Description

These Caramel Cheesecake Cookies combine rich, creamy cheesecake filling with buttery caramel and soft, chewy cookie dough for an irresistible treat. The cookies have a gooey center encased in a golden-baked dough, perfect for anyone craving a decadent dessert that melts in your mouth. With a simple assembly process and a quick bake time, these cookies are perfect for dessert lovers and make a delightful addition to any cookie platter.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (150g) brown sugar
¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt

Cheesecake Filling

4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp granulated sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract

Caramel

¼ cup (60ml) caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Optional Garnishes

Sea salt flakes
Crushed graham crackers
White chocolate drizzle

Instructions

Make the Cheesecake Filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Whip the mixture until smooth and creamy. Spoon or pipe the filling into 7 small mounds on parchment paper and freeze for 20–30 minutes to ensure the filling stays intact during baking.
Prepare the Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, beat together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until fully incorporated.
Assemble the Cookies: Divide the cookie dough into 14 equal portions. Flatten each portion in your palm, place a frozen cheesecake filling mound and a small spoonful of caramel sauce in the center. Cover with another flattened dough portion, seal the edges well, and gently roll into a ball. Optionally, sprinkle the tops with sea salt flakes or crushed graham crackers for extra flavor and texture.
Bake and Cool: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the assembled cookies 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the cookie edges turn golden and the centers appear soft. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Freezing the cheesecake filling before assembly helps the center remain creamy and prevents leakage during baking.
Using a high-quality caramel sauce adds a rich buttery flavor to the cookies.
If the room temperature is warm, chilling the dough slightly before assembly helps prevent spreading during baking.
Do not over-bake; the cookie centers should remain slightly soft for an ideal chewy texture.
You can customize these cookies by adding dried apple bits to the dough and using spiced caramel for an autumn twist.

Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Category: Dessert, Cookies
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: caramel cheesecake cookies, soft cookies, gooey center, caramel dessert, cream cheese cookies, homemade cookies, easy cookie recipe