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Caramel Cheesecake Cookies

Indulge in the luxurious textures of these Caramel Cheesecake Cookies, featuring a soft chewy cookie filled with ribbons of cheesecake and salted caramel.
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Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 240
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the cookie dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cornstarch (for tenderness)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
For the cheesecake swirl
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar (for cheesecake swirl)
For assembly
  • 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce (more for drizzling)
  • Flaky sea salt, for finishing

Method
 

Preheat and prep
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. If your oven runs hot, set to 325°F and use an oven thermometer for accuracy.
Make the cookie dough
  1. Cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
  2. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet until combined.
Prepare cheesecake swirl
  1. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
  2. Transfer to a piping bag or small zip-top bag with a corner snipped.
Assemble the cookies
  1. Scoop 2-tablespoon mounds of cookie dough onto the prepared sheet, leaving 2 inches between.
  2. Flatten each mound slightly.
  3. Pipe a small dollop (about 1 tsp) of cheesecake onto the center of each cookie, and add a small drizzle of caramel.
  4. Use a toothpick to gently swirl the cheesecake and caramel into the dough, creating a marbled effect.
Chill and bake
  1. Chill the assembled sheet for 20–60 minutes to control spread.
  2. Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
  3. Let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.
Finish and serve
  1. Drizzle additional caramel and sprinkle flaky sea salt over cooled cookies.
  2. For glossy caramel drizzles, warm caramel slightly in a microwave-safe bowl for 10–15 seconds.

Notes

To reduce calories, consider swapping some butter for applesauce or using sugar substitutes. Experiment with different variations for added flavor.