Baking with a Pro (or someone in baking school)

Last night my sister, Laura, came over and we baked a delicious cheesecake. A peanut butter cup cheesecake to be exact. Laura is in baking school and will probably have her own show on TLC sometime in the next few years (wouldn't that be sweet?!) so baking with her is very exciting. I'll list the recipe at the bottom of the post. Here's our step by step:

First you have to make the crust. You smoosh up graham crackers and Oreos, with sugar, and butter. Then squish it into bottom of the pan and bake it for 7-9 minutes.




After you get the the crust out of the oven, heat peanut butter for 30 seconds in the microwave and then spread over the crust.




First step of the mixture is to blend the cream cheese, sour cream, and sugar.



Once it was blended smooth you add the eggs, and then vanilla. Then you have to put one cup of the mixture into a separate bowl to save for later. Pour the remaining mixture overtop of the peanut butter layer.



Next you heat 1/4 cup of hot fudge for 30 seconds in the microwave and add the fudge topping to the reserved cream cheese mixture. Then spread this mixture overtop of the cake and swirl through with a knife.




Then you bake it for 55-65 minutes.

Once you get it out of the oven you let it cool for 10 minutes and then run a knife around the edge and let it cool for another hour. After the cheesecake has cooled microwave 3/4 cup hot fudge for 30 seconds and spread over the cake. Then garnish with peanut butter cups.




Ta-da! It's done!! And beautiful if I do say so myself!




Recipe
Crust:
1 & 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup crushed cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
6 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Filling:
3 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup hot fudge ice cream topping, divided
6 peanut butter cups, cut into small wedges

The yield for the recipe is 12-14 servings and all baking is done at 350 degrees.

I recommend you try it out! It's delicious! I love baking so if you have any tasty recipes to share please send 'em my way!


*We got this recipe from Taste of Home: Best summer desserts magazine.