Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Name: Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Ingredients: 32 Nutter Butter cookies (16 ounces); 1/2 cup butter, melted; FILLING:; 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips, melted; 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 large eggs, lightly beaten; TOPPING:; 2 cups miniature marshmallows; 3/4 cup peanut butter; 2/3 cup light corn syrup; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1-1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped, divided

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 45 min. Bake: 50 min. + chilling YIELD: 16 servings.

After a co-worker shared a recipe for a great bar cookie, I made it into a cheesecake using my standard recipe and tweaking it a bit. It’s a wonderful combination of sweet and salty. —Joyce Schamberger, Amboy, Illinois

Ingredients

32 Nutter Butter cookies (16 ounces)
1/2 cup butter, melted
FILLING:
3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips, melted
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
TOPPING:
2 cups miniature marshmallows
3/4 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 10-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan.
2. Place cookies in a food processor; pulse until finely crushed. Transfer to a bowl; stir in melted butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in melted chips, milk and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan.
4. Bake 45-55 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Top with marshmallows; bake 2-3 minutes longer or until marshmallows are softened. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer.
5. In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, corn syrup and butter; cook and stir over low heat until blended. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Sprinkle 1 cup peanuts over cheesecake; top with peanut butter mixture.
6. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan. Sprinkle remaining peanuts over top.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 743 calories, 49g fat (21g saturated fat), 114mg cholesterol, 547mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (39g sugars, 3g fiber), 18g protein.