Description
Caramel apple cheesecake-stuffed cookies blend autumn’s sweetest flavors in one irresistible treat. Warm spices and creamy cheesecake center make these cookies a delightful seasonal indulgence you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113 grams) unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup diced apple (peeled & finely chopped)
- ½ cup caramel bits or soft caramels (chopped)
- ¼ cup caramel sauce (for drizzling)
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 4 oz (113 grams) cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tbsps powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp sea salt (optional, for salted caramel flavor)
Instructions
- Cheesecake Preparation: Blend cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Create petite dollops on parchment paper and freeze for 30 minutes until firm.
- Cookie Dough Foundation: Cream butter with brown and granulated sugars until fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate bowl.
- Dough Assembly: Combine dry ingredients with butter mixture, mixing minimally. Incorporate diced apples and caramel fragments, ensuring even distribution.
- Oven Configuration and Initial Shaping: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line baking sheet with parchment. Scoop cookie dough, create a center indentation, and nestle frozen cheesecake dollop inside.
- Cookie Formation and Baking: Completely encase cheesecake center with additional dough, sealing edges thoroughly. Space cookies adequately on baking sheet to allow expansion.
- Baking and Cooling: Bake until edges turn golden and centers stabilize, roughly 12-15 minutes. Rest cookies briefly on baking sheet before transferring to cooling rack.
- Final Embellishment: Drizzle with warm caramel sauce and sprinkle sea salt for an elevated finishing touch.
Notes
- Freeze Filling Precisely: Ensure cheesecake dollops are completely frozen to prevent melting during cookie assembly, maintaining structural integrity and creamy texture.
- Handle Dough Gently: Minimal mixing prevents gluten development, keeping cookies tender and soft with a delicate crumb structure.
- Control Apple Moisture: Pat diced apples dry to avoid excess liquid that could make cookie dough soggy or spread incorrectly during baking.
- Seal Edges Carefully: Completely cover cheesecake center to prevent filling leakage, using fingertips to smooth and seal dough edges seamlessly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg