Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies (Printable View)

Soft, creamy cookies with lemon zest and blueberries

# Ingredient List:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
04 - 1 large egg
05 - 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
09 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Cheesecake Filling

11 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Add-ins

14 - 3/4 cup fresh blueberries (or frozen, unthawed)

→ Optional Glaze

15 - 2/3 cup powdered sugar
16 - 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
03 - Beat in the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until just combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
05 - Gently fold in the blueberries with a spatula, being careful not to break them up too much.
06 - In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
07 - Scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons of cookie dough and flatten it in your hand. Add 1 teaspoon of cheesecake filling to the center, then wrap the dough around the filling and seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
08 - Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but centers look just set. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice to make a thick glaze. Drizzle over cooled cookies.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cheesecake center stays creamy even after days in the fridge making them perfect for meal prep
  • Fresh lemon zest cuts through the richness so each bite feels bright not heavy
  • People literally cannot figure out how you hid cheesecake inside a cookie
02 -
  • Sealing the dough around the filling takes practice and your first few might look ugly but they still taste amazing
  • Underbaking slightly is crucial because the residual heat finishes the centers while keeping them soft
  • These really do need to be refrigerated after a day because of the cream cheese filling
03 -
  • Chill the assembled cookies for 15 minutes before baking if your dough feels too warm and sticky to handle
  • A small ice cream scoop makes portioning the dough so much faster and keeps sizes consistent for even baking