Peanut Butter Coconut Cheesecake

Description
Chef Aviva's Famous Peanut Butter Coconut Cheesecake has been recognized as the best Peanut Butter Recipe in New York!

See Also Chef Aviva's Cookbookwiki Category More of Chef Aviva's Recipes Interview with Chef Aviva Chef Profile: Aviva

External Links www.avivaskitchen.com

Crust

 * 1 1/4 cups crushed, finely, coconut cookies
 * 6 TB melted butter
 * 1/2 TB sugar

Filling

 * 16 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
 * 1 cup sugar
 * 1 cup natural peanut butter
 * 1 cup Coconut Milk, refrigerated for at least an hour
 * 1 TB Real Vanilla Extract
 * 3 Eggs
 * Toasted Coconut, optional, for garnish
 * Whipped Cream, optional, for garnish

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap heavy duty aluminum foil on the outside of a 9 inch spring form pan. Set aside. For the cookie crust: melt the butter and mix with the sugar and crushed coconut cookies. Push the mixture in to the bottom of the spring form pan and slightly up the sides. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly while making the filling.

Filling:
On low speed, mix the cream cheese for about 30 seconds. Add the peanut butter, coconut milk and sugar and mix for another 30 seconds to 1 minute. Do not over mix. You just want the ingredients incorporated and smooth. Next add the eggs and vanilla and mix again for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until the mixture is smooth and eggs are incorporated. Make sure that you scrape the bottom of the bowl and remix a little if there is still cream cheese that has not incorporated fully into the mixture.

Pour the filling in to the pre-baked crust and set in a water bath in the oven. Cook for about 50-60 minutes, or until the edges have just set and the middle is still slightly wobbly. The cheesecake will fully set as it cools and overnight in the refrigerator. Let the cheesecake cool completely on a wire rack, about an hour. Carefully run a small knife around the outside of the cake before covering with saran wrap and refrigerating (this helps to ensure that there won't be cracks as it chills). Chill overnight. or at least 8-10 hours. When removing the cheesecake from the spring form pan, it is helpful to sometimes heat the bottom over the stove top to loosen the crust from the pan. Top with toasted coconut and a some whipped cream and enjoy!