Name: Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 2 h 19 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter, softened; ¼ cup cream cheese, softened; ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed; ¼ cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt, optional and to taste; 2 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

Jump to Recipe· 4.8 from 25 reviews

If you’re anything like me and adore a cookie that’s soft, chewy, and just a little bit decadent, you’re going to flip for this Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. Honestly, adding cream cheese to your classic chocolate chip cookie dough takes these treats to a whole new level—soft, tender, and packed with just the right balance of sweet and creamy. I remember the first time I tried this recipe, and I couldn’t believe how that extra tang from cream cheese transformed my favorite cookie into something downright luxurious. Keep reading—I’ll walk you through every step so you nail it perfectly.

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Why This Recipe Works

Cream Cheese Magic: It adds moisture and a tender crumb that keeps cookies soft for days.
Brown Sugar Balance: Using mostly brown sugar helps retain chewiness and provides that rich caramel flavor.
Chilling the Dough: Refrigeration firms up the dough, preventing cookies from spreading too thin and making them perfectly thick and fluffy.
Cornstarch Inclusion: This little ingredient softens the cookies even more by tenderizing the flour’s proteins.

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies, best cream cheese cookie recipe, soft chewy chocolate chip cookies, luxurious cream cheese cookies, homemade chocolate chip cookies - The image shows a group of seven light golden brown chocolate chip cookies with soft, chunky textures. Each cookie is thick with visible melted and solid dark chocolate chunks embedded throughout the surface. The cookies are laid flat on a scratched wooden cutting board with a rustic feel. Some extra chocolate chunks are scattered around the cookies on the board. One cookie in the lower right corner has a bite taken out of it, showing the dense inside filled with chocolate pieces. The scene has warm lighting highlighting the cookies' textures and colors. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe plays a specific role. The cream cheese, butter, and sugars create moisture and sweetness, while the flour, cornstarch, and leavening agents control texture and rise. Let me give you a quick rundown so you feel confident shopping for them.

Unsalted Butter: Always use unsalted so you can control the salt level perfectly.
Cream Cheese: Use full-fat, block-style cream cheese—not the fat-free or whipped kinds—to get that rich, creamy texture.
Light Brown Sugar: The moisture and molasses in brown sugar are crucial for chewiness and flavor depth.
Granulated Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness and helps with spreading.
Large Egg: The egg binds everything together and gives structure.
Vanilla Extract: Classic vanilla elevates the cookie’s aroma and complements the chocolate.
All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of your cookie’s texture; avoid all-purpose substitutes for best results.
Cornstarch: A secret weapon for soft, tender cookies by keeping gluten development in check.
Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and gives a slight chewiness.
Salt (optional): Enhances flavors and balances sweetness.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Chunks: Using a mix of chips and chunks gives the perfect melty chocolate pockets.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love how versatile this Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is. Over time, I’ve tried adding different mix-ins and swapping sugars to suit my mood—or even my pantry! It’s your recipe too, so feel free to make it your own.

Add Nuts: I sometimes toss in chopped walnuts or pecans for an extra crunch that pairs beautifully with cream cheese’s softness.
Chocolate Variations: Using bittersweet or milk chocolate chunks instead of semi-sweet gives the cookies a different flavor profile—try mini chips for more chocolate pockets.
Dietary Swap: If you need gluten-free, swapping all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend works well, just watch your bake time as they may brown faster.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the fat and sugar until fluffy heaven

Start by combining the softened butter, cream cheese, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla in the mixing bowl. I use my stand mixer with the paddle attachment—beat at medium-high speed for about 5 minutes until it’s light, fluffy, and pale in color. If you’re hand-mixing, be patient and blend a bit longer, roughly 7 minutes. This step is key for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Step 2: Gently adding the dry ingredients for cookie structure

Next, stop the mixer, scrape down the bowl sides, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and optional salt. Mix on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Overmixing here can toughen cookies, so keep it gentle. The cornstarch is my secret weapon that keeps these cookies tender and soft.

Step 3: Chocolate time!

Lastly, fold in your semi-sweet chocolate chips and chunks. I personally like using a combination because the chunks melt down into gooey pockets while chips hold their shape for bite-sized bursts of chocolate. You can beat them in briefly or fold by hand—either works.

Step 4: Chill and shape for perfect cookies

Using a medium cookie scoop (about 2 inches), form heaping mounds and place them on a large plate. Flatten them slightly with your palm, then cover with plastic wrap. Now, this chilling step is essential—I swear by refrigerating the dough for at least 2 hours, but up to 5 days is even better. It firms the dough, prevents spreading, and deepens the flavor. Never skip or rush this part if you want that soft, pillowy cookie.

Step 5: Bake to perfection

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with a Silpat mat or spray it lightly with cooking spray. Arrange your chilled dough mounds at least 2 inches apart—cookies will spread a bit but stay thick thanks to chilling. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes. You want to stop baking when the edges look set and the centers are just starting to firm but still pale and glossy. Don’t overbake! Cookies firm up as they cool, so pulling them out early ensures softness.

Step 6: Cool like a pro

Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This rest lets them set perfectly—soft centers with lightly chewy edges. If you’re anything like me, you’ll sneak a warm cookie at this point (don’t worry, I won’t tell!).

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Pro Tips for Making Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Perfect Softness: Always use full-fat cream cheese—low-fat or whipped versions drastically change the texture.
Don’t Skip Chilling: Chilling the dough overnight or even a full day intensifies the flavors and keeps the cookies thick and chewy.
Watch Your Bake Time: Remove the cookies when centers still look slightly underbaked; they’ll set as they cool for that perfect chew.
Rotate Baking Sheets: If baking multiple trays, rotate halfway through for even baking and color.

How to Serve Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I typically keep it simple when serving these cookies—just a light dusting of powdered sugar if I want to fancy it up. Sometimes, I toast a sprinkle of flaky sea salt over the top right after baking; that salty-sweet combo seriously elevates the flavor in an unexpected but delightful way.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk, obviously, but I also love serving them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a warm cup of coffee or chai latte. For special occasions, I’ve even paired them with fresh berries to balance the richness.

Creative Ways to Present

For birthdays or holidays, I like to sandwich these cookies with cream cheese frosting or marshmallow fluff—think cookie sandwich heaven! Wrapping individual cookies in parchment and tying them with twine also makes a charming homemade gift. And if you stack them layered with wax paper in a pretty jar, they make gorgeous edible centerpieces.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay perfectly soft and chewy for up to a week if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers. I sometimes place a slice of bread in with the cookies—it helps keep them moist! Just swap out the bread every couple of days.

Freezing

If I’m baking ahead or making a big batch, I freeze the unbaked dough balls on a tray, then transfer them into a freezer bag. This way, I have fresh cookies ready to pop in the oven anytime. Cookies baked from frozen dough turn out just as delicious; just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

When I’m craving a warm cookie, I reheat them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes, which softens them up perfectly—way better than the microwave, which can make them tough or rubbery. This little trick revives the fresh-baked goodness in seconds.

FAQs

Can I use low-fat cream cheese in this recipe?

It’s best to stick with full-fat cream cheese when making this Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. The fat content in cream cheese is what contributes to the tender, moist texture of the cookies. Low-fat or whipped varieties have more water and less fat, which can make the dough too soft and the cookies flat or crumbly.
Why is chilling the cookie dough so important?

Chilling firm ups the dough and slows down spreading in the oven, which results in thicker, softer cookies. Plus, the flavor deepens as ingredients meld during refrigeration, giving you that rich, complex taste you crave in a cream cheese chocolate chip cookie.
Can I substitute the cornstarch for something else?

Cornstarch is key here because it tenderizes the cookies by limiting gluten development. If you don’t have cornstarch, potato starch or tapioca starch can work as substitutes, but I’d avoid skipping it entirely to keep the perfect soft texture.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay soft and tasty for up to a week. If you want to keep them longer, freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months.

Final Thoughts

All in all, this Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe has become one of my ultimate go-to desserts because it’s easy, reliable, and yields incredibly soft, luscious cookies every time. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just craving a solo snack, these cookies hit the sweet spot between chewy and tender that I know you’ll fall in love with. Give them a try—you’ll find they might just become your new favorite cookie too. Happy baking, friend!