• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Prepare a 9-inch springform pan with butter or cooking spray.
• Wrap foil around outside of the pan. Set aside.
• Get out and measure all of your ingredients! You are about to make an amazing cheesecake!
  
• In a small bowl combine crumbs and butter.
• Press mixture evenly into the bottom of your springform pan. Set aside.
• In a medium sized bowl beat cream cheese at medium speed until smooth.
  
• Add sugar and continue to beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  
• Add eggs, sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla. Scrape down sides of your bowl as necessary.
  
• Reserve 1 ½ cups of the batter in small bowl. Set aside.
• Add your peanut butter to the remaining batter and combine until incorporated.
• Add melted chocolate to your reserved 1 ½ cups batter and stir to combine.
  
• Pour over top of your crumb crust. Spread chocolate as evenly as possible over top of your crumb crust.
  
• Pour remaining peanut butter batter over top of the chocolate. Smooth the top.
  
• Place springform pan on to a rimmed baking sheet and place in the oven. Pour as much hot water as you can on top of your rimmed baking sheet, surrounding your springform pan, like a moat. Water should surround springform pan and be about ½ to ¾ of an inch deep.
• Bake for between 75 and 90 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cheesecake should rise and brown on top.
  
• Remove from oven and allow to cool completely inside the springform pan.

Chocolate Ganache if Using, if not Go Below Back to the Cake

• In a microwave safe bowl or in your saucepan, heat heavy or whipping cream until almost boiling.
• Add chocolate, allow to gently simmer and whisk until mixture thickens and is smooth.
• If using your microwave, heat cream for 1 minute on high, add chocolate, heat on medium and stir every 15 seconds until smooth.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool and thicken for about 10 minutes, stirring periodically. 
• Pour your chocolate ganache all over the top of your cheesecake.
• Smooth ganache as desired with a spatula and sprinkle your chopped peanut butter cups across the top to decorate if you would like. 
• Allow cake to completely cool before placing in fridge overnight to set. You will be glad you did. 

Back to the Cake

• Once cool, place in fridge and totally cover for the night.
• When serving use a hot knife to slice (it is so much easier) and add whipped cream and chocolate sauce if desired. Enjoy!
  
• Remove springform pan and prepare to serve.