Description

These Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cookies are a decadent dessert combo of buttery cookie dough, creamy cheesecake filling, and rich caramel topping—finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. The ultimate sweet and salty cookie indulgence!

Ingredients

For the Cookie Dough:

2 1/4 cups (280g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cheesecake Filling:

4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Topping:

1/2 cup (120ml) thick caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

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Instructions

Prepare the Cheesecake Filling:
In a small bowl, mix softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag or ziplock bag. Chill for 15 minutes to firm up.
Make the Cookie Dough:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugars until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes). Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Assemble the Cookies:
Scoop 2 tbsp of dough, flatten into a disc. Place 1 tsp cheesecake filling in the center. Fold dough around filling, sealing well. Shape into a tall ball and place on a baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart. Chill for 20–30 minutes.
Bake:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake cookies for 10–12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Optionally, press centers gently to create a well. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.

Add Toppings:
Once cool, optionally pipe a cheesecake swirl on top. Add caramel sauce using a piping bag. Finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Notes

Use thick caramel sauce for defined swirls. Chill it briefly if too runny.
Chilling the cookie dough helps reduce spreading for a thicker, bakery-style cookie.
The optional cheesecake swirl on top gives a professional, photo-ready finish.