Description
Delight in the festive flavors of Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies, perfect for holiday gatherings. These soft and spiced cookie cups are filled with a creamy cinnamon-ginger cheesecake frosting and topped with colorful Christmas sprinkles, creating a fun and delicious treat that combines the warmth of gingerbread with the richness of cheesecake.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 3/4 cup salted butter (softened at room temperature)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 whole egg
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons corn starch
Cheesecake Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Toppings
- Christmas sprinkles (for fun!)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl using an electric mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure even mixing.
- Add Egg and Molasses: Incorporate the whole egg and molasses into the butter mixture and continue beating until smooth and well combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and corn starch until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix just until a dough forms. Avoid over-mixing to keep the cookies tender. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pans: Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two regular muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Form Cookie Cups: Press approximately 2 tablespoons of chilled cookie dough into the bottom of each muffin cup, then press the dough halfway up the sides to form a cup shape.
- Bake: Bake the cookie cups for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes.
- Shape Cups: While warm, press the back of a tablespoon or the top of a round spice jar down into the center of each cookie to deepen the cup shape. Allow the cookie cups to cool completely in the pan before removing.
- Prepare Cheesecake Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and vanilla extract with a hand or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Fill and Decorate: Transfer the cheesecake frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe a swirl into each cooled cookie cup. Alternatively, spread the frosting using a spoon. Top with festive Christmas sprinkles for added color and fun.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve your gingerbread cheesecake cookies immediately or refrigerate to keep the frosting firm. Enjoy this festive treat at holiday parties or as a delightful dessert anytime.
Notes
- Be sure not to over-mix the dough after adding the flour to keep the cookies tender and prevent them from becoming tough.
- Chilling the dough helps the cookie cups maintain their shape during baking.
- If you don’t have a spice jar or tablespoon for shaping the cups, use any rounded object that fits safely into the muffin pan.
- The cheesecake frosting should be kept chilled if not serving immediately to maintain its consistency.
- For a stronger ginger flavor, you can add a little extra ground ginger to the dough or frosting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Gingerbread cookies, cheesecake frosting, holiday cookies, Christmas dessert, gingerbread cheesecake cups, festive treats
