When you can't decide between cookies or cheesecake, Cream Cheese Cookies with Cheesecake Topping are just what you need!
I dressed these Cream Cheese Cookies in red for Valentine's Day, but you can dress them in any color you like, or even leave them plain. The choice is yours.
All I suggest is that you make them right away because they'll soon become your favorite go-to cookie! Crunchy and creamy all in one cookie?! You're welcome! 😉
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Table of Contents Found Here
The ingredients:
*Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.
- cream cheese
- butter
- confectioners sugar
- pure vanilla extract
- kosher salt
- all-purpose flour
- colored sanding sugar
- sweetened condensed milk
- lemon juice
That's it!
I used my stand mixer to blend all the cookie ingredients, but a bowl and a hand mixer will work fine too!
How this recipe came to be:
This recipe idea came about just recently as I was contacted by one of my readers who unfortunately was disappointed by the consistency of my Christmas Cream Cheese Sprinkle Cookies.
I suspect since cream cheese is in the title of the recipe, he'd expected the cookie to have a cheesecake-like consistency, and not be crunchy like a cookie.
Since I'm all about keeping my readers happy and satisfied, I decided to work up a new recipe for these easy cream cheese cookies is just in time for Valentine's Day.
I know you're going to LOVE these new cookies because they're the best of both worlds!!
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The easy step-by-step photo instructions:
- Cream together the butter and cream cheese.
- Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar.
- Blend to combine.
- Add the flour to the bowl and blend just until a semi-stiff dough forms.
- Roll the dough into balls approximately 1" in diameter and place on a parchment-lined (optional) baking sheet. *Note - If not using parchment paper (or a Silpat silicone mat), spray the baking sheet lightly with baking spray.
- Roll the cookie dough balls into colored sugar (optional) and return them to the baking sheet.
- Flatten the cookies lightly with a spatula or a flat-bottom measuring cup.
- Press an indentation in the center of each cookie using your thumb or another item that fits the center of the cookie ball and gently press to form a well.
- Bake the cookies in a preheated 350-degree oven for 18-20 minutes. *Note - the cookies are not meant to brown.
- Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack.
- Continue with the remaining cookie dough.
- To make the cheesecake topping, blend together cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.
- Spoon the cheesecake filling into a piping bag, or zip-top bag snipping off about ¼" of the corner.
- Pipe the cheesecake filling into the center of the baked and completely cooled cookies.
- Store in an air-tight container and refrigerate any leftover cookies for up to 5 days.
Want more delicious cookie or cheesecake recipes?
- Amish Sweet Potato Cookies
- Gluten-Free Bacon Oatmeal Cookies Dipped In White Chocolate
- Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Double Chocolate Cheesecake with Espresso Chocolate Cracker Crust
- Lemon Cheesecake with Lemon Curd Topping
- Happy Birthday Cherry Cheesecake
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.
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Printable Recipe Card
Cream Cheese Cookies with Cheesecake Topping
Ingredients
For the cream cheese cookies:
- 2 sticks (½ pound) butter (I use salted butter, but unsalted is fine)
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- red colored sanding sugar optional
For the cheesecake topping:
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 1½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
To make the cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees
- Cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract and blend until smooth.
- Add the flour and salt and blend until the dough just comes together and all the ingredients are incorporated.
- Roll the dough into balls approximately 1" in diameter and then roll the balls into colored sugar (if desired).
- Place the dough balls onto prepared baking sheets and flatten each ball lightly with a spatula.
- Press an indentation into the center of each cookie using your thumb or another small device.
- Bake the cookies in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes.
- Remove the cookies and cool completely before adding the cheesecake topping.
To make the cheesecake topping:
- In a medium bowl, blend together the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cheesecake topping to a piping bag or zip-top bag (snipping off a small piece of the corner) and pipe the cheesecake topping into the center indentation of each cookie.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you'll enjoy this recipe for Cream Cheese Cookies as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Natalie says
Wow these cookies look so festive and just adorable. Super delicious too. I just saved the recipe and will make this with my kids. Can't wait.
Renée says
Your kids will have a blast making (and eating) them, Natalie!
Jessica says
Double the cream cheese, double the deliciousness! Loved these and will make some fun ones for 4th of july with red sprinkle and blue cheesecake topping.
Renée says
Very creative, Jessica. I love it!
Tamara says
Curious to what happened to the Christmas Cream Cheese Sprinkle Cookies recipe as that was what I had originally pinned on Pinterest and planned to make for a cookie exchange. The pin now goes to this recipe for Cream Cheese Cookies with Creamy Cheesecake Topping.