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Cherry Cheesecake Cookies

A delightful fusion of cookies and cheesecake, these Cherry Cheesecake Cookies mix creamy frosting with sweet-tart cherry filling in a soft cookie base.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 31 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150

Ingredients
  

For the Cookie Base
  • 1 cup salted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1.5 cups brown sugar for a rich, sweet flavor
  • 1 large egg adds moisture and binds ingredients
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract adds aroma
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt enhances flavor
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda helps the cookies rise
  • 2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour for texture
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 0.5 cup salted butter, softened
  • 2.5 cups powdered sugar for sweetness
  • 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract for flavor
  • 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch for thickness
For the Topping
  • 0.5 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter to mix with crumbs
  • 21 oz cherry pie filling for topping

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the room temperature butter and brown sugar using an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape the bowl occasionally.
  3. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the mixture, and mix on medium speed until fully combined and fluffy.
  4. Add the salt, baking soda, and graham cracker crumbs to the bowl, and mix until just combined. Gradually incorporate the flour, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until fully incorporated.
  5. Using a ⅓ cup scoop, portion out 12 balls of dough. Optionally, roll each ball in additional graham cracker crumbs.
  6. Place the dough balls evenly on the prepared baking sheets.
Baking
  1. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-11 minutes or until they begin to crack on top. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheets.
Frosting
  1. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and softened butter until smooth and creamy.
  2. Gradually add the powdered sugar on low speed until combined. Add vanilla extract and mix well. For thickness, add cornstarch one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  3. Transfer the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and frost each cooled cookie in a spiral pattern.
Finishing Touches
  1. In a small bowl, mix together the remaining graham cracker crumbs and melted butter, then sprinkle this over the frosted cookies.
  2. Spoon cherry pie filling onto each cookie, placing 3-5 cherries per cookie.

Notes

Make sure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smooth mixing. Consider adding a pinch of almond extract for more flavor, or use low-fat cream cheese to make a lighter version. Always check the cookies at the lower baking time to prevent overbaking.