Description
Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cookies are a bakery-worthy fusion of soft, buttery cookies and rich cheesecake flavor with a surprise gooey caramel center. Finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, they balance sweet and salty in the most decadent way. Perfect for holidays, parties, or just a cozy afternoon with coffee, these crowd-pleasing cookies are easy to make, freezer-friendly, and guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients
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4 oz cream cheese (softened)
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1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
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1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
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1/4 cup granulated sugar
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1 large egg
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
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1/2 tsp baking soda
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1/4 tsp salt
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12–14 soft caramels (like Kraft or Werther’s)
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Flaky sea salt (for topping)
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
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Add egg and vanilla extract; mix until well combined.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix into wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.
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Cover dough and chill for at least 1 hour.
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Scoop 1.5-tablespoon portions of dough, flatten slightly, and insert a caramel in the center. Wrap dough around caramel and roll into a ball.
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Place on baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
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Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are just golden.
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Immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
hill the dough for at least an hour — this helps control spread.
Use soft caramels for a gooey center that doesn’t leak.
Reheat cookies for 10–15 seconds in the microwave to revive the melty caramel.
Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days or freeze dough balls for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus chilling)
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Category: Cookies, Dessert, Holiday Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Salted caramel cookies, cheesecake cookies, caramel stuffed cookies, holiday cookies, cream cheese cookies, gooey cookies