Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies — 🍪🙌🏻🤎These soft batch cookies are made with a combination of butter and cream cheese, which makes them extra rich and delicious! I like to make mine using a combination of chocolate chips and chunks, and you can even use M&M’s in these!
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Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies (with Cream Cheese!)
I’ve been wanting to bake cream cheese into cookies for ages. I finally did. And I’m in love with the results.
I adapted my favorite Chocolate Chip and Chunk Cookies recipe and replaced some of the butter with cream cheese and am in love with the results.
My favorite recipe calls for 3/4 cup of butter, and for these soft batch chocolate chip cookies I used a combination of 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup cream cheese. You wouldn’t think that just a simple quarter-cup swap of butter for cream cheese would effect results that much, but it did.
These chocolate chip cream cheese cookies are so soft, moist, and with a richness to the dough like no other cookies I’ve tried.
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’ve never made chocolate chip cookies with cream cheese before, you’re in for a treat! You’ll need just a handful of pantry staples:
- Unsalted butter
- Cream cheese
- Light brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
The steps for this chocolate chip cookie recipe with cream cheese couldn’t be simpler!
- Cream together the cream cheese, butter, sugars, and vanilla extract. Whip the mixture on medium-high speed until it’s light and fluffy. Don’t just mix it all together, it must be light and fluffy before moving onto the next step!
- Add in the dry ingredients and scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything gets incorporated.
- Scoop the cookie dough into large balls and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before baking.
- Bake the cookies for no more than 10 minutes, then let cool for 5 minutes on the baking tray before transferring to a wire rack.
Cookie FAQs
It makes them super soft and moist! In this particular recipe, the dough seems more buttery — which is ironic since there’s actually less butter used, not more. The cream cheese cookies are super soft without being cakey, and remind me of soft batch cookies. The edges are slightly chewy, and the thick interiors are soft, tender, and moist.
I can’t taste the cream cheese, but it adds depth, density, and richness that my regular chocolate chip cookies don’t have.
Use full-fat cream cheese in a block. Do NOT use light, fat-free, or a whipped cream cheese because your dough will become runny. I tried the recipe with some light cream cheese I had on hand, and the cookies baked thinner and spread.
You can use a hand mixer and a bowl if that’s all you have, but I prefer using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment because you can prepare other parts of the recipe while it’s busy mixing. I use the Kitchenaid 7-quart tilt head mixer, which you can get on Amazon. They’re worth the investment in my opinion!
Technically, you can omit the cornstarch, but your cookies won’t turn out as soft. To make these cream cheese chocolate chip cookies soft batch-style, the cornstarch is needed.
I made these as classic chocolate chip cream cheese cookies, but I bet you could add extra mix-ins if desired. Chopped nuts, M&M’s, or your favorite chopped up candy bar would all be good additions. Just be sure to add no more than 2 1/4 cups mix-ins total. 
Yes, if you want to make soft batch chocolate chip cookies with cream cheese you MUST chill the dough first. Make sure to chill your dough for at least 2 hours before you bake to ensure your cookies bake thick and puffy. Warm, limp dough bakes into limpy and wimpy cookies. I want my cookies to be thick, with puffy centers that are overflowing with chocolate.
I used a 2-inch cookie scoop to make my cookies because I like them really big. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, use a large spoon and your hands. Just try to make your cookies all the same size so they bake evenly!
Recipe Video Tutorial
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Softbatch Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
Equipment
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**
Instructions
- To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, cream cheese (measure it by smooshing it into a 1/4-cup measure), sugars, egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well-creamed, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes (or use an electric hand mixer and beat for at least 7 minutes).
- Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and mix until just combined, about 1 minute.
- Add chocolate chips and chunks, and beat momentarily to incorporate, or fold in by hand.
- Using a medium 2-inch cookie scoop, form heaping mounds (I made 28). Place mounds on a large plate, flatten mounds slightly with your palm, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 5 days, before baking. Do not bake with warm dough because cookies will spread and bake thinner and flatter.
- Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat or spray with cooking spray and place mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet).
- Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set, even if slightly undercooked, pale and glossy in the center. Do not bake longer than 10 minutes as cookies will firm up as they cool.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing and transferring to a rack to finish cooling.***
- Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Cookies Made with Cream Cheese:
ALL OF MY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPES!
Cream Cheese Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cookies — Cream cheese keeps them super soft! Say hello to your new fave chocolate cookie!!
Black and White Cream Cheese Cookies — These cookies combine two favorites in one! Soft, moist, buttery, creamy Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies are paired with fudgy, intensely chocolaty, and not overly sweet Dark Chocolate Dark Brown Sugar Cookies.
Cream Cheese White Chocolate Chip Cookies — These soft and chewy white chocolate chip cookies use two special ingredients to achieve their pillowy texture: instant pudding mix and cream cheese!
Cream Cheese Cookies — Big, soft, buttery cookies with sweet and tangy cream cheese in the middle!! Oh my….Best thumbprints ever!!!
Softbatch Glazed Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies — Big, bold lemon flavor packed into super soft cookies thanks to the cream cheese!! Tangy-sweet perfection! Lemon lovers are going to adore these easy cookies!!
These are for sure the best chocolate chip cookies ever! They are so soft. I just stick the entire bowl of cookie dough in the freezer for about 45 min, then roll it into tall balls onto the cookie pan and bake. They come out thick, fluffy and so soft! I personally don’t like having to stick the entire pan in the fridge or freezer because that means I would have to re-arrange everything already in there. I find that letting it chill in the bowl (and in the freezer if you’re not wanting to wait 2 hours) works just as well! Thanks for this recipe.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad these are the best chocolate chip cookies ever for you! And that you have a shortcut for chilling the dough too :)
made these for 4th of July ….with my scoop I got 23 cookies. I made the dough two day in advance, put the cookie balls on a baking sheet and refrigerated for 2 days. When ready to bake , spaced the cookie balls on another cookie sheet and let sit the cookies sit 15 minutes and baked 18 minutes ( mine were slightly larger because of the size of my scoop. As the first batch were cooking, I set up the next cookie sheet and let them sit out while my first batch was cooking…worked like a charm. Everyone loved them. This is the new favorite in our family.
made these for 4th of July ….with my scoop I got 23 cookies. I made the dough two day in advance, put the cookie balls on a baking sheet and refrigerated for 2 days. When ready to bake , spaced the cookie balls on another cookie sheet and let sit the cookies sit 15 minutes and baked 18 minutes ( mine were slightly larger because of the size of my scoop. As the first batch were cooking, I set up the next cookie sheet and let them sit out while my first batch was cooking…worked like a charm. Everyone loved them. This is the new favorite in our family.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad they’re a new family favorite!
I tried it with Red Mill gf flour and they turned out a bit grainy.
Delicious! I made with Coconut oil instead of butter.
Delicious! I made with Coconut oil instead of butter.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad they turned out great with coconut oil rather than butter!
Hi Averie- I love all your recipes! We live in a high-altitude area (4600 ft) here in Utah so how should I alter the recipe to account for this? Every cookie I’ve ever made has gone flat due to the altitude- may be more flour?
I would check the King Arthur flour website regarding high altitude baking. I know they have good resources and tutorials and have more experience with it than I do since I live at sea level.
I rather enjoy this recipe and I’ve actually modify a little bit to be a little like tiramisu especially since it’s soft, I change out the vanilla for coffee and the cream cheese for mascarpone
I rather enjoy this recipe and I’ve actually modify a little bit to be a little like tiramisu especially since it’s soft, I change out the vanilla for coffee and the cream cheese for mascarpone
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad your changes work well for you!
Hi Averie! I’ve been using this recipe for about 4 years now and think it’s amazing! Have you ever adapted it to make a cookie cake (or giant cookie)? If so, how do you adjust? Thank youN
I was disappointed with this recipe. I like my cookies more chewy but it was a bit too cakey for me. I followed the recipe and did not bake it for more than 10 mins. If you like your cookies more crispy/brown on the outside but soft in the inside… I don’t think this is the recipe to try. I think the pale appearance also made it look unappetizing for me.
I love your recipes. I try two, three different recipes. My family likes them all and gone so fast. Love it. Thank you.
I love your recipes. I try two, three different recipes. My family likes them all and gone so fast. Love it. Thank you.
Thanks for the five star review and glad your family likes my recipes!
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Did exactly what the recipe said left in the refrigerator for 1.5 hours and left out for a little before baking ( when i say a little I mean while I waiting for the oven to pre-heat) and these are absolutely amazing!! If you following the exact recipe you make little cookies balls before baking and you will end up with 90 plus cookies. It takes a little time but so worth every minute of prepping, to making to cleaning and everything else in between to get these amazing cookies. Definitely better than any store bought cookie dough. If I can give it 5 more stars i would! Absolutely amazing!! 😁😄
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Did exactly what the recipe said left in the refrigerator for 1.5 hours and left out for a little before baking ( when i say a little I mean while I waiting for the oven to pre-heat) and these are absolutely amazing!! If you following the exact recipe you make little cookies balls before baking and you will end up with 90 plus cookies. It takes a little time but so worth every minute of prepping, to making to cleaning and everything else in between to get these amazing cookies. Definitely better than any store bought cookie dough. If I can give it 5 more stars i would! Absolutely amazing!! 😁😄
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you loved the cookies!
Hi Averie! I’ve been using this recipe for about 4 years now and think it’s amazing! Have you ever adapted it to make a cookie cake (or giant cookie)? If so, how do you adjust? Thank youN
Thanks for the five star review and glad it has been a repeated favorite over the years!
I would basically just make the dough as written, bake in a 350F oven in a 9-inch cast iron or similar for maybe 20-25 mins just guessing, this concept https://www.averiecooks.com/chocolate-chip-peanut-butter-oatmeal-skillet-cookie/ or https://www.averiecooks.com/chocolate-chip-marshmallow-skillet-cookie/
This was my second time making these cookies. They are BY FAR the best chocolate chip cookies – and possibly THE BEST cookies – that I’ve ever made, and I’ve made tons! These beauties are soft and chewy, and stay that way for several days. I only used 2 cups of choco chips, but it was plenty! A rare occasion when lots of chocolate chips is not overwhelming. Trust that 8 minutes is enough for baking even though it may not seem like it at the time!