Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

The smell of warm chocolate and butter fills the kitchen as these bake.
These Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, chewy, and have a creamy twist that makes them extra special.

I made them on a quiet evening, and they tasted like a little bit of happiness in every bite.
The cream cheese makes them rich and smooth, while the chocolate chips add that sweet crunch.

If you love cookies that melt in your mouth, this recipe’s for you.
Let’s bake a batch and enjoy that cozy, homemade goodness together.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super Soft and Tender: Cream cheese makes these cookies incredibly soft with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• Perfect Balance: The slight tang from cream cheese balances the sweetness of chocolate chips beautifully.
• Easy to Make: Simple steps with ingredients you probably already have.
• Great for Sharing: Makes about 24 cookies, perfect for parties, bake sales, or gift-giving.
• Stays Fresh Longer: The cream cheese helps keep these cookies moist for days.

What You Need to Know Before You Start

Prep Time & Cook Time:

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Chill Time: 30 minutes
• Bake Time: 10-12 minutes
• Total Time: About 1 hour

Servings: This recipe makes about 24 cookies, enough for a family gathering or to keep some for yourself throughout the week. Want more? Double the batch easily.

Difficulty: Easy for beginners. Even if you have never baked cookies before, you can make these successfully.

Required Kitchen Tools

• Mixing bowls (medium and large)
• Whisk
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Rubber spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Baking sheets (two)
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
• Cookie scoop or tablespoon
• Wire cooling rack

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies come together with simple pantry staples and one special ingredient that makes all the difference. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature for easy mixing and rich flavor.
• Cream Cheese: Full-fat brick style, not spreadable. This is what makes the cookies extra soft.
• Sugars: Both granulated sugar and light brown sugar create the perfect sweetness and texture.
• Egg: Brings everything together and adds structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla adds warm, sweet flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: The base of the cookie dough.
• Cornstarch: Helps make the cookies extra tender and soft.
• Baking Soda: Gives the cookies a slight rise and helps them spread just right.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out all the flavors.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: You can also use chocolate chunks for bigger pockets of chocolate.

Variations for Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Add Nuts: Stir in chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch.
• Use Dark Chocolate: Swap semi-sweet chips for dark chocolate if you prefer less sweetness.
• Mix Chocolate Types: Use half milk chocolate and half semi-sweet chips for variety.
• Add a Hint of Cinnamon: A quarter teaspoon of cinnamon adds warmth.
• Make Them Smaller: Use a smaller scoop for bite-sized cookies, just reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes.
• Try White Chocolate: Replace chocolate chips with white chocolate chips for a sweeter treat.

How to Make Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Set this bowl aside for later.

2. Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, use your mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until they look smooth and creamy. Add both the granulated sugar and brown sugar, then beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture looks light and fluffy. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until everything is well combined.

3. Combine and Add Chocolate

Turn your mixer to low speed and slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined—do not overmix. Use a spatula to fold in the chocolate chips until they are spread throughout the dough.

4. Chill the Dough

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the dough to a container with a lid. Put it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. You can chill it for up to 2 hours if you have time. This step helps the cookies hold their shape while baking.

5. Prepare to Bake

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

6. Scoop and Space

Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion out the dough into balls about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons in size. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading.

7. Bake

Bake for 10-12 minutes. The edges should look lightly golden, and the centers might look slightly soft. This is normal—they will firm up as they cool.

8. Cool

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after removing them from the oven. Then carefully move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serving and Decoration

These cookies are wonderful on their own, but here are some ways to make them extra special:

• Serve Warm: Heat a cookie in the microwave for 10 seconds to make the chocolate chips gooey.
• With Ice Cream: Sandwich a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies.
• Drizzle with Chocolate: Melt extra chocolate and drizzle it over cooled cookies for a fancy look.
• Dust with Powdered Sugar: A light dusting makes them look bakery-style.
• Pack as Gifts: Wrap a stack in clear cellophane with a ribbon for homemade gifts.

Storing Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Room Temperature: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. The cream cheese keeps them soft and fresh.
• Refrigerator: If your kitchen is very warm, you can refrigerate the cookies for up to 1 week.
• Freezer: Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in the oven.
• Freeze the Dough: You can also freeze unbaked cookie dough balls. Place them on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to the baking time.

Tips and Tricks for Success

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, cream cheese, and egg are at room temperature. This helps them mix together smoothly.
• Do Not Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined. Overmixing can make cookies tough.
• Chill the Dough: Do not skip the chilling step. It prevents the cookies from spreading too thin.
• Check for Doneness: The cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when you take them out. They will continue cooking on the hot pan.
• Use Parchment Paper: This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
• Even Sizing: Try to make all cookies the same size so they bake evenly.

Nutrition

Note: Nutrition information is approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies FAQs