Peanut Butter Torte


I don’t think I really need to say anything about this Peanut Butter Torte. The picture above should speak for itself. Okay, but this is me. Of course I have something to say! I love peanut butter and chocolate. I haven’t met very many people who don’t. Hard for me to imagine!

I took this to a family party on Sunday afternoon and it got rave reviews. I really love that this recipe is easy, it doesn’t involve much baking (just 10 minutes for the crust), and it was guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Honestly, I’m glad I took it to a party and didn’t eat the whole thing by myself. I could have. Really. I’m serious. So decadent. So rich. Most delicious peanut butter torte you can imagine.

Also, one more thing – I’ve made so many recipes like this before. I knew what to expect. The greatest thing about this torte was the spiced peanut and chocolate crunch that is folded into the mousse. I can’t believe I almost wasn’t going to use the espresso and the spices! It really made all the difference. Thanks to my husband who convinced me to just follow the recipe and trust Dorie. (Always trust Dorie!)

Scroll down for how to photos.

Some of our other favorite peanut butter and chocolate recipes:
Peanut Butter and Fudge Brownies with Salted Peanuts
Peanut Butter Tart
Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Cake
Peanut Butter Brownies with Milk Chocolate Ganache
Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola

Print
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Peanut Butter Torte

A decadent peanut butter and chocolate torte from Dorie Greenspan’s book, Baking: From My Home To Yours.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • For Crust:
  • 24 Oreo cookies, finely crumbed or ground in a food processor or blender
  • 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled (I used salted)
  • Small pinch of salt (I omitted this)
  • For Crunch:
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped salted peanuts (I used honey roasted)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar (I omitted this)
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder (or finely ground instant coffee)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 c. mini chocolate chips or finely chopped semisweet chocolate (I chopped up some semi-sweet chocolate chips)
  • For Filling:
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped salted peanuts (I used honey roasted)
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted and divided
  • 12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups salted peanut butter – crunchy or smooth (not natural; I used Skippy)
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • For Topping:
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts

Instructions

  1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Butter a 9-inch Springform pan and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat.
  3. For crunch: Toss ½ cup of the chopped peanuts, the sugar, espresso powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate chops together in a small bowl. Set aside.
  4. For crust: Process cookies in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Put the Oreo crumbs, melted butter and salt in another small bowl and stir with a fork just until crumbs are moistened. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the spring form pan (they should go up about 2 inches on the sides). Freeze the crust for 10 minutes.
  5. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a rack and let it cool completely before filling.
  6. For 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.
  7. Wipe out (do not 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Still working with the spatula, stir in the crunchy peanut mixture, then gingerly fold in the remaining whipped cream.
  10. Scrape the mousse into the crust, mounding and smoothing the top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours over overnight; cover with plastic as soon as the mousse firm.
  11. 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.
  12. Bring the remaining ½ cup cream to a full boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and, working with a a rubber spatula, very gently stir together until the ganache is completely blended and glossy.
  13. 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.
  14. When the ganache is firm, remove the sides of the springform pan; it’s easiest to warm the pan with a hairdryer, and then remove the sides, but you can also wrap a kitchen towel damped with hot water around the pan and leave it there for 10 seconds. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Author: Dorie Greenspan
  • Category: Dessert

HOW TO PHOTOS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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44 Comments

  1. stunning! absolutely gorgeous! your torte looks so delicious and I’m glad to know the spices and coffee are essential….I had to sit out this week, but after reading the recipe considered omitting them too!

  2. Your torte looks amazing! Too rich for my taste, but I did like the addition of the spices and espresso…glad you didn’t omit them! Great job! And I love your helpers hand buttering the pan…too cute!

  3. i love all of the beautiful photos of the process! the finished torte looks great, i liked the way the ganache looked but i didn’t think it was necessary with the richness of the rest of it. yours looks yummy!

  4. Awesome I loved the step by step photos. Where did you find the espresso powder? The one thing I wanted and could not find. Beautiful torte!

  5. Looks awesome!

    I also considered omitting the coffee (who has instant coffee around these days?) but decided to just go for it… I was very glad I did as well!

  6. beautiful torte, the crust is so dark and decadent looking! love all the photos. i admit i am horrible at the “gingerly” part of gingerly fold :)

  7. I think i’ll ask for a spring form pan for my anniversary. I so need to make that. I’m pregnant and now i’m craving it…it looks delicious!!! Great post!

  8. I’m going to make this, peanut butter and chocolate speak to my soul. I would love to worm my way to your family parties.

  9. Your torte looks fabulous!!! I love the step by step photos and the one of the itty bitty helping hand. I love that one the most! Well done!

  10. Thanks for all the nice comments everyone!

    Christine–I found the espresso powder by accident, if you can believe it. I was at my local grocery store and happened to see it when I was looking for something else. I’d been looking for it so I could make some tiramisu. I wonder if you could get some from a Starbucks or something? Maybe?

  11. beautiful torte! the ganache was yummy, you should try it next time :) i love the picture of your kitchen helper buttering the pan ;)

  12. Your torte looks amazing! I love your step by step pictures too. I try to do that, but I always end up with food all over my camera! I’m just not coordinated that way. I admire you for doing it so well!

  13. Funny how many times I’ve looked at the recipe already and I just now realized that it was supposed to chill for 4 hours. Oops…didn’t seem to matter :)

  14. Dear Lindsey, I juste discovered you blog, my congratulations, it’s beautiful, I love your recipes, and also beeing a graphist I like to watch pictures, yours are very nice. I will come again to visit you. Best regards.

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