Please, take a minute and get yourself ready for this recipe. It might be shocking to see how how delicious this Reese‘s Caramel Cheesecake actually is! It starts with a buttery, crispy Oreo crust. Then we’ll fill that with a creamy, silky, luscious layer of peanut butter cheesecake and chopped Reese’s cups. Once that’s baked, we’ll top the whole thing with a shiny semi-sweet chocolate ganache, more chopped Reese’s cups, and a generous drizzle of caramel sauce. Yum!
Why pair peanut butter with caramel?
If you haven’t tried this combination, You simply must! The sweet, salty, rich flavor of caramel sauce enhances the sweet, salty, nutty flavor of peanut butter. This seemingly small addition really takes this baked cheesecake dessert to a whole new level! Looking for more caramel desserts? Try my Caramel Popcorn, Better than Sex Cake, or Carmelitas.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Caramel
A Decadent Dessert –This homemade peanut butter cheesecake is over-the-top amazing! This is not diet food – it’s a creamy, rich, peanut butter indulgence with added layers of chocolate ganache and gooey caramel. A Traditional Baked Cheesecake – While no-bake cheesecake recipes, and No Bake Peanut Butter Pie have their place, this Reese’s cheesecake is so good because it’s baked in the traditional way. The Best Oreo Crust – I am a sucker for a good cookie crust! Crushed oreos mixed with butter create a thick, crispy layer to hold all of the peanut butter caramel goodness that we’re about to pile on.
Key Ingredients
Organizing your ingredients before you get started will make the process simple and smooth. Here’s what you need, and some details about the most important ingredients: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Oreo Crust: A homemade Oreo cookie crust requires just 2 ingredients: Oreos and melted butter. You’ll need about 24 cookies, so a regular sized package is perfect. Cream Cheese: For this cheesecake recipe, be sure to use regular, full-fat blocks of cream cheese. You’ll need 3 bricks, softened. Eggs: Eggs act as a binder and stabilizer in this baked peanut butter cheesecake recipe. Allow them to come to room temperature before mixing them into the filling. Sour Cream and Heavy Cream: These help to thin the cheesecake batter down perfectly while making it even creamier. Peanut Butter: Smooth, creamy peanut butter adds tremendous flavor here. Avoid crunchy peanut butter – it won’t work the same way. Vanilla Extract Granulated Sugar Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: I’m using a combination of mini peanut butter cups and regular sized ones for the topping, but that’s mostly for looks. You’ll need chopped Reese’s cups to stir into the cheesecake as well. Chocolate Topping: To make this rich chocolate ganache, we’ll melt semi-sweet chocolate chips with steaming heavy cream. Caramel Sauce: Store-bought caramel sauce is perfect for this recipe. I like to buy the kind that comes in a squeeze bottle for easy application. You can also go all-out and make homemade caramel sauce to use as a topping too.
How To Make Reese’s Caramel Cheesecake
Recipe Tips
Prepping the Crust: Be sure to press the Oreo crumbs down firmly into the pan. A flat-bottomed measuring cup can help to make the bottom smooth and even. Mix Well: When adding ingredients to the mixing bowl for the cheesecake filling, be sure to stop frequently to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. This will ensure a smooth, well-blended mixture. Room Temperature Cream Cheese is a Must: Cold cream cheese will not blend smoothly and will leave you with lumps. Give the cream cheese a couple of hours on the counter before making this recipe. The water bath is important, as it keeps the moisture level in the oven high. Another way to create this moist environment is to place a pan of boiling water on the rack underneath the cheesecake.
Storing Tips
If this dessert lasts more than a day, I would be very surprised, but you can keep it well-wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze cheesecake. Cut it into individual slices, wrap each one in plastic wrap, and store the slices in a freezer bag or container. Let the slices thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Reese’s Caramel Cheesecake Variations
Want to play around with this recipe a little bit? Here are a few tasty ideas!
Try a different crust. Instead of Oreos, try it with Nutter Butter cookies, graham crackers, chocolate brownies, or shortbread cookies. Mix Ins. Instead of just peanut butter cups, stir in some miniature chocolate chips, chopped rolo candy, or chopped Snickers bars. Toppings. Try adding stabilized whipped cream, chopped peanuts, chopped oreos, or chocolate chips to the top of the cheesecake, too!
Do I need to use a water bath to bake this cheesecake?
A water bath is important, as it keeps the moisture level in the oven high. That humid environment will keep the cheesecake from cracking. If you do get some cracks, they’ll be covered with the ganache, so you don’t need to worry so much about it.
Can I make this with low-fat cream cheese?
I don’t generally recommend baking with low-fat dairy products. This is a very rich dessert, and making it with full-fat cream cheese will give you the best flavor and texture. Reese’s Caramel Cheesecake – Absolutely the most decadent cheesecake recipe I’ve made so far, and a new favorite for you to try! Save this recipe for the next time you want to really impress your friends and family, and Pin it for more people to enjoy too! © Little Sunny Kitchen
