Soft Baked Creme Brulee Cookies (Printable)

Soft baked cookies with creamy vanilla filling and crisp caramelized sugar topping, inspired by French crème brûlée.

# What you 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 Cheese Filling

09 - 3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract

→ Caramelized Topping

12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar for brûlée topping

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg yolks, vanilla extract, and sour cream until fully combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
05 - Combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla bean paste in a small bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
06 - Scoop about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough and flatten into a disc. Place 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling in the center. Fold dough around filling and pinch to seal. Place seam side down on prepared sheet.
07 - Repeat with remaining dough and filling, spacing cookies at least 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 11-13 minutes until edges are set but centers are soft. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
09 - Sprinkle a thin, even layer of granulated sugar on top of each cooled cookie. Using a kitchen torch, carefully brûlée the sugar until golden and crisp. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between the soft vanilla bean filling and that signature crackling caramelized sugar top creates the most satisfying first bite experience
  • These cookies look fancy enough for dinner parties but come together with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen right now
02 -
  • Sealing the dough around the filling takes some practice. If filling leaks out during baking, try using a bit less filling next time or pinch the seams more firmly
  • The kitchen torch creates that signature crackling crust, but move it constantly in circular motions or you'll end up with burnt spots instead of that golden caramelized perfection
03 -
  • Chill the assembled dough for 15 minutes before baking if your kitchen is warm. This prevents the cookies from spreading too much and losing their filling
  • Let the kitchen torch flame heat up for 30 seconds before starting. I found this creates more even caramelization and prevents that raw sugar taste

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