter cheesecake has a chocolate crust, reese’s peanut butter cheesecake filling swirled with reese’s cups and a layer of chocolate ganache. Top with more reese’s cups for a double reese’s cheesecake!
This is one extreme reese’s peanut butter cup cheesecake! It has..
- a chocolate graham cracker crust
- peanut butter cheesecake with peanut butter cups baked inside
- chocolate ganache
- peanut butter buttercream swirls
- and more peanut butter cups
All of the garnishes are optional, but if you’re making a reese’s cheesecake, why not go all the way and add everything, right?
How to Make Oreo Crust for Cheesecake
2 INGREDIENT GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
- oreo crumbs or chocolate graham cracker crumbs: Blend the whole cookie in a blender until you have oreo crumbs! 2 cups of oreo crumbs is about half the oreo package.
- butter: this most crucial ingredient in binding the crust together
Mix all the crust ingredients together and then firmly press the crust into the bottom and up the sides of a springform pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or bottom of a glass cup to help pack the crust.
How to Make Reese’s Cheesecake
Our reese’s peanut butter cheesecake recipe only calls for 6 ingredients!
- cream cheese: use three 8 oz packages. Be sure to use full fat, not low fat, cream cheese for best results.
- sugar: helps to balance the tanginess of the cream cheese.
- peanut butter: that’s where the peanut butter is coming from!
- peanut butter chocolate coffee creamer OR heavy cream: the reese’s flavored creamer adds more chocolate peanut butter flavor and richness. Heavy cream can be used as a substitute to create the same rich texture.
- eggs: eggs are the last ingredient that get mixed into the cheesecake batter. Be sure to mix them in, one at a time, just until the yolk breaks. Over beating the eggs is the number one cause of air bubbles and cracking.
- reese’s cups: chopped and folded into the cheesecake batter ?
How to Make the Perfect Reese’s Cup Cheesecake
Every single cheesecake recipe I have on my site, I include two critical tips. Here are the 2 most important details to follow when making cheesecake..
1. Don’t be afraid of the water bath
2.Don’t rush the cooling process
Keep reading below for details on each tip!
How to Make a Cheesecake Water Bath
I know it sounds weird, putting your cheesecake in a water bath, but it’s the secret to creating moist, perfectly baked cheesecake. It’s really not scary.
The basics of a water bath: Place a springform pan inside a large cake or roasting pan, fill the roasting pan with about 1 inch of water and place in the oven.
How to Prevent your Cheesecake Water Bath from Leaking
This is the best trick ever to prevent your cheesecake water bath from leaking and ruining your cheesecake.
Place the springform pan inside a large oven safe turkey bag or slow cooker liner bag and roll down the top of the bag so it doesn’t cover the cheesecake. If you have a lot of excess bag space, twist one side tight and knot it so the bag is tight around the pan. Place the springform pan that’s inside the bag in the large roasting pan and fill with water.
The water bath will not leak into your cheesecake!
How to Cool Cheesecake
Remember, don’t rush the cooling process.
Once the cheesecake is done baking turn the oven off and gently remove the springform pan from the water bath and oven safe bag. Place the cheesecake on a baking sheet and return to the oven (oven is off) with the oven door cracked.
A slow cooling process will help prevent the cheesecake from cracking. Don’t forget to refrigerate your cheesecake over night before serving.
Tips for Double Reese’s Cheesecake
- Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature before beating it. Room temperature cream cheese is easier to whip.
- The eggs are the last ingredient that get mixed into the cheesecake batter. Be sure to mix them in, one at a time, just until the yolk breaks. Over beating the eggs is the number one cause of air bubbles and cracking.
- Using a different size springform pan will alter the baking time. I used a 8 inch springform pan.
- Allow the cheesecake to cool in the oven (with the door cracked) for 1 hour.
How to Freeze a Whole Cheesecake
- Cool the cheesecake completely before freezing. You can allow it to cool on the counter or you can place it in the fridge over night to chill before freezing.
- Use a knife to remove the outer springform ring. Use the knife to gently remove the cheesecake from the bottom of the pan. Place the cheesecake on a round cardboard circle that’s been covered in aluminum foil. Make sure the cardboard circle is the same size as the cheesecake.
- Wrap the entire cheesecake (without any toppings) well in plastic wrap. Then wrap the cheesecake in aluminum foil for extra protection. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the cheesecake in the fridge overnight. Add toppings before serving.
More reese’s cup desserts
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Reese’s Cheesecake
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs or oreo crumbs
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (1/2 stick)
Cheesecake
- 3 packages cream cheese at room temperature, 8 oz each, I like to use full fat
- ½ cup sugar
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter, not natural
- ½ cup peanut butter chocolate coffee creamer, like International Delight Reese’s creamer OR substitute heavy cream
- 3 large eggs
- 16 Reese’s cups, chopped into smaller pieces
Chocolate Ganache
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Peanut Butter Frosting Swirls
- ½ stick unsalted butter, 1/4 cup, room temperature
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
CRUST
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- Pulse the whole oreos (or chocolate graham crackers) in a blender or food processor until they are very fine. Measure out 2 cups of crumbs.
- In a small bowl, combine the crumbs with the melted butter, mix well until incorporated.
- Add the crumbs to a 8 or 9 inch springform pan, distribute them evenly, using a cup or the bottom of something flat to press the crumbs into the pan. If desired, you can have the crumbs go up the sides of the pan a bit.
- Place the pan in the oven, pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven, and allow it to cool to room temperature before adding the cheesecake mixture. To speed this up, you can put the springform pan in the fridge.
- Turn the oven down to 325º F.
CHEESECAKE
- Place the round springform pan inside an oven safe bag ( like one that you’d cook a turkey in for thanksgiving) and roll the top of the bag down so it doesn’t cover the cheesecake. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the 3 packages of cream cheese until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add in the sugar, peanut butter and reese’s coffee cream (or heavy cream), beat again.
- Add in the eggs, ONE at a time, beating just until the egg yolk breaks, then add in the next, etc. Beat the mixture for 1 additional minute. Do not over beat, this is why I recommend only 1 minute.
- Add the chopped reese’s cups and gently fold into the batter with a spatula. Pour the cheesecake mixture on top of the cooled crust.
- Place the springform pan in a 9×13 inch pan or larger roasting pan. Carefully fill the roasting pan with about 1 inch of water.
- Place the water bath with the cheesecake inside in the oven and bake at 325º F for 65-85 minutes *see note. The cheesecake is done when the center wobbles a little when you jiggle the pan. The edges of the cheesecake should look firmer than the center.
- Once the cheesecake is done baking, turn the oven off and gently remove the springform pan from the water bath and oven safe bag. Place the cheesecake on a baking sheet and return to the oven (oven is off) with the oven door cracked. Allow the cheesecake to cool to room temperature inside the oven before removing – this could be 60-90 minutes.
- Once cooled to room temperature, remove the cheesecake from the oven. Loosely cover the cheesecake with foil and place in the fridge overnight.
- Before serving, carefully unmold the cheesecake from the pan. Use a small spatula to assist any parts that are sticking to the pan. Allow the pan to do most of the work, some of the cheesecake may stick to the pan, but the cheesecake should naturally separate from the pan.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- Place the chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the heavy cream to a boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat and pour the heavy cream over the chocolate chips. Allow the mixture to sit for 1 minute, melting the chocolate chips, then stir well to mix. Allow the ganache to cool for 5-7 minutes before adding it to the cheesecake.
TO ASSEMBLE
- Pour/spoon the chocolate ganache on top of the cheesecake, using a spatula to spread it around.
- Add peanut butter buttercream swirls to the edge of the cheesecake. Add additional chopped reese’s cups. Cut and serve. Store leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge.
Peanut Butter Frosting
- In a small mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer for 1 minute, until smooth. Beat in the peanut butter and powdered sugar until incorporated. Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fit with a Wilton 1M tip or similar.
Video
Notes
- 8 inch cheesecake baking time: 75-85 minutes
- 9 inch cheesecake baking time: 65-75 minutes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
Im overseas in Germany and I know for a fact we wont ever get this creamer. What can I use as a substitute? Just regular heavy cream or a combo of cream and sour cream?
I would suggest heavy cream!
Any suggestions for substitutions for the Reese creamer,?
Hmm, that is tough! Because a substitution won’t give the same chocolate PB flavor – but you can use heavy cream.
Isn’t that a non-dairy product?
I plan to use real cream with a little peanut butter and some chocolate syrup (or instant espresso powder).
Can you make this in a bigger cheesecake pan? Like a 9″ or 10″? What changes, if any, would have to be made for the bigger pan?
A 9 inch cheesecake pan instead of an 8 inch one wouldn’t change things too much – maybe the baking time slightly. I would google to see what other people recommend baking 9 inch cheesecakes for!
Are the peanut butter cups supposed to be full size Reese’s or minis?
Either should be fine! Mini’s are a little easier though to cut in half and put on top of the cheescake!
Amazing!!! Couldn’t find Reese’s creamer used Oreo aiD creamer mixed with heavy whipping cream. Made this for my hubby’s birthday and everyone loved it!!! I even used gluten free Oreos and crust was great!!! Will make again! It was very decadent!
So I know most cheesecake recipes ask for sour cream, will I mix that in as well as the peanut butter or is the peanut butter a substitution?
Hi Jessime! Our recipe does not use sour cream – please follow the recipe as written!
Hello,
I was curious if it would be ok to use a 10 inch springform pan? But still be a tall cheesecake?
Chelsea
Hi Chelsea! You can definitely bake this in a 10 inch springform pan, but it won’t be as tall. I notice a big difference in the cheesecake height between an 8 inch and 9 inch pan, so a 10 inch would be even shorter.
Hi,
How far in advance can I make this?
2-3 days and it will keep great covered in plastic wrap in the fridge!
I made this for a family gathering. I couldn’t find the Reese’s creamer, so subbed heavy cream. This was wonderful! Everyone absolutely loved it! It was just right—not sickeningly sweet. It looked beautiful too—I didn’t have decorating tips but found a tutorial online of how to use a plastic freezer bag to get the same effect. Everyone was impressed with how it looked and after tasting they were very impressed with the taste as well. Will definitely be keeping this recipe!