Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

I think I've said it before but I love the website http://foodgawker.com/ and I came across the recipe for this cheesecake and wanted it instantly. Dave also loves peanut butter and chocolate together. So I made this and it was delicious however it made way too much and I froze some of it.

Ingredients
2 cups Oreo crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
4x 8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
5 eggs, room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 bag mini peanut butter cups

Topping:
1/2 cup peanut butter
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
3/4 cup heavy cream
15 mini peanut butter cups (saved from the cheesecake ingredients)


Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together Oreo crumbs and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9" springform pan and bake for 15 minutes. Cool.

Beat cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each. Add sugar, peanut butter, and cream; mix thoroughly. Stir in vanilla. Pour half of the mixture into the cooled crust, layer with some of the smaller peanut butter cups, then top with remaining cheesecake mixture.

Bake for 1 hour. The sides of the cheesecake should be set but the middle will be a little jiggly. (it should not be runny) Cool slightly then put it into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Chop up the chocolate and melt it in a double boiler (or microwave). Cool slightly then add all but 1 tablespoon of cream. Stir and then pour over the cool cheesecake (while still in the springform pan). Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Place peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of whipping cream in a bowl and microwave until it's a runny consistency. Either place the mixture in a piping bag or using a spoon, top the cheesecake with a peanut butter swirl. Before the swirl sets, surround the outer edge of the cheesecake with the remaining mini peanut butter cups.

Original idea and recipe came from
http://thefoodieandthefamily.blogspot.com/2011/05/peanut-butter-chocolate-cheesecake.html