Description
Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies offer a delightful twist on the classic favorite by incorporating freeze-dried strawberries and a cream cheese center, wrapped in a soft, buttery cookie dough studded with white chocolate chips. These baked treats combine creamy, fruity, and sweet flavors into every bite, perfect for dessert lovers looking for a unique cookie experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries (crushed)
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese (cut into small cubes and frozen)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which will help create a soft cookie texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, beating well to combine all wet ingredients.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt together to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning components.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and developing too much gluten.
- Fold in Flavorings: Gently fold crushed freeze-dried strawberries and white chocolate chips into the dough, ensuring even distribution without deflating the batter.
- Prepare and Stuff Cookies: Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough, flatten it slightly, then place a frozen cube of cream cheese in the center. Wrap the dough completely around the cream cheese, sealing it fully to prevent leakage during baking.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the stuffed dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until the cookie edges turn lightly golden, indicating doneness.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps them set properly.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese cubes are fully frozen before stuffing to prevent melting and leakage during baking.
- For a richer flavor, substitute white chocolate chips with chopped white chocolate bars.
