Butterfinger Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust

• 2 1/4 cups (302g) Oreo crumbs

• 4 tablespoons (56g) salted butter, melted

Filling

• 24 ounces (678g) cream cheese, room temperature

• 1 cup (207g) sugar

• 3 tablespoons (24g) all purpose flour

• 3/4 cup (173g) sour cream, room temperature

• 1/2 cup (140g) peanut butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 4 large eggs, room temperature

• 1 1/2 cups (12 fun sized bars) chopped Butterfingers

Chocolate Ganache

• 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Peanut Butter Whipped Cream

• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

• 1/2 cup (58g) powdered sugar

• 2 tbsp (35g) peanut butter

• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

• Chopped Butterfingers

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Instructions

Crust

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper on the bottom and grease the sides. Combine the crust ingredients in a small bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom of the springform pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool.

Cover the outsides of the pan with aluminum foil and set aside.

Cheesecake

Reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Chop Butterfingers and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and flour on low speed until well combined and completely smooth. Be sure to use low speed to reduce the amount of air added to the batter, which can cause cracks. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the sour cream, peanut butter and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly to combine after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well combined. Stir in chopped Butterfingers. Pour the cheesecake batter evenly into the crust.

Place the springform pan inside another larger pan. Fill the outside pan with enough warm water to go about halfway up the sides of the springform pan. The water should not go above the top edge of the aluminum foil on the springform pan. Bake for 1 hour 25 minutes. The center should be set, but still jiggly.

Turn off the oven and leave the door closed for 30 minutes. The cheesecake will continue to cook, but slowly begin to cool as well. Crack the door of the oven for 30 minutes to allow the cheesecake to continue to cool slowly. This process helps prevent cracking. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and water bath wrapping. Refrigerate until firm, 5-6 hours or overnight. When the cheesecake is cool and firm, remove from the springform pan and set on a serving plate.

Decorate

Make the chocolate ganache by putting the chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl and set them aside. Pour the heavy whipping cream into another heat proof bowl and microwave it until it just begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips. Allow chocolate and cream to sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Pour the ganache onto the cheesecake and spread into an even layer.

Next make the whipped cream. Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, peanut butter and vanilla extract to a large mixer bowl and whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip.

Fill a piping bag fitted with a piping tip with whipped cream. Pipe shells of whipped cream around the edge of the cheesecake. Chop a few fun-sized Butterfingers for the topping and sprinkle over the cheesecake. Refrigerate cheesecake until ready to serve.