Description
These Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies are a delightful hybrid of tender cookies filled with creamy cheesecake and sweet homemade strawberry jam pockets. With a soft, buttery dough rolled in sugar and baked to perfection, these cookies offer a luscious balance of creamy, fruity, and sweet flavors, making them a decadent treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheesecake Filling
- 6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, cold
- 3 tbsp (38 g) granulated white sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Strawberry Jam
- 12 oz (340 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and finely diced
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated white sugar
Cookie Dough
- 2 3/4 cups (344 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, very softened
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated white sugar, for rolling dough in
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheesecake Filling: Line a small cookie sheet with parchment paper. Combine cold cream cheese, 3 tbsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract in a small bowl. Use an electric mixer at medium-high speed to beat until fluffy and sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Scoop the mixture into 18 portions (2 tsp each) onto the prepared sheet, flattening each into a thick disc shape. Freeze until completely solid.
- Make the Strawberry Jam: In a medium pot over medium heat, combine the diced strawberries and 1/4 cup sugar. Cook for about 45 minutes, mashing halfway through to break down the strawberries. Stir continuously towards the end as the jam thickens and sticks to the bottom. The jam should reduce to a thick, heaping 1/3 cup (80 ml). Remove from heat and chill in the refrigerator.
- Prepare the Oven and Dry Ingredients: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer on high speed, beat softened butter and 1 cup sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and 2 tsp vanilla extract on medium speed until pale and very fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed just until combined.
- Layer Dough with Jam: Push 3/4 of the dough to the side of the bowl. Flatten the remaining 1/4 at the bottom. Spoon 1/4 of the chilled strawberry jam onto this section, then add another 1/4 of dough on top and spoon 1/4 jam on that layer. Repeat two more times. Cut the dough in quarters with a spatula and fold each section lightly until the jam is slightly incorporated but still forming pockets.
- Form Cookies: Use a 2 tbsp cookie scoop to portion dough into 18 balls. Flatten each ball slightly. Place one frozen cheesecake disc in the center of each, then enclose it completely with dough, shaping into a slightly flattened disc.
- Roll in Sugar: Roll each cookie dough disc in the reserved 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Keep cheesecake discs frozen until use to prevent melting.
- Bake Cookies: Place cookies spaced on prepared baking sheets, 6 at a time. Bake for 11-12 minutes until slightly firm. Right out of the oven, use a large circular cookie cutter to gently shape cookies to a perfect circle.
- Cool and Serve: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the cheesecake filling is thoroughly frozen before enclosing in cookie dough to prevent melting during baking.
- Strawberry jam needs to be thick and reduced well for best texture and to prevent cookies from being too wet.
- The cookie dough is slightly flattened before baking to help even spreading and uniform shape.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Rolling cookies in sugar gives them a sweet, crackly exterior.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies, strawberry jam cookies, cream cheese cookies, fruity cheesecake cookies, homemade cookies
