What makes these Cream Cheese Cookies doubly delicious is the creamy cheesecake dollop on top! When you can’t decide between cookies or cheesecake, this is the treat for you!
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! 😉
**Please Note – The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making easy cream cheese cookies is available at the end of this post. OR you can hit the “jump to recipe” text (found below) to be taken directly to the recipe.
Jump to RecipeCLICK ON THIS BOX TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO MY KUDOS KITCHEN YOUTUBE CHANNEL. SEE YOU THERE! 🙂
*Disclaimer – This recipe was originally published in 2014. I’m working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards and additional recipe information, but getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I’m sure you’ll be well pleased with when you make it at home.
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!!
The ingredients needed to make these Cream Cheese Cookies with Creamy Cheesecake Topping are as follows. Butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt (please don’t omit the salt), all-purpose flour, colored sugar (optional), sweetened condensed milk, and 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!
The easy 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
Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today’s easy cream cheese cookies with cheesecake topping.
- For the cream cheese cookies:
- 2 sticks ½ pound butter, softened (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
- colored sugar optional
- For the cheesecake topping:
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 1½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice
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To make the cookies:
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Preheat oven to 350-degrees
-
Cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
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Add the confectioner’s sugar and vanilla extract and blend until smooth.
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Add the flour and salt and blend until the dough just comes together and all the ingredients are incorporated.
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Roll the dough into balls approximately 1″ in diameter and then roll the balls into colored sugar (if desired).
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Place the dough balls onto prepared baking sheets and flatten each ball lightly with a spatula.
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Press an indentation into the center of each cookie using your thumb or another small device.
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Bake the cookies in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes.
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Remove the cookies and cool completely before adding the cheesecake topping.
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To make the cheesecake topping:
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In a medium bowl, blend together the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon until smooth and creamy.
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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.
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Store the cookies in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, if needed.
Tools and equipment:
Stand Mixer or hand mixer
Large bowl
Medium bowl
Small bowl
measuring spoons
measuring cups
Tablespoons or small melon baller (for scooping dough)
parchment paper, Silpat mat or baking spray
baking sheets
piping bag or medium zip-top bag
Thank you so much for visiting me here today in my Kudos Kitchen!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this recipe for Cream Cheese Cookies with Creamy Cheesecake Topping as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to you.
Should you have any questions regarding this post or anything else you see on my site, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly, or leave me a comment in the comment section below. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back to you with a reply just as soon as I possibly can!
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Kudos Kitchen by Renée ~ Where food, art, and fun collide each and every day!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Natalie
Wednesday 24th of June 2020
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
Thursday 25th of June 2020
Your kids will have a blast making (and eating) them, Natalie!
Jessica
Wednesday 24th of June 2020
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
Thursday 25th of June 2020
Very creative, Jessica. I love it!
Tamara
Monday 2nd of December 2019
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.
Renée
Monday 2nd of December 2019
Hi, Tamara! So sorry about that. I was actually updating and improving the post. I've since republished it so you'll be able to access it again. Again, I apologize for the inconvenience! Please enjoy the recipe, and thanks for vising! https://www.kudoskitchenbyrenee.com/cream-cheese-sprinkle-cookies/ Renee