Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte

I know this post is a little  over two months late. Things have been pretty hectic in my life lately and I haven't been giving the blog much attention at all. I am sorry for that.


This torte was made in honor of my father for Father's Day this year. Anyone who know him knows that he has an unhealthy obsession with peanut butter. I mean, I LOVE peanut butter but he takes it to a whole new level. Growing up I was always amazed at how he could eat the giant mountain of peanut butter he would slather on one slice of bread and lightly top it off with a little jelly. Actually, I am still pretty amazed by that since I'm pretty sure if I tried to eat something like that my mouth would be sealed shut.
Anyways, back to the torte. TO DIE FOR. Chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven to begin with but take the peanut butter and transform it into a creamy mousse and top it off with smooth, silky chocolate ganache.... I'm drooling just thinking about it. And best of all - Daddy loved it!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte

Source: Brown Eyed Baker

1¼ cups finely chopped salted peanuts (for the filling, crunch, and toppings)

2 teaspoons sugar

½ teaspoon instant espresso powder (or finely ground instant coffee)

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

½ cup mini chocolate chips (or finely chopped semisweet chocolate)

24 Oreo cookies, finely crumbled or ground in a food processor or blender

½ stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Small pinch of salt

2½ cups heavy cream

1¼ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1½ cups salted peanut butter – crunchy or smooth (not natural)

2 tablespoons whole milk

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat.

Toss ½ cup of the chopped peanuts, the sugar, espresso powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate chips together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Put the Oreo crumbs, melted butter and salt in another small bowl and stir with a fork just until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan (they should go up about 2 inches on the sides). Freeze the crust for 10 minutes.

Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a rack and let it cool completely before filling.

Working with a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, whip 2 cups of the cream until it holds medium peaks. Beat in ¼ cup of the confectioners’ sugar and whip until the cream holds medium-firm peaks. Scrape the cream into a bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Wipe out (no need to wash) the bowl, fit the stand mixer with the paddle attachment if you have one, or continue with the hand mixer, and beat the cream cheese with the remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar on medium speed until the cream cheese is satiny smooth. Beat in the peanut butter, ¼ cup of the chopped peanuts and the milk.

Using a large rubber spatula, gently stir in about one quarter 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 and set the bowl 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 remaining ½ cup 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 glossy.

Pour the ganache over the torte, smoothing it with a metal icing spatula. Scatter the remaining ½ cup peanuts over the top and chill to set the topping, about 20 minutes.

When the ganache is firm, remove the sides of the springform pan; it’s easiest to warm the pan with a hairdryer, then remove the sides, but you can also wrap a kitchen towel dampened with hot water around the pan and leave it there for 10 seconds. Refrigerate until ready to serve.