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stack of lemon cheesecake cookies, top cookie with bite taken out

Lemon Cheesecake Cookies

These are the best lemon cheesecake cookies! They are super chewy lemon cookies, stuffed with creamy lemon cheesecake filling and rolled in lemon sugar. They're the perfect treat and lemon lovers will adore these delicious cookies!
4.99 from 66 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 11 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 cookies

Ingredients
 

For the Cheesecake Filling

  • 6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, cold
  • 3 tablespoon  (38 g) granulated white sugar
  • ½ tablespoon (5 g) lemon zest

For the Lemon Sugar

  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated white sugar
  • ½ tablespoon (5 g) lemon zest

For the Lemon Cookies

  • 1 ¾ cups  (218 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (168 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (165 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated white sugar
  • 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 ½ tablespoon (25 g) lemon zest

Instructions
 

For the Lemon Cheesecake Filling

  • Line a small cookie sheet with parchent paper.
  • Add the cream cheese and sugar to a small bowl. Mix on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy and the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Then mix in the lemon zest.
    6 oz (170 g) cream cheese, cold, 3 tablespoon  (38 g) granulated white sugar, ½ tablespoon (5 g) lemon zest
  • Scoop the cheesecake filling into 16, 2 teaspoon portions onto the baking sheet.
  • Pop the cheesecake balls into the freezer until they are frozen and very firm.

For the Lemon Sugar

  • Add the sugar and lemon zest to a small bowl. Rub the lemon zest and sugar together with your fingers to really extract the lemon oil in the zest. Then set aside for later.
    ½ cup (100 g) granulated white sugar, ½ tablespoon (5 g) lemon zest

For the Lemon Cookies

  • Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Then set aside the flour mixture.
    1 ¾ cups  (218 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
  • In a large bowl cream the softened butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar together with an electric hand mixer on high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
    (You can also use the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment.)
    ¾ cup (168 g) unsalted butter, softened, ¾ cup (165 g) light brown sugar, packed, ¼ cup (50 g) granulated white sugar
  • Add in the egg yolks and vanilla to the butter mixture and mix for one minute on medium speed until pale and fluffy.
    2 egg yolks, at room temperature, 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Add in the lemon zest and combine on medium speed.
    2 ½ tablespoon (25 g) lemon zest
  • Add in the dry ingredients and combine on low speed.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Chill the dough for 10-15 minutes while waiting for the oven to preheat. This will make it easier to roll the cookie dough.
  • Scoop the dough into 16 portions with a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop, then roll into balls. Slightly flatten out each then place the frozen cheesecake ball in the center. Then close the cheesecake ball in with the cookie dough and roll into a ball again. Make sure the cheesecake is completely covered in cookie dough. Roll the cookie dough balls in lemon sugar.
    (Keep the cheesecake balls in the freezer until ready to use for each batch of cookies.)
  • Transfer the cookie dough to a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 6 cookies at a time for 11-12 minutes.
  • Let the cookies cool for about 10 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer the baked cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Then serve!
Keyword chewy cookies, Cookies, Lemon, lemon cheesecake, lemon cheesecake cookies, lemon cookies
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