Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped apples (preferably Granny Smith)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
For Topping:
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce (for drizzling)
- Extra chopped apples (for garnish, optional)
- Pinch of sea salt (optional)
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Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make the Cookie Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.
- Add in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until well combined. Fold in the chopped apples and pecans if using.
3. Prepare the Cheesecake Filling:
- In a separate bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and creamy.
4. Assemble the Cookies:
- Drop a tablespoon of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Using your finger or a small spoon, make a small indentation in the center of each dough ball.
- Fill each indentation with about a teaspoon of the cheesecake filling.
5. Bake the Cookies:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set.
- Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
6. Drizzle and Serve:
- Once cooled, drizzle the cookies with the additional caramel sauce. For an added touch, you can garnish with extra chopped apples and a pinch of sea salt.
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Notes
- Substitutions: You can use gluten-free flour to make these cookies gluten-free. Mix in dried cranberries or chocolate chips for a twist!
- Apple Variety: Other crisp apple varieties, like Honeycrisp or Fuji, will work well too.
- Cheesecake Alternative: Consider using flavored cream cheese (like caramel swirl or vanilla bean) for an extra dimension of flavor.
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- Apple Variety: Other crisp apple varieties, like Honeycrisp or Fuji, will work well too.
- Cheesecake Alternative: Consider using flavored cream cheese (like caramel swirl or vanilla bean) for an extra dimension of flavor.
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