Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Oh my gosh.  This has everything that is good, all in one dessert.  Peanut butter, peanuts, pretzels, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, cream cheese, and sour cream.  Think Sound of Music....."these are a few of my favorite things."  Do I sound like Julie Andrews?  You're lucky this is the Internet because I sound nothing like Julie Andrews.

This recipe is from the Taste of Home Cooking School.  Basically it is quite easy.  The hardest part is mixing the cream cheese and sugar and if you use a stand mixer it isn't a problem at all.

Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Crust:
1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
1/3 cup butter (melted)

Filling:

5 packages of cream cheese (softened)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs lightly beaten
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Topping:

1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped peanuts

In small bowl combine pretzels and butter.  Press onto bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a greased 10 inch spring form pan.  Place on baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.

In large bowl beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Add peanut butter and vanilla.  Mix well.  Add eggs, beat on low.  Stir in chips.  Pour over crust.  Return to pan to baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until center is almost set.  Remove from oven and let stand for 15 minutes.  Leave the oven on.

For topping combine in small bowl sour cream, peanut butter, and sugar.  Spread over filling.  Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.  Bake for 5 minutes longer.

Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.  Carefully run knife around the edge of pan to loosen.  Cool one hour.  Refrigerate overnight.  Remove sides of pan before serving.  Refrigerate the leftovers.