Cheesecake Cookies (updated recipe)

These Cheesecake Cookies are so creamy and tender. It’s a delicious cookie that’s not too sweet but totally addictive!

*This recipe was originally created and shared in 2014. See the original HERE. Looking to fill your chocolate fix? Try our Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies! And be sure to check out the NEW Christmas Cheesecake Cookies version, too!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Cheesecake Cookies are one of my favorite cookie recipes. They are so good! Back when I created them in 2014, I dipped them in chocolate which made them even tastier. This updated version I decided to skip the chocolate and instead give them a nice coating of powdered sugar.

This particular recipe has been pinned over 1 MILLION times and has been the most popular cookie on my site since it’s creation. However some bakers have had trouble with the cookies, either thinking they were not sweet enough, that the batter was too sticky to work with or that they came out more like biscuits.

I finally set some time aside a few weeks ago to work on the recipe, testing it for those exact things. I didn’t do much to tweak the recipe, other than adding a little bit more sugar. I’m going to address each of those issues in this post.

How to Make Cheesecake Cookies

When making these cookies, you want to be sure and follow the directions exactly. I’ve also updated those instructions to hopefully make them more clear.

•  Flavor/Sweetness. I personally felt that once the cookies were dipped in chocolate they were sweet enough. I’m assuming that people who didn’t think they were sweet enough were skipping this step. Plain cheesecake isn’t always super sweet, and I liked the cookies the way they were. However to sweeten them up, I added a quarter cup more sugar to the recipe below. They still came out great and had a nice, subtle sweetness that was amplified by the powdered sugar I sprinkled on top. I also cut the vanilla in half, but you could leave it out altogether if you want more of a cream-cheesey flavor. The vanilla just kind of smooths out the flavor profile.
• If you really want more of a tart/tangy flavor, one reader suggested adding lemon juice. Great idea! I’d say if you want to try this method, replace the vanilla with 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice.

• Sticky batter. I can see where people might have this concern about the batter being sticky. However, although it WAS sticky, I used my Medium Cookie Scoop and the dough released fairly easily for me after a few pumps of the trigger. A few times I had to help it along, but not to the point where they wouldn’t drop at all. These are super moist and tender cookies, so the batter IS going to be a little sticky. Just be prepared for that. The images below show what the batter should look like.

• “Biscuit-like and Crumbly” – As stated in the original recipe, it is imperative NOT to over-bake these cookies. In fact, you want it to almost feel like you’ve under-baked them. They should not get brown on the top and should just start to brown on the bottom. Over-baking will result in a crumbly, dry cookie, more resembling a biscuit. Each oven is different and may be actually baking at a different temperature than what you think. I recommend picking up an oven thermometer to test the temperature of your oven. I tested mine recently and realized that it’s about 10 degrees off, which in baking can cause issues. The other issue I think could cause a problem is the mixing. The cream cheese, butter and sugar should be mixed on high speed for a good 2-3 minutes. You can see in the first image how fluffy it is. That’s what you want. Then when you add the flour, it’s just stirred for enough time to incorporate it. Over-mixing the flour can also result in a dry or crumbly cookie.

Several people have asked about the silicone mats – I got the at Costco a couple of years ago and I doubt they are still available. However I did find something similar on Amazon HERE. (aff link)

Overall, these Cheesecake Cookies are still a favorite cookie in our house. I hope you’ll give these awesome cookies a try – they really are super delicious!

Watch this video to see how to make Cheesecake Cookies:

Cheesecake Cookies (Re-do)

4.58 from 117 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 44 cookies

Author: Kristin

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
• 1/2 cup butter room temperature
• 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Powdered Sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Beat cream cheese and butter together at high speed until fluffy and smooth; 1-2 minutes. Add sugar to the butter mixture and beat until fully incorporated and fluffy; 1-2 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla; 1 minute.
• In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir just until incorporated. Do not over-mix.
• Drop by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart; batter will be sticky. *You can put the batter in the fridge for 10-20 minutes to help it firm up a bit.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes. Cookies should be light in color, not browned, and just starting to brown on the bottom. *Length of baking time may vary from oven to oven.
• Cool cookies on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar or dip in chocolate once cooled.

Notes

• The vanilla smooths out the flavor, but for a more tart, cheesey flavor, add a teaspoon of lemon juice or no extracts at all. 
• Do not overbake. This can cause the cookies to come out more dry and biscuit like. 

These cookies are also amazing when dipped in chocolate, like in the original recipe:

For more delicious cookies, try these:

• Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies
• Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownie Cookies
• Magic Bar Cookies
• Chocolate Chip M & M Cookies

Kristin

Hi! I’m Kristin, the creative mind behind Yellow Bliss Road where you will be inspired by tons of easy to follow recipes, lots of free printables, and a little sprinkling of life thrown in for good measure.