PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Making the cheesecake:
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a food processor pulverize the chocolate sandwich cookies, butter, sugar and salt.
• Pour into a 9-inch springform pan and pat flat with your fingertips, bringing the cookie crumbs up the sides slightly. Bake the crust for about 10 minutes or until set.
• In a stand mixer, fitted with the beater blade, mix the cream cheese on low speed, scraping down the sides to make sure it is smooth. Add the sugar and sour cream.
• Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, mixing well after each. Add the salt and vanilla.
• Split the batter into two bowls. Add the peanut butter to one bowl and add the jelly to the second.
• Place the pan on a baking sheet. Spread the peanut butter batter over the crust, smoothing out the top.
• Very carefully add the jelly batter over the peanut butter batter.
• Place the cheesecake in the center of the oven. Place a second baking sheet on a lower shelf and fill it with water. The water will create steam in the oven and prevent the cheesecake from developing a hard crust. Bake for about 60 minutes or until set in the center. The top will souffle slightly.
• Allow the cheesecake to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 4 hours. After one hour in the refrigerator, loosely cover with plastic.
• Carefully run a thin-bladed knife around the edge of the pan. Un-mold the cake from the pan.
• To make the ganache:
• In a saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer. Remove from the heat, add the butter and chopped chocolate. Allow to sit for 2 minutes, then stir gently, until totally smooth.
• Place the cheesecake on a cooling rack that is sitting above a baking sheet, lined with parchment. This will catch the excess ganache.
• Let the cake sit on the rack until the ganache has set up, about 45 minutes.
• To decorate the sides see the above video.
• Use a thin knife, dipped in a pitcher of hot water to cut the cake.
• When you cut into it, the peanut butter and jelly layers will reveal themselves.