Cheesecake cookies are super versatile topped with jam, fruits, or zest just like the toppings you would order in that 5-star restaurant for a piece of that luscious cheesecake for dessert.
The best part about them is you can eat them with your hands and they are totally portable!
Any fruit jam, fresh fruits, chopped candy bars, or even lemon zest on top of this icing can be transformed into the flavors of your favorite slice of cheesecake.
These cookies are delicious even without the icing but for all the cheesecake lovers out there, you're going to love this combination.
Cream cheese icing and graham cracker crumbs added to the cookie dough make these cookies the perfect taste combination of cheesecake flavors.
We enjoy all kinds of cookies and make several different kinds for the holiday season we call it the One-Stop Cookie Shop or you may like a Basic Variety Dough that makes all kinds of cookies with one dough to try.
Scroll down to the bottom of this post to get a printable copy without reading all the tips for this recipe.
Step-by-Step Cheesecake Cookies (scroll down to the bottom for measurements)
- prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper(always use a clean sheet)
- preheat the oven to 350 degrees (always use a cooled cookie sheet for the next batch)
- cream the butter and sugar for 5 minutes
- add the other ingredients until it forms a ball
- roll into tablespoon size balls then flatten to 1/2 inch
- bake at 350 degrees until the edges start to brown
- cool completely before assembling with icing and toppings
- cookies freeze well unfrosted and assembled the day you need them
Other Cookie Topping Suggestions
- lemon, mint, rum, anise, almond, orange, maple, or another extract you like in place of vanilla
- make a sandwich with two cookies adding jams, Nutella, ganache, frosting, peanut butter, or any filling you prefer in between them
- add toffee chips and mini chocolate chips
- minced maraschino cherries, coconut, finely chopped walnuts, or mini chocolate chips
- tinted nuts or tinted coconut to match the holiday theme
- candy sprinkles to match the theme of the holiday or party
- crushed peppermints are pretty for the holiday
- pistachios, macadamia nuts, pecan, walnuts, or for nut allergies pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds mixed with cinnamon and sugar
- lemon curd filling can be used in the center of flat cookies
- any fresh fruits sliced and blotted dry
- finely minced cranberries, dates, figs, or raisins with cinnamon /sugar mixed with nuts for tops before baking
- cherry, peach, apricot, blackberry, mint, fig, blueberry, strawberry, pineapple jams, or another flavor you love for the center before or after baking will work
- instead of cream cheese, spread the top with peanut butter and add your favorite jelly
- brush the fresh fruits with warm jam or jelly
Shopping List to make these Cheesecake Cookies
- sugar
- brown sugar
- flour
- vanilla extract
- butter
- cinnamon or regular graham crackers
- baking powder
- salt
- egg
- Optional:
- substitute lemon, mint, rum, anise, almond, orange, maple, or another extract you like in place of almond extract
- see topping suggestions below and scroll to the bottom for a printable recipe with measurements
Tips
- cream the butter and sugars together for at least 3 minutes
- make sure the graham crackers are fine crumbs
- make sure the baking sheet is lined with parchment paper
- use a cookie scoop or tablespoon and flatten the cookies to 1/2 inch thick
- cool cookies for 4 to 5 minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet
- cool the cookies completely before frosting
- any flavored jelly and jams can be used in place of fresh fruits
- regular or cinnamon-flavored graham crackers can be used
- keep frosted cookies in the refrigerator stored in a covered container
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Graham Crackers Cookies
Before you go I just wanted to give a big shout out for the plain graham cracker cookie for this recipe.
The cookie by itself unfrosted is delicious a subtle soft cookie with a delicious cinnamon buttery crumb.
Even if you're not a fan of cheesecake the cookie itself is worth baking and eating just the way it is.
These even taste great with peanut butter on top and a dab of jelly!.
Yield: 24
Cheesecake Topped Cookies
A delicious baked graham cracker cookie topped with luscious cream cheese icing then topped with fruits, jams, or whatever you like on cheesecake.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 22 Min
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup salted butter at room temperature
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 package sleeve of cinnamon graham crackers put through a food processor
- 1 - 3/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Cream Cheese Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese softened
- 4 tablespoons marshmallow fluff
- Topping Garnish Suggestions:
- any seedless jams, any fresh fruits you prefer, chopped toffee bars, or another candy bar crushed. See other suggestions under the notes below.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the graham crackers into a food processor and pulse to fine crumbs.
- In a mixing bowl (I use an electric mixer with a paddle) add the sugars with butter and cream together for around 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the egg and mix to blend.
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients until a ball forms.
- Using a tablespoon or scoop that size, make round balls then press them down to around 1/2 thick on the parchment paper.
- I usually add around 6 to 8 at the most on a sheet.
- Bake them for around 12 minutes or until the edges turn brown.
- Cool for at least 4 to 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
- In the meantime make the frosting.
- Whip the cream cheese until smooth then slowly add the other ingredients until well combined.
- Frost the tops of the cookies with prepared icing when completely cooled and top with whatever your favorite cheesecake topping you and your family prefer.
Notes
Other Cookie Topping Suggestions
- lemon, mint, rum, anise, almond, orange, maple, or another extract you like in place of vanilla
- make a sandwich with two cookies adding jams, Nutella, ganache, frosting, peanut butter, or any filling you prefer in between them
- add toffee chips and mini chocolate chips
- minced maraschino cherries, coconut, finely chopped walnuts, or mini chocolate chips
- tinted nuts or tinted coconut to match the holiday theme
- candy sprinkles to match the theme of the holiday or party
- crushed peppermints are pretty for the holiday
- pistachios, macadamia nuts, pecan, walnuts, or for nut allergies pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds mixed with cinnamon and sugar
- lemon curd filling can be used in the center of flat cookies
- any fresh fruits sliced and blotted dry
- finely minced cranberries, dates, figs, or raisins with cinnamon /sugar mixed with nuts for tops before baking
- cherry, peach, apricot, blackberry, mint, fig, blueberry, strawberry, pineapple jams, or another flavor you love for the center before or after baking will work
- instead of cream cheese, spread the top with peanut butter and add your favorite jelly
Tips
- cream the butter and sugars together for at least 3 minutes
- make sure the graham crackers are fine crumbs
- make sure the baking sheet is lined with parchment paper
- use a cookie scoop or tablespoon and flatten the cookies to 1/2 inch thick
- cool cookies for 4 to 5 minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet
- cool the cookies completely before frosting
- any flavored jelly and jams can be used in place of fresh fruits
- regular or cinnamon-flavored graham crackers can be used
- keep frosted cookies in the refrigerator stored in a covered container
- brush the fresh fruits with warm jam or jelly
Nutrition Facts
Calories
253.65Fat (grams)
11.22 gSat. Fat (grams)
6.13 gCarbs (grams)
36.56 gFiber (grams)
0.69 gNet carbs
35.87 gSugar (grams)
24.7 gProtein (grams)
2.39 gSodium (milligrams)
296.71 mgCholesterol (grams)
31.63 mgThese are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.
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Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes:
Cucidati Fig Sicilian Cookies
24 One-Stop Cookie Shop
Fried Bow Tie Cookies
25 Holiday Cookies