BUTTER IN CHEESECAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine pretzels and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add peanut butter and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs; beat on low just until combined. Stir in chips. Pour over the crust. Return pan to baking sheet., Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from the oven; let stand for 15 minutes (leave oven on)., For topping, in a small bowl, combine the sour cream, peanut butter and sugar; spread over filling. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake 5 minutes longer., Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Line the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Wrap the outside bottom of the pan with aluminum foil; this will prevent water from seeping in during baking.
• Prepare crust: Grind cookie thins in a food processor into a fine texture. Pour melted butter in slowly and pulse until combined. Press crumb mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of the prepared pan.
• Prepare filling: Beat cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat in brown sugar, peanut butter, whipping cream, and vanilla extract until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.
• Pour 1/2 of the filling into the prepared pan and smooth it out with a spatula. Add mini peanut butter cups in an even layer on top, then pour remaining filling over, smoothing with a spatula. Place pan in a large baking pan and fill with 1 inch hot water.
• Set baking pan in the middle of the preheated oven and bake until edges are puffed and surface of cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken, about 1 1/2 hours. Run the tip of a table knife around the edges of the pan, set the pan on a wire rack, and allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature, about 1 hour.
• While the cheesecake is cooling, prepare ganache: Place chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat whipping cream in a small saucepan until simmering, then pour over chocolate chips. Mix until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Spread ganache on top of the cheesecake.
• Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours before serving.