Description
Classic Mexican churro cookies with creamy cheesecake filling merge two beloved desserts into one irresistible treat. Sweet cinnamon-sugar coating complements rich cream cheese center, offering delightful flavor contrasts you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Cheesecake Preparation: Whip cream cheese with sugar and vanilla until silky smooth. Portion tiny cheesecake dollops onto parchment-lined tray and freeze for 30 minutes until completely solid.
- Dough Creation: Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon in one bowl. In a separate larger bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing until fully incorporated. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, forming a tender dough.
- Cookie Assembly: Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop dough portions and flatten into disks. Place frozen cheesecake center in middle of each disk, completely encasing the filling and shaping into smooth spheres.
- Spice Coating: Mix remaining sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Roll each cookie thoroughly in the fragrant spice mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Baking Process: Position cookies with substantial spacing on prepared trays. Bake until edges turn golden and surfaces develop slight crackles, approximately 12-14 minutes.
- Finishing Touch: Allow cookies to rest briefly on baking sheets, then transfer to cooling racks. Cool completely to enhance texture and flavor integration. Serve warm, revealing the luscious cheesecake center with each delectable bite.
Notes
- Freeze Cheesecake Filling Properly: Create small, uniform portions and freeze for exactly 30 minutes to ensure easy handling and prevent melting during cookie assembly.
- Control Dough Consistency: Mix dough until just combined – overmixing leads to tough, dense cookies that lack the desired tender, delicate texture.
- Strategic Coating Technique: Roll cookies in cinnamon-sugar mixture immediately before baking to lock in maximum flavor and create a crispy, caramelized exterior.
- Cooling is Crucial: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 2-3 minutes post-baking, then transfer to wire rack to prevent overcooking and maintain soft, chewy center.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 21 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg