Description
Whipping up caramel cheesecake cookies means diving into pure dessert bliss that connects family and friends around the table. These sweet treats bring creamy cheesecake richness together with buttery caramel in one perfect handheld cookie that makes everyone smile.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 8 ounces cream cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup caramel sauce
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Optional: sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cookie removal.
- Cream 1 cup softened butter with 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy.
- Add 2 large eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the butter mixture, blending until completely incorporated and silky.
- Whisk 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt in a separate bowl, then gradually fold into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.
- In another bowl, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese with ¼ cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until the filling becomes creamy and uniform.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten it into a small disc on the prepared baking sheet, creating space for the cheesecake center.
- Place 1 teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center of each cookie dough disc, then gently fold the edges of the dough over to completely enclose the filling.
- Arrange the filled cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheets and bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes, until edges turn light golden brown.
- Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Drizzle ½ cup caramel sauce over the cooled cookies and sprinkle with sea salt if desired, creating a decadent finishing touch.
Notes
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and ensure a thick, chewy cookie texture.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for the smoothest, lump-free cheesecake filling.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend that contains xanthan gum.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate to extend freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 279 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg