Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

For the crust:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs


• 1/3 cup sugar


• 8 tablespoons (1 stick), unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter until well blended.


3. Press the mixture into the sides and bottom of a nine-inch deep dish pie plate.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.


4. Cool completely.

For the filling:

Ingredients:

• 14 ounces cream cheese, softened


• 2 cups sugar


• 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter


• 1 tablespoon vanilla


• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted


• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl.  Add the peanut butter and vanilla and mix well.


2. Beat in the melted butter gradually.


3. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form.


4. Gently fold the cream into the peanut butter mixture using a spatula.  Do not over beat.


5. Pour into the prepared, cool crust and refrigerate for several hours until set.

For the Ganache:

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream


• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate finely chopped (high-quality such as Ghiradelli – not chocolate chips)

Instructions:

1. Bring the cream to a boil in a saucepan.  Pour over the chocolate in a bowl.  Stir gently to melt the chocolate and mix well.


2. Cool slightly and spread evenly over the pie.


3. Chill until served.


4. Cut with a knife that has been heated under hot water and wiped dry between each slice.