This is not for the faint-hearted. Unashamed indulgence, wallowingly so, is what this recipe is all about: think Reese's Peanut Butter cup in cheesecake form. For that reason, I don't bake this in a water-bath as I do the Banoffee cheesecake. The water-bath is excellent if you want a silky texture, but for me, the peanut butter constituent demands a certain amount of pleasurable, palate-cleaving clagginess. And baked like this, too, the top gets a slight crust when it's cooked, making it all the easier to spread the chocolate topping.
The ingredients should be at room temperature before you start.
Recipe posted by Nigella
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Yummy!!!
Posted by zerogee0 on 26th Apr 2011 at 18.48
This is just what I've been looking for. Perfect for my peanut butter loving husband.
Posted by Juls34 on 1st May 2011 at 12.12
I have made this lovely cheesecake in honour of the royal wedding, which I watched with my friends. They really loved the cake and all demanded the recipe. The cakes filling was nice and soft and not dry or crumbly :-) Thumps up Nigella! :-)
Posted by FrauJantje on 2nd May 2011 at 12.11
This may not sound very nice but believe me it has to be one of the best cheesecakes I have ever made and Im not that keen on peanut butter. Would make it again especially for parties as it goes down as a huge hit.
Posted by twilight625 on 22nd Jun 2011 at 15.14
It looks delicious...havent made it yet but will soon :)
Posted by Farihah on 26th Jun 2011 at 11.28
So easy to make and everyone I have made it for raves about it. I find it takes a wee bit longer in the oven than the recipe says, but that might well be my oven! Fabulous
Posted by Tigergirl on 12th Jul 2011 at 18.14
I can't wait to try out this recipe i'm 12 yrs old and adore peanut butter and choccy
Posted by Bella 12 on 16th Jul 2011 at 5.36
DELICOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cant wait to try this
Posted by Bella 12 on 16th Jul 2011 at 5.39
One word - Fabulous :)
Posted by DanielaTodaro on 25th Jul 2011 at 6.43
MY FAMILY SAW THIS AT 10 PM WHEN YOU MADE IT IN TLC WE LOVED IT WE LIKE WATCHING YOU IN THE TLC COOKING MY ENTIRE LOVES THE WAY YOU COOK CAKES I AM GOING TO MAKE THE SIMPLE CAKES IN MY SHOP AND WILL SELL THEM THANKS NIGELLA I DO LOVE YOUR OTHER FOOD ALSO WILL TALK LATER UMESH
Posted by umeshmenon on 11th Aug 2011 at 14.35
I made this a while ago and have to confess will probably not make it again!! It was soo scrumptious I couldnt stop eating it! I only needed a wee slice at a time mind you cos it is quite heavy but yum, yum, yum. Everyone has to try this one.
Posted by mrslawson on 30th Aug 2011 at 17.44
I have made this cake Twice now and everyone who has eaten is completely amazed!! thank you soo much nigella for this wonderful recipe and for brightening up our televisions :)
Posted by tinx on 22nd Oct 2011 at 6.59
Just tried it. It was an absolute hit. Thanks a lot, Nigella
Posted by maddy168 on 8th Nov 2011 at 14.44
I'm not a baker but tried this one as my husband and I love peanut butter. This turned out to be so good and very easy to make. We loved it so much. Now my husband knows that I can bake and wants this cake everytime!!!!
Posted by Cryptic on 24th Nov 2011 at 4.26
I have a question, when the cheesecake gets put back in the oven after the topping has been put on, is the oven on or is it just the residual heat that sets the top?
Posted by Jao on 16th Dec 2011 at 5.23
I made this as my contribution to Christmas lunch with friends. It was a hit! Easy to make and worked well first time. It was deliciously rich and smooth. Not overly peanut buttery-you could get away with serving it to someone who is not a peanut butter addict. They must have liked it anyway...I left with bagged up ham, stuffing, yule log etc but they kept the leftover cheesecake!
Posted by grainnemurphy on 27th Dec 2011 at 17.29
Thanks so much Nigella. I made it for my mom & dad's 30th wedding anniversary and they just loved it....
Posted by gourishivam on 1st Jan 2012 at 15.14
very very good;))
Posted by pavoneriflessivo on 31st Jan 2012 at 11.07
Mine is in the oven as we speak, I can't wait to see how it turns out, I hope as good as Nigellas! :D
Posted by spudrudd on 31st Jan 2012 at 16.45
Gnam! My colleagues love this cake...and the others too ;)))
Posted by pavoneriflessivo on 17th Feb 2012 at 13.30
I have made this cheesecake 3 times now and love it!
Posted by BHarrison on 17th Jun 2012 at 0.54
Not for the faint-hearted indeed! :o) Made this last week for my husband's birthday. He had said he wanted either a chocolate cake or a cheesecake. He also loves loves loves peanut butter desserts and ice creams. I thought... why not combine everything into one big indulgent treat? And thank you Nigella for having the perfect recipe all ready for me to make! This is a little marvel in the way the flavours of the base, the filling and the topping complement each other. For example, the topping alone would be too sweet. But, had in a full bite with the rest, it's just perfection! Do let it chill overnight though... I had to make it on the day, in the morning, to be had in the evening. While it was very good, the base had not yet fully compacted so it was a little bit crumbly still. I thought it was just me but, after a night in the fridge, the base had set into its intended consistency :o) It actually kept getting better and better over the next couple days. After which... well... it had all been fully consumed!!! I will be spending my upcoming birthday back home in Lebanon and will definitely be treating all my friends and family there to this on said occasion :oD
Posted by haifa.ungapen on 27th Sep 2012 at 9.35
I don't have a food processor.....'cry'
Posted by Ozlie on 16th Oct 2012 at 18.43
This has got to be one of, if not the best cheesecake that I have had. I have only started to become more confident with making desserts, and this was really easy to make. My parents both love this cheesecake and have requested I make it for their 25th anniversary, though I am trying it with a white chocolate top instead.
Posted by RaraRamyRa on 30th Oct 2012 at 6.40
Two words...simple perfection!
Posted by melanyrangitutia on 1st Nov 2012 at 7.29
Made this for new year's day party first time and no one could believe i'd never made it before. Went down a treat!!
Posted by RUBY M on 3rd Jan 2013 at 0.05
The best tasting dessert I have ever made. You don't have to have a food processor - used my 30 yr old grinder (could use a rolling pin and strong plastic bag) to process ingredients for the base (used unsalted peanuts and threw in a little salt to compensate) and melted the butter (slightly salted) in the microwave and combined. For the filling, as I only had 400 g of cream cheese I reduced the peanut butter to around 200 g and the sour cream to 100 ml (leaving 200 ml for the topping - handy, as it came in a 300 ml carton) Before serving I dusted the cake with sieved cocoa powder. Delicious!!
Posted by squirl on 6th Jan 2013 at 19.30
i made this cheesecake :P mmm ... yummmy :) i used lower fat and sugar digestive biscuits, half fat cream cheese and sour cream for my ingredients :) turned out as nice :) with a 'few' less calories lol :)
Posted by lady sarah on 25th Jan 2013 at 15.27
This was the first cheesecake I ever made and I loved it! Everyone who tried absolutely loved it, perfectly unusual combination.
Posted by antoniagordita on 14th Apr 2013 at 16.28
I really loved the recipe, but here in Brazil is a little hard to find some ingredients like peanut butter and sour cream. However, i discovered a way to make homemade sour cream and i found a market that sell peanut butter. Thanks, Nigella, for make us explore different flavors and ingredients. Huge fan. ps: very sad because in the next days ur are coming to my country, but i live in south. :(
Posted by gabrielaporto on 3rd May 2013 at 6.52