Giant Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

CHEESECAKE STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Prepare cheesecake filling first by combining softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract and stirring until smooth and combined.
• Drop by 1 Tablespoon-sized scoops onto a wax paper lined plate or baking sheet and transfer to the freezer to chill while you prepare your cookie dough.
• In a large bowl using an electric mixer (or using a stand mixer), beat together butter and sugars until creamy and well-combined.
• Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Gradually stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture until completely combined.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
• Scoop 3 Tablespoons of cookie dough and form the dough into a ball by gently rolling it between your palms. Make a crater in the center of the dough with your thumb (if the dough is too sticky to manage, place it in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes before proceeding).
• Remove a single scoop of cheesecake mixture from your freezer and gently press it into the crater you just created (see photo in post or video for visual, if needed). Form the dough into a ball around the cheesecake, concealing the cheesecake filling in the center of the cookie. Make sure there are no cracks and no filling is visible (you just want to make sure the filling can't "escape" you can add a bit more dough, if needed!).
• Place cookie dough on a wax paper lined plate and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes (this will keep it from spreading). Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375F (190C).
• After dough has chilled and oven has preheated, place cookie dough balls on parchment paper lined baking sheet, spacing cookies at least 2.5" (6 cm) apart. Bake for 12-13 minutes or edges are beginning to turn golden brown.
• Allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet before serving.

GIANT CHEESECAKE STUFFED CHOCOLATE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• Combine the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, add the whole egg and beat until just combined. Add the vanilla and beat until just combined.
• Add half the flour mixture and mix on low until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks and white chocolate chips. Put the sanding sugar in a shallow bowl or plate.
• Scoop eight 1/3 cup-size balls of dough. Working with one at a time, shape each ball into a 1 1/2-inch-tall cylinder, then use your thumb to make a sturdy 1-inch-deep well that is about 1 inch across. Roll the dough in the sanding sugar to completely coat and place on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough and sanding sugar, spacing out 4 cookies per sheet. Put the baking sheets in the freezer until the cookies are thoroughly chilled, 30 minutes to 1 hour. (If you do not have space in your freezer to accommodate both baking sheets, line a plate with parchment and place the cookie dough onto the plate to chill. Transfer to the prepared sheets once chilled.)
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Just before the cookie dough is completely chilled, add the cream cheese to a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed to soften. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth, then add the remaining egg yolk, the lemon zest and the remaining pinch of salt and beat on medium speed until completely smooth, light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Spoon the cheesecake into the well of each cookie so that it comes just up to the top. (Alternatively, you can use a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag to fill the cookies.)
• Bake the cookies until the cheesecake is set and the cookies are crispy on top, chewy in the middle and turning darker on the bottom, rotating the pans halfway through, 20 to 24 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

CHEESECAKE THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add 1/4 cup sugar and a pinch of salt, and beat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add 1 egg yolk, sour cream, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F, with racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and remaining 1/4 cup sugar on medium speed until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and egg yolk; beat to combine. With mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour, mixing until just combined.
• Shape level tablespoons of dough into balls, and place on prepared baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Using the lightly floured end of a thick wooden spoon handle (or your thumb), make an indentation in the center of each ball.
• Bake 10 minutes; remove from oven and make indentations again. Rotate sheets, return to oven, and bake until edges of cookies begin to turn golden, 7 to 9 minutes more. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Using a small teaspoon, fill the center of each cookie with about 1 teaspoon creamcheese filling, mounding it slightly. Return cookies to the oven, and bake until the filling is firm, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate in an airtight container, layered between waxed or parchment paper, at least 4 hours before serving (cookies can be refrigerated overnight).
• In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt 2 ounces semisweet chocolate; let cool. Follow instructions for Cheesecake Thumbprints, adding melted chocolate to butter mixture along with the egg yolk and salt. Reduce the flour by 3 tablespoons, and whisk with 3 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder before adding to the dough. (The edges of these cookies will be firm to the touch when baked)
• The floured handle of a wooden spoon is pressed into each ball of cookie dough to make an indentation.
• A rich cheesecake filling is added to the centers after the cookies are partially baked.

CHEESECAKE-STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together in a small bowl using an electric mixer on medium-high speed until thoroughly combined. Chill filling until ready to use.
• Beat butter, white sugar, and brown sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla extract, beating until blended, about 30 seconds.
• Stir 2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl; gradually add to butter mixture, beating on low speed, until just blended. Beat in chocolate chips until just combined. Refrigerate dough until chilled, about 30 minutes.
• Use a medium, or 2-tablespoon, cookie scoop to place 8 scoops of the cookie dough on one of the prepared baking sheets, spaced 3 inches apart. Gently flatten each scoop to about 3 inches in diameter. Drop 2 teaspoonfuls of the cream cheese filling in the center of each cookie. Gently wrap the dough around the cream cheese and shape into a ball; press the cookies down slightly. Keep remaining dough and filling chilled.
• Bake the first batch in the preheated oven until golden and set around the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely, about 15 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and cream cheese mixture.