PEEPS® Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PEEPS® Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake: combine chocolate, raspberry and cheesecake for a delicious dessert that all your PEEPS® will love!

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110118/PH30400 )

9 PEEPS® Milk or Dark Chocolate Covered Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow Hearts

1 box brownie mix

• see package for additional ingredients

3 pkgs. (8 oz. ea.) cream cheese, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup sour cream

6 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. almond extract

1/2 cup raspberry jam or preserves

Directions:

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Spray springform pan with non-stick cooking spray and pour brownie mix into pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in springform pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in sour cream and eggs. Add vanilla and almond extracts.
3. Pour cheesecake mixture over cooled brownie crust in springform pan. Using a fork, gently swirl raspberry jam or preserves into cheesecake batter.
4. Place cheesecake in middle of oven. Fill a large oven-safe pan with hot water and place on rack underneath cheesecake. (This will keep the oven moisture high and help to prevent cracking on the surface of the cheesecake.)
5. Bake cheesecake at 325 degrees for 1 hour 25 minutes or until cheesecake top is firm but mixture still jiggles slightly when gently shaken.
6. Turn off oven but leave cheesecake in closed oven for 20 minutes to cool down slowly.
7. When cheesecake is still slightly warm, remove from oven and place PEEPS® Milk or Dark Chocolate Covered Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow Hearts evenly around the base of the cheesecake, firmly pressing each piece into the cheesecake until it sticks. In the same manner, place one PEEPS® Milk or Dark Chocolate Covered Raspberry Flavored Marshmallow Heart on top of the cheesecake.
8. Let cheesecake cool for 1 hour. Refrigerate covered at least 4 hours or overnight.

Makes:

About 12 servings

Warning:

Pans removed from oven will be extremely hot. Please use heat resistant oven mitts. Parental supervision is advised.

More delicious PEEPS® Valentine's Day recipes and crafts can be found at www.marshmallowpeeps.com.

SOURCE Just Born, Inc.