Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 4 oz (115g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 4 tbsp (57g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Sugars
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (110g) brown sugar, packed
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free option)
- 1 tsp baking powder
Additional Flavor
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce or caramel bits
Instructions
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Base: Soften the cream cheese and unsalted butter to room temperature. Beat them together with both granulated and brown sugars until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, creating a perfect foundation for your cookies.
- Incorporate the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Gradually add this mixture into the wet ingredients along with the vanilla extract, mixing until you form a smooth, slightly sticky dough.
- Add the Caramel: Gently fold in caramel bits or swirls of caramel sauce throughout the dough to ensure every bite has rich caramel goodness.
- Shape the Cookies: Scoop the cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them generously to allow for spreading. Slightly flatten each cookie with your fingers to promote even baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, until the edges become golden while the centers remain slightly soft, preserving their tender chewiness.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step enhances their texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use full-fat cream cheese for the best texture and flavor.
- Do not overmix the dough; mix until just combined to keep cookies tender.
- If the dough is too sticky, chill it for about 30 minutes to make shaping easier.
- Use high-quality caramel sauce or caramel bits for superior flavor.
- Remove cookies from the oven as soon as the edges firm up to prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Caramel, Cheesecake, Cookies, Chewy, Sweet, Dessert, Gluten-Free, Caramel Cookies