Soft Baked Creme Brulee Cookies (Printable view)
Soft French-inspired cookies with creamy vanilla filling and crispy caramelized sugar topping
# What You'll Need:
→ Cookie Base
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large egg yolks
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
→ Cream Filling
09 - 3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
→ Brûlée Topping
12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat softened butter with granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Mix in egg yolks, vanilla extract, and sour cream until fully combined and smooth.
05 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
06 - Combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla bean paste in a small bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy with no lumps.
07 - Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough and flatten into a disc. Place 1 teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center. Fold dough around filling and pinch edges to seal completely. Place seam side down on prepared baking sheet.
08 - Repeat with remaining dough and filling, spacing cookies at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
09 - Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before caramelizing.
10 - Sprinkle a thin, even layer of granulated sugar over each cooled cookie. Using a kitchen torch, carefully melt and caramelize the sugar until golden and crisp. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The torch moment at the end feels like a tiny kitchen magic trick every single time
- These cookies capture everything decadent about crème brûlée without the fussy custard step
02 -
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes prevents the cookies from spreading too much
- The cream cheese filling must be completely sealed inside or it will leak during baking
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients prevent the filling from oozing out while baking
- Do not skip the sour cream, it is what keeps these cookies soft for days