Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

• servings: 9 servings
• active time: 20 minutes
• total time: 52 minutes

Ingredients

5 oz cream cheese (room temperature)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)

3/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon)

Directions

Cheesecake Filling: Prepare a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl beat to combine the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, until smooth. (You can do this by hand or quicker with a hand mixer.)

Scoop the cheesecake mixture into 2 teaspoon sized dollops and place on the prepared baking sheet. (about 9 dollops)

Place in the freezer for about 20 minutes or until frozen and firm.

Pumpkin Cookies: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt with a whisk. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat to combine the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and pumpkin puree, mixing until well combined.

Add the dry ingredients and fold in with a large spoon until completely combined. Use a large (2 oz) cookie scoop to create 9 cookie dough balls.

Flatten each cookie dough ball, and place the frozen cheesecake filling in the center. Fold the dough over the filling and roll into a smooth ball.

In a small bowl, combine the spiced sugar ingredients. Roll each cookie dough ball in the cinnamon sugar.

Transfer to the prepared baking sheets and bake for 11-12 minutes, until edges look set. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cookie
• Calories: 334 kcal
• Total Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0.4 g
• Cholesterol: 65 mg
• Sodium: 183 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 44 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Total Sugars: 30 g
• Protein: 3 g