Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9-inch springform pan by wrapping the bottom and sides with aluminum foil for a water bath. In a bowl, combine the chocolate cookie crumbs with melted unsalted butter, mixing until well-coated. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 10 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool, then reduce the temperature to 325°F (163°C).

In a large mixing bowl, beat room temperature cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth and creamy, which should take about 2–3 minutes. Gradually add in the creamy peanut butter, mixing until fully incorporated. Then, add eggs one at a time on low speed, ensuring each is well blended before adding the next one. Finally, stir in heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is uniform and silky.

Carefully pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust and smooth the top with a spatula. Place the springform pan in a larger roasting pan and fill the outer pan with hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan. Bake in the 325°F (163°C) oven for about 70-80 minutes. The cheesecake should be set with a slight jiggle in the center. After baking, turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool inside with the door slightly ajar for 1 hour.

While the cheesecake is cooling, make the ganache by heating heavy cream in a small saucepan until it simmers but does not boil. Remove from heat and pour it over the chopped semi-sweet chocolate in a bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes to soften the chocolate, then whisk until smooth and glossy. Once the cheesecake has cooled completely in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight, pour the ganache over the top, allowing it to drizzle down the sides.

Once the ganache is set, cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an additional hour before serving. When ready to serve your chocolate peanut butter cheesecake, carefully run a knife around the edges and unclip the springform pan. For clean slices, dip the knife in hot water and wipe it before each cut. Enjoy!