Soft Baked Crème Brûlée Cookies (Print View)
Soft French-inspired cookies with creamy vanilla filling and crisp caramelized sugar topping
# Ingredient List:
→ Cookies
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
→ 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
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat softened butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg yolks, vanilla extract, and sour cream until fully combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla bean paste in a small bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
06 - Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough and flatten into a disc. Place 1 teaspoon filling in 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 2 inches apart. Bake for 11-13 minutes until edges are set but centers are soft.
08 - Cool on pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Sprinkle thin, even layer of granulated sugar on each cooled cookie.
09 - Using kitchen torch, carefully brûlée sugar until golden and crisp. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The crackle of burnt sugar against a soft creamy center is the kind of texture contrast that makes people pause and take notice
- These cookies store surprisingly well and actually taste better the next day when the flavors have had time to become friends
02 -
- The torch step is nonnegotiable because that crackle is what makes these cookies special
- Room temperature ingredients matter more here than in almost any other cookie recipe I have made
03 -
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes if it feels too sticky to work with
- A pinch of sea salt on top after torching creates the most incredible sweet and salty contrast