Description
Soft, chewy cookies with a creamy cheesecake center and a luscious caramel drizzle these treats bring together buttery sweetness and tangy richness in every bite. Perfect for when you want to impress or simply treat yourself to something indulgent and irresistible.
Ingredients
Scale
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For the Cookies:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Caramel Drizzle:
- ½ cup soft caramels or caramel sauce
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Cookies: Scoop 1 tablespoon of cookie dough and flatten it slightly. Spoon 1 teaspoon of the cheesecake filling into the center, then top with another tablespoon of dough. Pinch the edges to seal and roll lightly to smooth.
- Bake: Arrange cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until edges turn light golden brown. Let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Add the Caramel Drizzle: Melt caramels with heavy cream (microwave or stovetop) until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cookies and let set before serving.
Notes
- Softened Ingredients Matter: Make sure both the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature before mixing. This ensures a smooth, even batter without lumps, creating the perfect creamy texture in every layer.
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when you take them out. They’ll continue cooking on the tray, keeping them soft and chewy inside.
- Seal Edges Well: Be sure to fully encase the cheesecake filling with dough to prevent leakage during baking. A well-sealed cookie keeps the creamy center intact and gooey.
- Consistent Size: Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookies that bake evenly. It’s a simple way to ensure consistent texture and appearance across the whole batch.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: caramel cheesecake cookies, filled cookies, caramel dessert, cream cheese cookies, holiday baking, chewy caramel cookies