Cheesecake Cookies (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 1 pound of strawberries, hulled (fresh or frozen).
02 - ½ cup of white granulated sugar.
03 - ¼ cup of water.
04 - 6 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature.
05 - ½ cup of granulated sugar.
06 - 1 egg yolk, at room temperature.
07 - 1 cup of unsalted butter, cubed and slightly cold.
08 - ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar.
09 - ⅓ cup of granulated sugar.
10 - 1 large egg.
11 - 1 large egg yolk.
12 - 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.
13 - 1¼ cups of all-purpose flour.
14 - 1¼ cups of cake flour.
15 - 1 teaspoon of cornstarch.
16 - 1½ teaspoons of baking powder.
17 - ¾ teaspoon of salt.
18 - 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.

Instructions:

01 - Prepare the strawberries by chopping fresh ones or using frozen ones as is.
02 - Cook the strawberries, sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir regularly until the strawberries soften and the mixture thickens (about 8-10 minutes).
03 - Remove from heat, let it cool, and refrigerate if you’re not using it right away.
04 - Beat the cream cheese until it’s smooth. Gradually add sugar and keep mixing until it’s creamy.
05 - Add the egg yolk and mix until it’s smooth. Put it in a piping bag and chill it.
06 - Whisk together both types of flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
07 - In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until they’re light and fluffy.
08 - Mix in the egg and egg yolk one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
09 - Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until they’re just combined.
10 - Divide the dough into balls and press down the center of each to make a well.
11 - Spoon the cream cheese mixture into one half of each well and the strawberry filling into the other half.
12 - Refrigerate the dough balls for 1-2 hours or overnight.
13 - Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
14 - Arrange the dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced apart. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are golden.
15 - Let the cookies cool on the sheet before transferring them to a wire rack.
16 - These cookies are a delightful mix of sweet strawberries and tangy cheesecake, all wrapped up in a soft, spiced cookie base. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth looking for something a little different!.