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Delicious chocolate peanut butter cheesecake bars on a white plate.

Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars with Ganache

These decadent chocolate peanut butter cheesecake bars feature a rich chocolate cookie crust, a creamy peanut butter cheesecake filling, and a smooth chocolate ganache topping. Perfect for any special occasion or a sweet treat.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 12 slices
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • medium bowl
  • electric mixer
  • wire rack
  • small saucepan
  • heatproof bowl

Ingredients
  

For the Chocolate Crust:

  • 1 ½ cups chocolate cookie crumbs (e.g., Oreo crumbs)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the Peanut Butter Cheesecake Filling:

  • 2 blocks cream cheese, softened (8-ounce)
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Ganache Topping:

  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (for a slightly sweeter ganache)
  • Chopped peanuts for garnish

Instructions
 

Prepare the Crust

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  • Combine cookie crumbs, sugar, and melted butter, then press firmly into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, then cool slightly.

Make the Cheesecake Filling

  • Beat softened cream cheese until smooth in a large bowl with an electric mixer.
  • Add peanut butter and granulated sugar, beating until well combined and fluffy.
  • Beat in eggs one at a time until just incorporated, then stir in vanilla extract, being careful not to overmix.

Bake the Cheesecake

  • Pour filling over cooled crust and spread evenly.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until edges are golden and the center is slightly jiggly.

Chill

  • Cool completely on a wire rack, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Prepare the Ganache

  • Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan until simmering, then pour over chocolate chips and powdered sugar in a heatproof bowl.
  • Let stand for 5 minutes before whisking until smooth and glossy.

Assemble and Serve

  • Pour ganache over chilled cheesecake, spreading evenly and garnishing with peanuts if desired.
  • Refrigerate for at least another hour until ganache is firm, then slice and serve.

Notes

For best results, ensure all ingredients for the cheesecake filling are at room temperature. For an extra rich ganache, use high-quality chocolate chips. The longer the bars chill, the neater the slices will be. If you don't have chocolate cookie crumbs, you can easily make them by crushing whole chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor.