The Cheesecake Filling: Creamy and Rich

The cheesecake filling is the star of these cookies, adding a rich, velvety texture and a delicious creaminess that pairs perfectly with the fresh flavors of lemon and blueberry. The filling is made from cold cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract, which are mixed until fluffy. Once prepared, the filling is divided into 18 portions and frozen into discs. Freezing the filling helps it maintain its shape when placed in the cookie dough, ensuring that each cookie has the perfect amount of creamy center.

The cheesecake filling creates a decadent contrast to the slightly tangy and buttery cookie dough, giving every bite a delightful surprise.

The Blueberry Jam: Sweet and Tangy

The blueberry jam is another key element that brings these cookies to life. Fresh blueberries are cooked down with sugar over medium heat until they form a thick, jammy consistency. The jam is then cooled in the fridge before being incorporated into the cookie dough. This blueberry jam not only adds a burst of fruitiness to the cookies but also a beautiful jammy texture that contrasts with the softness of the dough and the creaminess of the cheesecake filling.

By folding the jam into the dough, you create pockets of blueberry sweetness throughout the cookies, ensuring that each bite is filled with jammy goodness.

The Cookie Dough: Buttery and Fluffy

The cookie dough for these Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies is made with basic ingredients like flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and butter. The dough is enhanced by rubbing lemon zest into sugar, which helps release the essential oils from the zest, infusing the dough with a vibrant lemon flavor. The softened butter is creamed with the lemon-scented sugar until light and fluffy, creating a tender and flavorful base for the cookies.

After adding the egg and vanilla extract, the dough becomes pale and fluffy. The dry ingredients are then gradually added, and the dough is mixed until just combined. The result is a buttery dough that is slightly sweet and full of lemon flavor.

Incorporating the Jam: A Layered Approach

To get the perfect balance of lemon, blueberry, and cheesecake in each cookie, the dough is divided into quarters and layered with blueberry jam and more dough. This technique ensures that the jam is evenly distributed throughout the dough, leaving pockets of sweet blueberry goodness in every bite.

Once the jam is incorporated into the dough, it’s gently folded to leave some pockets of jam intact, preserving its jammy texture and ensuring it doesn’t completely mix into the dough.

Shaping the Cookies: Filling with Cheesecake Delight

After the dough is ready, it is scooped into 18 portions and shaped into discs. Each disc of dough is then carefully filled with a frozen cheesecake disc, which is sealed within the dough. This technique ensures that the creamy cheesecake filling stays intact during baking, providing a delicious surprise when you bite into the cookie.

Once the cookies are shaped and the cheesecake is sealed inside, they are rolled in sugar for an added sweetness and slight crunch. The cookies are then placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ready to be baked to perfection.

Baking and Cooling: A Perfect Finish

The cookies are baked at 350°F (175°C) for 11-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the cookies have spread slightly. After baking, they are allowed to cool for 10 minutes on the sheet before being transferred to a cooling rack. This cooling period helps the cookies set and ensures they maintain their soft, chewy texture.

The result is a perfectly baked cookie with a golden-brown exterior, jammy blueberry pockets, and a soft, creamy cheesecake center. These cookies are the perfect balance of sweetness, tartness, and creaminess.

Serving Suggestions: A Perfect Treat

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies are perfect for any occasion. They make a delightful treat for a summer picnic, a casual get-together, or as a fun dessert for a special meal. These cookies can be served on their own or paired with a cup of tea or coffee for a cozy afternoon snack.

For a decorative touch, you can garnish the cookies with a few fresh blueberries or a light dusting of powdered sugar to enhance their visual appeal.

Nutritional Information: A Balanced Indulgence

Each serving of Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies contains approximately 135 calories, making them a satisfying yet not overly indulgent treat. The cookies are relatively low in carbohydrates (18g), with 12g of sugar coming from the natural sweetness of the blueberry jam and the dough.

With 7g of fat, including 4g of saturated fat, these cookies have a rich, buttery flavor. They also provide 2g of protein, thanks to the cream cheese filling and the egg in the dough.

The cookies offer 1g of fiber, which helps balance the sugar content, and provide small amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A (7% DV), vitamin C (1% DV), calcium (2% DV), and iron (2% DV).

Conclusion: A Delectable Dessert

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies are a unique and indulgent dessert that combines the bright, refreshing flavors of lemon and blueberry with the rich creaminess of a cheesecake filling. These cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with flavor, making them a perfect treat for any occasion.

Whether you’re baking for a special celebration or just looking for a delicious snack, these cookies are sure to be a hit. With their irresistible combination of flavors and textures, they bring the best of a lemon blueberry cheesecake into a fun, bite-sized treat.