Banana Peanut Butter Cheesecake Aka The Elvis Food

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA CAKE (AKA: ELVIS CAKE)

Steps:

• FROSTING: With an electric mixer beat together the butter and peanut butter until smooth. Slowly mix/beat in the powdered sugar and milk until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. Add mashed banana and mix thoroughly (it's okay if it has small lumps of banana in it. Chill until needed.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 2 9" round pie pans with bakers ease (or grease and flour pans). Set aside.
• CAKE: In a medium bowl and with an electric mixer, beat the peanut butter, sliced banana, oil and water together on medium speed until mostly smooth or only a few very small pieces of banana are visible. On low speed beat in the egg, cocoa powder and the cake mix. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 1 minute or until batter is well blended, adding more water if needed (batter will be thick). If using, gently fold in peanuts.
• Spoon an equal amount of batter into each round, Bake on center rack for 15-20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of cakes comes out clean. Cool on rack.
• Remove frosting from fridge while cake is cooling. Frost cake when ready. Sprinkle the top and/or sides with an even amount of the chopped peanuts. Garnish the top of with a dried banana chip for each slice. Refrigerate until serving. Note, you can also make cupcakes or a sheetcake if you choose. Keep refrigerated.

BANANA PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE AKA "THE ELVIS"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with a circle of waxed paper.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, 3/4 teaspoon banana extract, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a bowl until mixture holds together; transfer into bottom of prepared cake pan. Use a second 8-inch cake pan to press the crust firmly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pour water to a depth of about 1 inch into the bottom of a double boiler and bring to a boil. Place peanut butter chips and half-and-half into the top of the boiler and set over the bottom of the boiler (boiling water shouldn't touch top boiler). Stir until the chips have melted and the mixture is smooth; set aside to cool.
• Place cream cheese into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer and slowly mix, using paddle attachment, until cream cheese is smooth. Increase speed to medium and beat in 1/2 cup sugar. Beat eggs into mixture, 1 at a time, blending the next egg in after the previous one is fully incorporated. Beat in bananas, vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon banana extract, and lemon juice, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl. Finally, beat in peanut butter chip mixture until cheesecake batter is smooth and even. Pour filling into the graham cracker crust.
• Set the cheesecake on a large baking pan. Pour enough water into the baking pan to reach most of the way up the sides of the cheesecake pan, creating a water bath. Bake cheesecake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 1 hour. Turn off oven, open door, and let cheesecake cool slowly in the oven for 1 hour.
• Run a knife around the inside of the cheesecake pan and flip the pan over onto a cooling rack. Place a dish towel on the bottom of the pan. Use a hot water-filled tea kettle to rub the dish towel, gently heating the bottom of the cheesecake; slowly remove pan. Place a serving platter on top and use the wire rack to flip the cake back over onto platter. Refrigerate cheesecake for 8 hours.

ELVIS PRESLEY'S FRIED PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA SANDWICH

Steps:

• Place 2 pieces of white bread in the toaster on a light setting. Heat skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons butter. While the bread is toasting, in a small bowl, using a fork mash the ripe banana until it reaches a smooth consistency. Using a knife, take both pieces of the toasted bread and spread 2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter, topping 1 side with the mashed banana. Place 1 slice of bread on top of the other forming a sandwich. Place sandwich in hot skillet browning each side, flipping with a spatula, about 2 minutes per side. Take out of skillet, slice on a diagonal and serve on a plate.

BANANA PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE AKA "THE ELVIS"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with a circle of waxed paper (parchment paper).
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, 3/4 teaspoons banana extract, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a bowl until mixture holds together; transfer into bottom of prepared cake pan. Use a second 8-inch cake pan to press the crust firmly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pour water to a depth of about 1 inch into the bottom of a double boiler and bring to a boil. Place peanut butter chips and half-and-half into the top of the boiler and set over the bottom of the boiler (boiling water shouldn't touch the top boiler). Stir until the chips have melted and the mixture is smooth; set aside to cool.
• Place cream cheese into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer and slowly mix, using paddle attachment, until cream cheese is smooth. Increase speed to medium and beat in 1/2 cup sugar. Beat eggs into mixture, 1 at a time, blending the next egg in after the previous one is fully incorporated. Beat in bananas, vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon banana extract, and lemon juice, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl. Finally, beat in the peanut butter chip mixture until cheesecake batter is smooth and even. Pour filling into the graham cracker crust.
• Set the cheesecake on a large baking pan. Pour enough water into the baking pan to reach most of the way up the sides of the cheesecake pan, creating a water bath. Bake cheesecake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 1 hour. Turn off oven, open door, and let cheesecake cool slowly in the oven for 1 hour.
• Run a knife around the inside of the cheesecake pan and flip the pan over onto a cooling rack. Place a dish towel on the bottom of the pan. Use a hot water-filled tea kettle to bud the dish towel, gently heating the bottom of the cheesecake; slowly remove pan. Place a serving platter on top and use the wire rack to flip the cheesecake back over onto the platter. Refrigerate cheesecake for 8 hours before slicing.

BANANA PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE AKA "THE ELVIS"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with a circle of waxed paper.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, 3/4 teaspoon banana extract, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a bowl until mixture holds together; transfer into bottom of prepared cake pan. Use a second 8-inch cake pan to press the crust firmly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pour water to a depth of about 1 inch into the bottom of a double boiler and bring to a boil. Place peanut butter chips and half-and-half into the top of the boiler and set over the bottom of the boiler (boiling water shouldn't touch top boiler). Stir until the chips have melted and the mixture is smooth; set aside to cool.
• Place cream cheese into the mixing bowl of a stand mixer and slowly mix, using paddle attachment, until cream cheese is smooth. Increase speed to medium and beat in 1/2 cup sugar. Beat eggs into mixture, 1 at a time, blending the next egg in after the previous one is fully incorporated. Beat in bananas, vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon banana extract, and lemon juice, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl. Finally, beat in peanut butter chip mixture until cheesecake batter is smooth and even. Pour filling into the graham cracker crust.
• Set the cheesecake on a large baking pan. Pour enough water into the baking pan to reach most of the way up the sides of the cheesecake pan, creating a water bath. Bake cheesecake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 1 hour. Turn off oven, open door, and let cheesecake cool slowly in the oven for 1 hour.
• Run a knife around the inside of the cheesecake pan and flip the pan over onto a cooling rack. Place a dish towel on the bottom of the pan. Use a hot water-filled tea kettle to rub the dish towel, gently heating the bottom of the cheesecake; slowly remove pan. Place a serving platter on top and use the wire rack to flip the cake back over onto platter. Refrigerate cheesecake for 8 hours.

THE ELVIS PEANUT BUTTER BANANA BURGER

Steps:

• Heat a griddle over medium heat. Butter the inside slices of each burger bun, then toast in the skillet until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over low heat; pan-fry the bacon for 2 minutes, then increase heat to medium-high and continue to pan-fry until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes, turning often. Drain on paper towels and discard most of the bacon grease.
• Cut each banana lengthwise into long slices, about 4 inches in length. Pour the sugar into a small bowl, then add in the banana slices to coat both sides in sugar. Fry the banana slices in the same skillet over medium heat until caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Cook the burgers on a griddle over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side, seasoning with salt and pepper. Press down firmly with a spatula to flatten the patties as they cook. A thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
• To assemble the burgers, lay down the bottom half the burger bun and spread on 1 tablespoon peanut butter. Place a burger patty on top, then add another tablespoon of peanut butter. Top with 2 to 3 slices of caramelized bananas, then 2 to 3 pieces of bacon. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon honey, then place the remaining burger bun on top.