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Caramel Cheesecake Cookies – Soft, Creamy & Irresistibly Gooey

If you're looking for a cookie that tastes like a bite of creamy cheesecake wrapped in soft, buttery cookie dough with ribbons of golden caramel throughout, then Caramel Cheesecake Cookies are about to become your new addiction. These cookies bring together two of the best desserts in the world — silky cheesecake and homemade cookies — into one unbelievably delicious treat. The base is a soft, slightly tangy cookie dough inspired by classic cheesecake filling, made with cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and just the right amount of sugar. The texture is soft on the inside with slightly crisp edges, giving each bite that perfect balance of chewiness and creamy richness. The caramel, melted into the dough and swirled on top, adds buttery sweetness and takes these cookies to an entirely new level of indulgence. These cookies are ideal for holidays, parties, dessert platters, bake sales, gift boxes, or cozy evenings when you crave something comforting and luxurious. They’re beautiful, impressive, and guaranteed to catch attention on Pinterest thanks to their swirls of melted caramel, cheesecake-like centers, and bakery-style appearance. Let’s bake the most irresistible caramel cheesecake cookies ever!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 20 cookies
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes
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Ingredients
  

  • Here is the perfected version of a caramel cheesecake cookie recipe:
Fresh Ingredients
  • 1 Large egg
  • 1 Egg yolk
Dry Ingredients
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon Baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon Baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Granulated sugar
Caramel
  • ¾ cup Soft caramel sauce
OR
  • 20 –25 soft caramel candies melted with 1 tablespoon milk
Cheesecake Filling
  • 6 oz Cream cheese softened
  • ½ cup Powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Cookie Dough Base
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
(Optional)
  • Sea salt flakes
  • Extra caramel drizzle
  • Crushed biscuit crumbs for topping
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Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Whisk
  • Silicone spatula
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Baking trays
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack
  • Small saucepan (if melting caramel candies)

Method
 

Step 1: Prepare Cheesecake Filling
  1. In a bowl mix:
  2. Cream cheese
  3. Powdered sugar
  4. Vanilla extract
  5. Whisk until smooth, fluffy, and thick.
  6. Scoop into small teaspoon-sized dollops on a plate.
  7. Freeze for 20–25 minutes — this makes stuffing easier.
Step 2: Make the Cookie Dough
  1. In a large bowl cream together:
  2. Unsalted butter
  3. Granulated sugar
  4. Beat for 2–3 minutes until pale and creamy.
  5. Add:
  6. Egg
  7. Egg yolk
  8. Vanilla extract
  9. Beat until smooth and slightly thickened.
Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients
  1. Whisk together:
  2. Flour
  3. Baking powder
  4. Baking soda
  5. Salt
  6. Add to the wet mixture.
  7. Fold gently with a spatula until a soft dough forms.
  8. The dough should be thicker than cake batter but softer than classic cookie dough.
Step 4: Chill the Dough
  1. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
  2. Chilling helps:
  3. Prevent spreading
  4. Strengthen the cheesecake filling
  5. Keep cookies thick and creamy
Step 5: Assemble Cheesecake-Stuffed Cookies
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line trays with parchment.
  3. Scoop cookie dough into balls (about 1½ tablespoons each).
  4. Flatten each dough ball into a small disc.
  5. Place a frozen cheesecake dollop in the center.
  6. Wrap the dough gently around the filling.
  7. Seal well to prevent leaking.
Step 6: Add Caramel Swirls
  1. Place cookies on the tray.
  2. Drizzle caramel sauce over the tops.
  3. Use a toothpick to gently swirl caramel into the dough for a marbled appearance.
  4. This creates the iconic caramel-cheesecake swirl effect.
Step 7: Bake
  1. Bake 10–12 minutes, or until:
  2. Edges look set
  3. Tops look glossy
  4. Centers are puffy and soft
  5. Do NOT overbake — they should stay creamy inside.
Step 8: Add More Caramel (Optional)
  1. Drizzle warm caramel over hot cookies for a glossy bakery finish.
  2. Dust with sea salt flakes for a salted-caramel version.
Step 9: Cool
  1. Let cookies cool 10 minutes on the tray.
  2. Move to a cooling rack.
  3. Creamy cheesecake centers will thicken as they cool.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Room Temperature
Stores 1–2 days (because of cream cheese).
Fridge
Keeps 5–6 days.
Freezer
Freeze unbaked stuffed cookie balls up to 1 month.
Reheating
Microwave for 7 seconds for warm caramel centers.
🥄 Variations
1. Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cookies
Sprinkle sea salt flakes before serving.
2. Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cookies
Add small apple bits sautéed in cinnamon.
3. Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake Cookies
Add chocolate chips in the dough.
4. Lotus Biscoff Caramel Cheesecake Cookies
Replace some caramel with Biscoff spread.
5. Oreo Caramel Cheesecake Cookies
Fold crushed Oreos into the dough.
6. Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Cookies
Swap caramel for dulce de leche.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why did my cheesecake leak out?
Cheesecake wasn’t frozen long enough or dough wasn’t sealed properly.
2. Can I use store-bought caramel?
Yes — any thick caramel sauce works great.
3. Why are my cookies flat?
Butter was too soft or dough wasn’t chilled.
4. Can I make the filling sweeter?
Add extra powdered sugar.
5. Can I skip stuffing and swirl instead?
Yes — swirl cheesecake into the dough.
6. Why are my cookies dry?
They were baked too long.
7. Can I add nuts?
Yes — pecans pair beautifully with caramel.
8. Can I use salted butter?
Yes — reduce added salt slightly.
9. Can I make these gluten-free?
Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
10. Are these good for gift boxes?
Yes — but store in the fridge after gifting.
🏁 Conclusion
These Caramel Cheesecake Cookies are rich, creamy, soft, gooey, and loaded with warm caramel sweetness. Every bite delivers a silky cheesecake center surrounded by buttery cookie dough with swirls of golden caramel. They’re luxurious enough for special occasions but easy enough for everyday baking.
Perfect for holidays, dessert boards, cookie exchanges, Christmas boxes, or irresistible Pinterest content, these cookies bring warmth, comfort, and bakery-style indulgence into every bite. Bake them once, and they’ll become one of your signature treats.
Enjoy the creamy, caramel magic — every cookie feels like a hug.