Soft Baked Creme Brulee Cookies (Printable)

Decadent soft cookies with creamy vanilla center and caramelized sugar topping, inspired by classic French crème brûlée.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and 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 granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in egg yolks, vanilla extract, and sour cream until fully combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, 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 cookie dough and flatten into a disc. Place 1 teaspoon of 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. Bake for 11-13 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Cool on pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
08 - Sprinkle a thin, even layer of granulated sugar on each cooled cookie. Using a kitchen torch, carefully brûlée the sugar until golden and crisp. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • That moment when you crack through the caramelized sugar into soft, vanilla-scented cookie is absolutely worth the effort
  • The cream cheese filling stays creamy and luxurious even after baking, creating this incredible texture contrast
02 -
  • The dough will feel soft and slightly sticky—that is completely normal and what creates those tender cookies
  • Let cookies cool completely before torching, or the sugar will melt into the cookie instead of creating a crispy layer
03 -
  • Add a pinch of sea salt immediately after torching for that salted caramel effect
  • If you do not have a torch, your oven broiler works in about 1–2 minutes—just watch like a hawk

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