Caramel Cheesecake Cookies
Caramel Cheesecake Cookies combine a velvety cream cheese base with pockets of gooey caramel in a soft, chewy cookie. This recipe delivers a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors with a tender texture that melts in your mouth, ideal for snacks, parties, or gifting.
- Author: Elena
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (with flour substitution)
Wet Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free option)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup caramel bits or swirled caramel sauce
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Dough: Beat softened cream cheese with butter and brown sugar until fluffy and smooth, creating the rich base that gives the cookies their unique cheesecake texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract to build a stable cookie dough full of flavor and body.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl to ensure even distribution, laying the foundation for the cookie’s tender crumb.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients Into Wet: Gradually fold the dry mixture into the cream cheese mixture until just combined, avoiding overmixing which can toughen the cookies.
- Add Caramel Bits: Gently fold in caramel bits or swirled caramel sauce, distributing them evenly to achieve gooey pockets throughout the cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes to firm it up, making it easier to shape and preventing excessive spreading during baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–15 minutes until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft and tender.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother dough and better texture.
- Do not overmix the dough; stir until just combined to keep cookies soft and tender.
- Chill the dough properly to control spreading and enhance flavors.
- Use good quality caramel bits or sauce for best taste and texture.
- Test bake a small batch first to adjust baking time according to your oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Caramel Cheesecake Cookies, caramel cookies, cheesecake cookies, gluten-free cookies, soft chewy cookies, caramel dessert, cream cheese cookies