Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte

This was a lot of firsts for me. First time using my springform pan; fist time making a torte; first time using my new Kitchen Aid mixer attachments; first time making ganache, and I'm sure the list could go on.

I originally saw this on Annie's Eats and I started drooling on the spot. I'm not a fan of peanuts, so I substituted peanuts for chopped Reese cups. Also, I didn't have any espresso powder, so I just omitted it. Both adaptations were not detrimental in the least.

One of the most delicious parts of this dessert is the Oreo crust. I don't know why, but the bottom of my crust will not come off of the pan with the torte =( I'll have to ask some of my cooking friends what I did wrong. I did butter it, but I didn't use a baking sheet underneath, so I wonder if that's what it was.

Overall, I'm not sure I'll make this again unless someone requests it as a gift. I didn't realize how labor intensive it was and how many dishes I'd accumulate from this. It probably didn't help that I was baking on a bummed knee. Taste wise, it's a little too rich for me, but still yummy. If you decide to give this a try, recruit your neighborhood kids to do the dishes :p

Ingredients:
For the crust:
32 Oreo cookies, finely processed into crumbs - I used my KA fine shredder attachment
5 1/3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Small pinch of salt

For the crunch:
1 cup chopped Reese cups
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips - I used regular size
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. espresso powder - Didn't use
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash of ground nutmeg

For the filling:
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
12 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter (not natural)
2 tbsp. whole milk

1/4 cup chopped Reeses

For the topping:

1/2 cup chopped Reeses

1/2 cup heavy cream
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Directions:

To make the crust, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and place it on a baking sheet. Combine the Oreo crumbs, melted butter and salt in a small bowl. Toss with a fork to moisten all of the crumbs. Press into a thin layer covering the bottom and sides of the springform pan. Freeze the crust for 10 minutes. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before filling.

To make the crunch, in another small bowl combine 1 cup chopped Reeses, mini chocolate chips, sugar, espresso powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss with a fork to mix and set aside.

To prepare the filling, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip 2 cups of the cream until it holds medium peaks. Beat in 1/4 cup of confectioners’ sugar and whip until the cream holds medium-firm peaks. Scrape the cream into a separate bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Wipe out (do not wash) the mixer bowl, replace the whisk with the paddle attachment, and beat the cream cheese with the remaining 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar on medium speed until the cream cheese is satiny smooth. Beat in the peanut butter, whole milk, and 1/4 cup of chopped Reeses until well combined.

Using a large rubber spatula, gently stir in about 1/4 of the whipped cream just to lighten the mousse. Still working with the spatula, stir in the crunchy peanut mixture, then gingerly fold in the remaining whipped cream. Scrape the mousse into the crust, mounding and smoothing the top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight; cover with plastic wrap as soon as the mousse firms.

To finish the torte, put the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Leave the bowl over the water just until the chocolate softens and starts to melt, about 3 minutes; remove the bowl from the saucepan. Bring the 1/2 cup of cream to a full boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and, working with a rubber spatula, very gently stir together until the ganache is completely blended and smooth.

Pour the ganache over the torte, smoothing with a metal icing spatula. Scatter the remaining peanuts over the top and chill to set the topping, at least 20 minutes. When the ganache is firm, remove the sides of the springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Source: adapted from Annie's Eats who adapted from Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan