Giant Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies Recipes

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.

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.