Ingredients
For the pretzel crust:
- 4 cups pretzels, crushed into fine crumbs (about 1 1/2 cups crumbs)
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
For the cheesecake:
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For the chocolate peanut butter ganache:
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (3 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
Directions
For the crust:
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
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Combine the pretzel crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, using the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to pack very firmly into the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the chocolate chips. Bake for another 2 minutes. Remove from oven and smooth the melted chocolate chips with an offset spatula. Let cool completely.
For the filling:
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In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until well combined and smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined. Add in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt and beat until just combined. Pour over the cooled crust.
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Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until the cheesecake is set at the edges but ever so slightly jiggly in the middle. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill the cheesecake in the fridge until very cold, at least 3 hours. The cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
For the topping:
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Place the cream in a glass measuring cup. Microwave for 25 seconds, or until steaming hot but not bubbling. Add in the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Let sit for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Remove to a zip-top bag, snip a very small hole in one corner, and drizzle over the cheesecake. Serve or refrigerate.
OMGEEEE, I made this last night and THEN read all the comments. I thought I wasted all that time because of the reviews. I made it in a spring form round pan. I just have to say that it came out fantastic! I wasn’t too excited to taste it because I didn’t want to be disappointed. I followed all of the directions you listed, step by step and it turned out perfect. The crust hed together nicely and cutting through the chocolate was not difficult. I will definitely make this again
So happy to hear that, Cynthia!!! 🙂
Crust fell apart and chocolate chip layer didn’t melt enough after the two minutes, so I went for longer. Cheesecake part was actually fine along with the topping. I will be making changes to it next time.
I was really looking forward to this, the pictures look amazing! But I’m very disappointed. The crust completely fell apart when I tried spreading the chocolate. I ended up having to mix the chocolate into the pretzels to see if that worked, but it was still really hard to cut into and there wasn’t much flavor at all. The cheesecake filling was easy to make and smelled so good, but it ended up being a little under baked and didn’t have much flavor. Overall, a very disappointing result after an hour of preparation and a whole night of waiting to eat it. I wish I had read the comments before attempting this instead of just going off the pictures.
Hi Becca! I’m sorry to hear that these bars did not turn out as you had hoped! Please feel free to email us at [email protected] if you would like any assistance troubleshooting here! We are always more than happy to help!
I can’t wait to try this it sounds sooooo good!
Quick question…. can these be made a head of time & frozen?
Hi there! Unfortunately, we have not tried freezing these. If you do wish to try, I would recommend wrapping them well in plastic wrap and storing in an airtight container. You would then just thaw them overnight in the fridge. Let us know how it goes 🙂
Can you make this as a Cheesecake?
I haven’t tried baking this in anything but an 8 by 8-inch pan, so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
This sounded really good so I went ahead and made it despite some discouraging comments. Cheesecake portion is really good, but pretzel crust falls apart super easy & you can’t really eat this with a fork because the layer of chocolate is really hard once refrigerated.
Made this last night!!
Very, very delish!!!
Will make it again!!
We ALL loved it!!
Thank you for giving me another evil in my life!!
can this be doubled and still turn out,like I’m thinking a 13×9 pan?
I love, love this cheesecake
I made these for our 4th of July party and they were just OK for everyone. They look better than they hold together. The pretzel crust didn’t work for me either. It completely falls apart and some either got all cheesecake or all pretzel bits. I wonder if the pretzel part would go better between the chocolate towards the bottom and the cheesecake on the top. Or maybe add more butter & sugar to keep the pretzels binded together. Thanks for the idea!
These were amazing. Mine turned out fabulous!! I am sad I have to share these and I can’t eat all of them. Delicious recipe!!! And as Lauren said…the ganache is awesome!!!
I made these for thanksgiving. They tasted okay. Not worth all the work in my opinion. The chocolate and cream cheese layer separates easily the ganache was amazing though!
Your site is a SURE go to for EXCELLENT recipes, always turning out GREAT! But unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. The pretzel crust was just pretzel crumbs, the melted chocolate chips wouldn’t spread leaving cheesecake portion to seprare. I followed the recipe exactly. If I had to do over, I would probably use graham cracker crust instead.
These were honestly disappointing. I was sooo excited to make them, but the crust was crazy hard – maybe my pretzels were crushed too finely? – and the cheesecake layer didn’t stay on the chocolate layer. Everything tasted fine, but it was just difficult to serve and eat.
Tessa! I’m head over heels for these. They’re over the top in the best way possible my friend.
I was not sure because of the reviews but if it has Sally’s approval, I am game. I have another recipe site due to Sally’s review.
so glad i stumbled across your blog.. your killing me with all your delicious recipes. this look AMAZING… definitely craving one now. thanks, ill be back!
Thanks so much!
I have found Satan’s blog.
Ha!
This is my kind of dessert – so irresistible!
Omg, Tessa – these look EPIC! I want some now.
These bars look wonderful! I love that thick chocolate peanut butter ganache drizzle. And the pretzel crust sounds perfect with chocolate and peanut butter! Yum. 🙂
chocolate, peanut butter, pretzels, cheesecake???! I NEED this in my life!!
These look absolutely amazing! Your photos are just incredible! And what a perfect combination – all of my favorite things in one delicious bar! Pinned 🙂