Description
Imagine a soft, buttery cookie with golden edges, a creamy cheesecake center, and gooey caramel swirled on top. These caramel cheesecake cookies are like if a cheesecake and a cookie had a delicious little baby—and yes, they taste just as indulgent as they sound. No water bath, no springform pan, just pure cookie bliss in every bite.
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
For the cheesecake filling:
6 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
For topping:
¼ cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Sea salt flakes (optional, but a game-changer)
Instructions
1. Make the filling first.
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Scoop into 1-teaspoon-sized mounds onto a parchment-lined plate and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
2. Make the cookie dough.
Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet until fully combined.
3. Shape the cookies.
Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of dough. Flatten slightly in your hand, place a frozen cheesecake ball in the center, and wrap the dough around it to seal. Roll into a smooth ball and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Chill the dough balls.
Let them rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. This helps keep them thick and chewy.
5. Bake!
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes, until edges are golden but centers are still soft. Let them cool for 5 minutes on the pan.
6. Add caramel magic.
Drizzle warm caramel over each cookie. Sprinkle with sea salt if you’re into that salty-sweet thing. Let the caramel set slightly before digging in (if you can wait).
Notes
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for a full dessert moment
Package in a cute box for gifting (they travel well)
Enjoy cold from the fridge like a chilled cheesecake bite
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~210 kcal per cookie
- Carbohydrates: ~22g per cookie
- Protein: ~3g per cookie