Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen
Crust:
7 whole graham crackers, broken into 1-inch pieces
6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
Filling:
2 (8 oz. each) packages cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
12 Reese’s peanut butter cups (0.75 oz each), divided, cut into 6 pieces each
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Prepare a 8-inch square baking pan by lining the pan with aluminum
foil, leaving 3-4 inches of foil draping over the sides of the pan.
The Crust:
Place graham crackers into the bowl of a food
processor and pulse until the crackers form fine crumbs, about 30
seconds. To the crumbs, add butter, brown sugar, flour, and salt.
Pulse until the ingredients are fully combined. Using the bottom of a
measuring cup or your fingers, press the crumbs into the bottom of the
prepared pan.
Bake until the crust is beginning to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let the crust cool on a cooling rack for about 30 minutes.
The filling:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until it is very
smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape the beaters and sides of bowl
frequently. Gradually beat in granulated sugar until the mixture is
combined, about 1 minute. Beat in eggs, one a time, making sure that
each is fully incorporated. Beat in sour cream and vanilla extract
until fully combined, about 30 seconds.
Unwrap and cut 9 Reese’s peanut butter cups (0.75 ounce each) into 6
pieces. Gently fold into the cream cheese mixture. Scrape the cream
cheese mixture into the baking pan, over top of the cooled crust.
Spread evenly.
Bake until the edges are set but the middle still jiggles slightly
when the pan is shaken slightly, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pan
halfway through baking.
Place the pan on a cooling rack and allow the bars to cool for 2
hours. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 3 hours,
and up to 24 hours.
Using the overhanging foil, lift the bars from the pan. Gently remove the foil and cut into 16 bars.
Place bittersweet chocolate in a small bowl. Microwave on 50% power
until melted, stirring every 15 seconds. Drizzle the chocolate over the
bars, top each with a small chunk of a Reese’s peanut butter cup and
serve.
Makes 16 bars.
*Amazing. Nothing more to say. Oh, yeah-I pinned this from http://www.cookincanuck.com-some great recipes on her blog!