Perfectly soft and chewy cookies with a fun surprise! These Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies combine two incredible desserts into one treat. They’re easy to make and I’ll walk you step-by-step through the process in my how-to video!
Chocolate Chip Cookies with A Twist
Today we’re rolling two of my all-time favorite desserts into one. Soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, meet rich, smooth and creamy cheesecake.
I originally shared this decadent recipe for cheesecake stuffed cookies over four years ago and thought it was about time for a refresh. While the recipe is largely the same (just a few minor tweaks to streamline the process), the photos are new and there’s a brand new video in the recipe card as well.
I still love this recipe today just as much as I did four years ago and I’m pretty excited to be resurfacing it today. Make sure to let me know what you think in the comments!
What You Need for Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies
The ingredients needed here are all fairly typical for chocolate chip cookies, with the obvious exception of the cheesecake filling. I just want to touch on a few of them that you might have questions about:
- Cream cheese. Only use brick-style, full-fat cream cheese. Do not use the spreadable kind that’s sold in tubs or low-fat cream cheese, as it’s too thin.
- Sugar. You need three different kinds of sugar for this recipe (we don’t mess around here at Sugar Spun Run). Powdered (“confectioner’s”) sugar for the filling and then a blend of granulated and brown sugar for the cookie dough.
- Cornstarch. I use this in many of my cookie recipes. Here it serves two important functions: 1) to keep the cookies nice and soft 2) to also keep them sturdy and from spreading too much in the oven and releasing that cheesecake goodness all over your baking sheet.
- Flour. I have only tested this recipe with all-purpose flour and that is what I recommend for these cheesecake stuffed cookies.
This is just an overview of a few of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Cheesecake Stuffed Cookies
- First make your cheesecake filling. Cream together the ingredients until combined and then dollop onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. This will be your filling! Freeze this while you prepare your cookie dough.
- Prepare your cookie dough according to recipe instructions. It’s easy, a basic chocolate chip cookie dough only designed to be a bit sturdier to keep the filling from escaping.
- Roll your dough into balls and make an indent with your thumbprint all the way into the center of the cookie dough.
- Grab your cheesecake filling from the freezer. It should be frozen pretty solid by now, but work quickly as it thaws fast! Press a frozen dollop right into the center of your cookie then close the cookie dough around it so it’s completely sealed into the center of the cookie.
- To help keep the cookies from spreading in the oven, I like to return them to the freezer for 15 minutes before I bake them.
- The cookies will be very fragile while they’re still warm, let them cool completely on the baking sheet before removing and enjoying.
Tip: If your cookie dough is too sticky to handle, pop it in the fridge for 15-30 minutes before attempting to roll and fill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, or let me direct you to some of my existing stuffed cookie recipes: Nutella Stuffed Cookies
Oreo Stuffed Cookies
Reese’s Stuffed Cookies
Funfetti Stuffed Cookies
Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
The cookies may be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Because of the amount of sugar we’ve added to the cheesecake filling, refrigeration isn’t necessary, but I honestly prefer these cookies cold (cheesecake should be cold after all, right?!). If you opt to refrigerate them, you should still store in an airtight container and enjoy within 10 days.
More Recipes You Might Like
Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card!
Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
Cheesecake Filling
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup (95 g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar firmly packed
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- 3 cups (380 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup (60 g) mini chocolate chips (or substitute additional regular chocolate chips)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
Cheesecake Filling
- Prepare cheesecake filling first by combining softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract and stirring until smooth and combined.8 oz (226 g) cream cheese,, ¾ cup (95 g) powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- Drop by 1 Tablespoon-sized scoops onto a wax paper lined plate or baking sheet and transfer to the freezer to chill while you prepare your cookie dough.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- In a large bowl using an electric mixer (or using a stand mixer), beat together butter and sugars until creamy and well-combined.1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well.2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.3 cups (380 g) all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Gradually stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture until completely combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips.1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips, ⅓ cup (60 g) mini chocolate chips
- Scoop 3 Tablespoons of cookie dough and form the dough into a ball by gently rolling it between your palms. Make a crater in the center of the dough with your thumb (if the dough is too sticky to manage, place it in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes before proceeding).
- Remove a single scoop of cheesecake mixture from your freezer and gently press it into the crater you just created (see photo in post or video for visual, if needed). Form the dough into a ball around the cheesecake, concealing the cheesecake filling in the center of the cookie. Make sure there are no cracks and no filling is visible (you just want to make sure the filling can't "escape" you can add a bit more dough, if needed!).
- Place cookie dough on a wax paper lined plate and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes (this will keep it from spreading). Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375F (190C).
- After dough has chilled and oven has preheated, place cookie dough balls on parchment paper lined baking sheet, spacing cookies at least 2.5" (6 cm) apart. Bake for 12-13 minutes or edges are beginning to turn golden brown.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet before serving.
Notes
Storing & Serving
These cookies are delicious when served still slightly warm, but I also enjoy them cold (after all, shouldn’t cheesecake be cold?). I store mine in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 10 days. If you don’t want your cookies cold, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Recipe originally published 11/07/2016. Updated for clarity and to include new photos and a video.
Kelly
On your filled cream cheese chocolate chip cookie recipe, why did you use cornstarch?
Sam
Hi Kelly! I love using cornstarch in a lot of my recipes. It helps keep the cookies from spreading too much and helps to keep them nice and soft 🙂
Ali
Can you freeze the cheesecake over night?
Sam
Yup, that will be fine 🙂
Sue
The amount of filling seemed to be too much for the amount of cookie dough being asked to use. I’m going to try it again another day, but maybe turning this into cookie cups or using way less filling. I’m sure I screwed up something….oh well…LOL
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Sue! Feel free to adjust the amount of filling to your liking. I hope that you enjoy them! 🙂
Sue
The cookies were delicious!! No doubt about the flavor profile 🙂 I used butterscotch and white chocolate chips (ran out of regular semisweet chips). I think if I freeze the cream cheese mixture overnight, it will be easier to handle.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the cheesecake stuffed chocolate chip cookies, Sue! I love that you added butterscotch to the mix as well. 🙂
Melissa
It actually worked out well if you measure everything out. I had extra dough left, I just made them into regular cookies.
Susan Duong
Can I use my own chocolate chip cookie recipe for these cookies? It’s just the recipe on the back of the Ghirardelli bag. Or will this recipe hold the filling in more readily?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Susan! I am sorry I am not familiar with the recipe you are referencing. It is worth a try. Enjoy! 🙂
CRYSTAL
Just made these tonight… my family loved them!! Thank you for sharing this.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them, Crystal! 🙂
Sue Bendelow
This is the best cookie. Flavor is so good you just might not want to share. Good size cookie. Yummy!!!
Sam
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed, Sue! Thank you for commenting and letting me know how you liked them, I appreciate it!!
Christina Johnson
Best cookies ever thank you!
Sam
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed! Thanks for commenting, Christina! 🙂
Janelle
Tried the cookie, changed a few things. Left out corn starch, increased the flour to 3 1/2 cups. Added 1/2 cup oil and 1 tsp cream of tartar. Delicious, soft center and crisp outside edges. Froze the cheesecake part overnight and used a small melon scooper to shape.
Heather
Best cookies I have ever had
linda
just tried those cookies. hate them will I always do hate trying new things espically cookies. I found that after 14cookies I ran out of cookie dough. Did I make them to big I had to because it said not to have nay filling showing. I never put any chcoclate chips in them except for a couple after that I found it better with the chocolate chips. I didnt find that 15 minutes was long enough for the cream cheese either.
Josh
They were ok but the filling is more like icing as opposed to actual cheesecake. Slightly disappointing.
Sam
Good catch, the cheesecake would do best in the freezer. Fixing it now, thank you for letting me know!
Joanne
These cookies sound delicious, and your photo’s are great!
Sam
You are very kind, Joanne! I’m glad you like the cookies, and the pictures! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Medha
Your photos are gorgeous! I definitely hear what you’re saying about being critical of yourself, but your pictures are definitely mouthwatering 🙂 I so want one of these cookies right about now!
Sam
Thank you so much, Medha! I am glad that you like the pictures, wish I could e-mail you a cookie! 😉
Sues
LOVE these!! I have such fond memories of “Magic Middles,” cookies from when I was a kid that were chocolate chip cookies with chocolate middles. I seriously still dream about them. So basically, these are right up my alley! Pinned 🙂
Sam
I have never heard of “magic middles” but they sound pretty fantastic! Thank you, Sues! 🙂
Mikaru86
After my failed attempt at making the peanut butter cup filled cookies (I really need to put together an update) I might have more success with these XD
By the way, I noticed that you converted the 350°F to 190°C, that’s a bit high. The exact conversion would be 176,667°C, but I’ve always used 175°C, which is close enough.
Mikaru86
Obviously it should be 176.667°C, not 176,667°C. I just forgot to change the decimal seperator (we are using “,” instead of “.” in Germany) XD
Sam
Haha, I don’t think my oven goes up that high 😉
Sam
Oops, actually my mistake was that the F temperature was supposed to be 375, so the 190 is correct! I wrote it correctly the first time, but the second time I typed the temperature I mistakenly put 350. Thank you for the catch! 🙂
Mikaru86
Glad I could help 🙂