Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies are soft, creamy, and fruity — the perfect combo of a cookie and a cheesecake! Think chewy cookie base, sweet strawberry flavor, and a creamy cheesecake-like center. You can make them from scratch or use shortcuts like cake mix — I’ll give you both!
🍓 Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies (from scratch)
🍪 Makes: 18–20 cookies
⏱️ Total Time: ~45 minutes (including chilling)
🛒 Ingredients:
For the Cookie Dough:
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1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
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1 large egg
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1/2 tsp strawberry extract (optional but enhances flavor)
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1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
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1/2 tsp baking soda
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1/4 tsp salt
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1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed (not fresh or frozen!)
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Red or pink gel food coloring (optional)
For the Cheesecake Filling:
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4 oz cream cheese, softened
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2 tbsp powdered sugar
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1/2 tsp vanilla extract
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Make the cheesecake filling:
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Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
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Scoop into 1 tsp-sized mounds onto parchment paper.
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Freeze for 20–30 minutes, until firm.
2. Make the cookie dough:
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Cream butter and both sugars until fluffy (2–3 minutes).
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Add egg, vanilla, and strawberry extract. Mix well.
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In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
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Gradually add dry ingredients to wet.
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Fold in crushed freeze-dried strawberries and a bit of food coloring if using.
3. Chill the dough:
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Chill the dough for 15–20 minutes while the filling firms up.
4. Assemble the cookies:
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Scoop about 2 tbsp of dough, flatten it in your hand.
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Place a frozen cheesecake ball in the center and wrap the dough around it completely.
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Roll into a ball and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Bake:
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Bake cookies for 11–13 minutes, until edges are set and tops are slightly cracked.
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Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
💡 Tips:
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Don’t skip the freeze-dried strawberries — they give real fruity flavor without adding moisture.
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You can add white chocolate chips or a graham cracker crumble on top for a fun twist.
⏩ Shortcut Version: Cake Mix Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
🛒 Ingredients:
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1 box Strawberry Cake Mix
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1/3 cup vegetable oil
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2 large eggs
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Cheesecake filling as above (or just use sweetened cream cheese)
👉 Directions:
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Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs to form dough.
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Chill 15 minutes.
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Wrap dough around frozen cheesecake centers.
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Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
Want to turn these into ice cream sandwich cookies, or a giant skillet cookie? Let me know!
