Name: Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 260g; ½ cup Dutch cocoa powder 50g; 2 tablespoons black cocoa powder 14g; 2 tablespoons cornstarch 16g; 2 tablespoons powdered milk 10g; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; 1 cup granulated sugar 200g; ½ cup salted butter softened 113g; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 large egg room temperature; 1 additional large egg yolk room temperature; 2 ounces whole milk room temperature; 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 6 ounces cream cheese softened 170g; 1 cup powdered sugar 130g; 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract; ½ cup chocolate melting wafers (milk, dark, or white)

There’s something truly irresistible about the combination of rich chocolate and creamy cheesecake in one bite. This Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe hits that perfect balance, delivering soft, chocolatey cookies with a luscious cream cheese center that will melt your heart—and your taste buds.

A close-up of three round dark brown cookies arranged on a white plate, each topped with thin diagonal lines of glossy milk chocolate drizzle. The front cookie is bitten, revealing one inner layer of creamy white filling with a smooth texture inside the thick, dark cookie base. Small cookie crumbs are scattered around the bitten cookie on the plate. The plate sits on a colorful fabric with pink, yellow, red, and blue patterns placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe is one of those gems that I’ve kept coming back to, especially when I want to wow friends or just treat myself. The way the chocolate cookie dough hugs the smooth cream cheese filling? Magic that’s easier to achieve than you’d think.

Perfect Texture: The cookies balance fudgy softness with a creamy center, making each bite heavenly.
Flavor Harmony: The blend of Dutch cocoa and black cocoa powder gives a deep chocolate hit without bitterness.
Impressive Yet Simple: They look fancy but come together with straightforward ingredients and steps.
Customizable: You can switch up fillings, toppings, or even cocoa types to match your mood or occasion.

A woman's hand holds a chocolate sandwich cookie broken in half, showing two thick dark brown cookie layers with a smooth white cream layer in the middle. The chocolate coating on top has thin darker brown stripes. More cookies with the same chocolate coating and striped pattern lie on a white marbled surface in the background. The photo is taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of these Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe lies not just in how you mix them, but in the ingredients you choose. Each one has a purpose, creating the tender cookie shell and the silky filling that melts in your mouth.

Flat lay of a small heap of all-purpose flour, a small mound of Dutch cocoa powder with its deep reddish-brown color, a smaller pile of intense black cocoa powder, a small pile of white cornstarch, a small pile of powdered milk, a small heap of fine granulated sugar, a half cup of salted butter cut into neat rectangular pats, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl filled with whole milk, a small white ceramic bowl of pure vanilla extract, a block of softened cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with vanilla bean paste, and a small white ceramic bowl containing round milk chocolate melting wafers — all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Gives structure and chewiness to the cookie without being too dense.
Dutch cocoa powder: Adds rich, smoky chocolate flavor that's less acidic and more complex.
Black cocoa powder: Boosts that dark, intense color and deep cocoa aroma, making the cookies visually striking.
Cornstarch: Helps keep cookies tender by softening the gluten development.
Powdered milk: Adds richness and enhances the chocolate flavor subtly.
Baking soda: Leavens gently, helping cookies rise just right without puffing up too much.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps create that slightly crisp edge on the outside.
Salted butter: Brings richness and depth; I always use room temperature butter for better creaming.
Egg and egg yolk: Provide moisture and structure while keeping the cookie tender.
Whole milk: Adds creaminess and balances out the dry ingredients smoothly.
Pure vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavor with warmth and sweetness.
Cream cheese: The star of the filling—softened and whipped to a dreamy, smooth texture.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese filling evenly without graininess.
Vanilla bean paste or extract: Enhances the filling with extra vanilla depth.
Chocolate melting wafers: Ideal for the drizzle on top, they melt smoothly and set with a beautiful sheen.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love swapping out toppings or trying different cream cheese fillings to keep this recipe fresh every time I bake it. Feel free to tweak and surprise your baking circle with new flavor combos!

Variation: Once, I added a swirl of raspberry jam inside the cream cheese filling for a fruity twist. It was a huge hit at my book club.
Dietary Mod: You can try substituting butter with vegan butter and use dairy-free cream cheese to make it dairy-free. Just be careful with the dough consistency.
Seasonal Change: Around the holidays, tossing in a teaspoon of espresso powder boosts the chocolate depth beautifully.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Dry Ingredients

Mix all your dry ingredients—flour, Dutch cocoa, black cocoa, cornstarch, powdered milk, and baking soda—in a medium bowl. Whisk them well so the cocoa powders distribute evenly. This combo gives the cookies their deep color and soft texture, so don’t skip this step!

Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar & Salt

In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together softened butter, sugar, and salt for about one minute. It should look fluffy, pale, and well combined. This aerates the dough to make your cookies light without losing richness.

Step 3: Add Eggs, Milk & Vanilla

Beat in the egg, then the egg yolk, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix just until combined—overmixing can make the cookies tough. I usually stop as soon as I don’t see streaks.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Add half the dry mix to the wet, blend on low, then add the rest. This staged mixing helps keep the dough tender and prevents flour clouds flying everywhere in your kitchen. The dough will be soft but not sticky.

Step 5: Make the Cream Cheese Filling

While the dough rests, beat together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla bean paste until silky smooth. The filling should be firm enough that it holds shape but creamy when you bite into it.

Step 6: Shape and Fill Your Cookies

Scoop the dough into generous 1.8-ounce portions (I use a #24 cookie scoop). Flatten them gently, then make a little bowl in the center for about a teaspoon of the cream cheese filling. Fold the dough edges around the filling and pinch them closed, rolling into smooth balls. Placement matters—space them well on the baking sheet!

Step 7: Bake & Cool

Bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes. You want the edges set but the tops to look slightly matte with little cracks—this means they’re still soft inside. I always let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes—this resting is key for them to firm up gently, giving that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Step 8: Drizzle with Chocolate

Once the cookies are cooled, melt your chocolate wafers carefully in the microwave—stir every 30 seconds to avoid scorching. Drizzle over the cookies with a piping bag or spoon for a little fancy finish that tastes as impressive as it looks.

Top Tip

After making these several times, I found the little details truly make a big difference in texture and appearance. Here are my best tips to help you nail this recipe every time:

Room Temp Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, cream cheese, and milk are all at room temperature to ensure smooth mixing and prevent a grainy dough or filling.
Don't Overbake: The cookies will look slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven—that’s exactly how you want them. They continue baking on the hot sheet.
Seal the Filling Well: When wrapping the dough around the cream cheese, take your time to press firmly and roll into a smooth ball. Leaking filling can be messy and changes the texture.
Space Cookies Adequately: These spread just a bit, so give at least 2 inches apart to avoid them sticking together.

How to Serve Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

chocolate cream cheese cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I keep it simple with a drizzle of melted chocolate because it adds a gorgeous shine and a touch of elegance. Sometimes, I sprinkle a few flaky sea salt crystals on top—those little bursts of salt work wonders to highlight the chocolate and cream cheese flavors.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk or a cup of coffee. For extra indulgence, I like serving them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh berries when hosting guests for desserts.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or holidays, I arrange these cookies in a circle around a festive cake stand, sprinkling edible gold dust or festive sprinkles on the chocolate drizzle. It’s always a showstopper and a conversation starter.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. The texture stays beautifully soft, and the cream cheese filling remains creamy without drying out.

Freezing

If you want to make these ahead, I freeze the shaped unbaked cookies, individually wrapped on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When ready, bake from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to the baking time. The cream cheese filling bakes up just as lovely without any fuss.

Reheating

To enjoy leftover cookies warm, I pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds (if refrigerated) or throw them in a low oven (300°F) for 5 minutes to refresh that soft texture and melting filling sensation.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use low-fat cream cheese in this Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe?

Low-fat cream cheese tends to have more moisture and can alter the texture of the filling, sometimes making it runnier. For the best results, I recommend using full-fat cream cheese to achieve that creamy, thick consistency.

What’s the difference between Dutch cocoa and black cocoa powder in this recipe?

Dutch cocoa powder is mildly acidic with a smooth, rich chocolate flavor, while black cocoa is heavily Dutched and darker, often used to give cookies that deep black color and intense chocolate aroma. Combining both gives these cookies their signature look and flavor.

Can I make these cookies vegan or dairy-free?

You can try swapping butter for vegan butter and using dairy-free cream cheese alternatives. Also, switch the milk to a plant-based version. Keep in mind the texture might differ slightly, but it's definitely a fun challenge for vegan bakers!

How do I prevent the cream cheese filling from leaking during baking?

Make sure your cream cheese filling is chilled and firm before assembling. When wrapping the dough, press and pinch the dough edges tightly around the filling to seal it completely. Rolling into a smooth ball helps prevent cracks that can let the filling escape.

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe really feels like a hug in cookie form, and that's why it holds a special place in my baking repertoire. Whether you’re baking for special occasions or a simple weekend treat, these cookies impress without stress. I hope you enjoy making and sharing them as much as I do—trust me, your kitchen will smell like chocolate heaven, and your taste buds will thank you!