Banana Peanut Butter Cheesecake aka "The Elvis"

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 70 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

This banana peanut butter cheesecake aka "The Elvis" recipe combines peanut butter and bananas. Garnish with toasted coconut and top with ganache.

Ingredients

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons white sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3/4 teaspoon banana extract
1 cup peanut butter chips
1/4 cup half-and-half
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup white sugar
3 eggs at room temperature
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with a circle of waxed paper.
2 Combine graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, melted butter, and ¾ teaspoon banana extract in a bowl until mixture holds together; press into the bottom of the prepared cake pan, using a second 8-inch cake pan to press crust firmly into pan.
3 Bake in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, about 8 minutes; set aside to cool.
4 Pour about 1 inch water into the bottom of a double boiler; bring to a boil. Place peanut butter chips and half-and-half in the top of the double boiler; set over bottom of the boiler (boiling water shouldn't touch top boiler). Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth; set aside to cool.
5 Place cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until smooth. Increase speed to medium; beat in ½ cup sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Beat in bananas, lemon juice, remaining ½ teaspoon banana extract, and vanilla extract, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl. Beat in peanut butter chip mixture until smooth and even; pour into crust.
6 Place cheesecake in a large baking pan; add enough hot water to come most of the way up the sides of the cheesecake pan.
7 Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 1 hour. Turn oven off, open door, and let cheesecake cool slowly in the oven for 1 hour.
8 Run a knife around edges of cheesecake; flip the pan onto a wire rack. Place a dish towel on the bottom of the pan; rub dish towel with a hot water-filled tea kettle to gently heat the bottom of the cheesecake. Slowly remove pan. Place a serving platter on top; flip cake onto platter, using the wire rack. Refrigerate cheesecake for 8 hours.