Looking for a dessert that’s both fun and fabulous? These Cheesecake Cookie Cups are your answer! With a rich cookie base and creamy cheesecake filling, they’re the perfect balance of sweet and satisfying. Plus, you can customize them with your favorite sprinkles to match any celebration.

cheesecake cooke cups with colorful sprinkles on a platter.

Yes friends, today I’m sharing a new quick and easy dessert recipe with you. If you’re after something that’s equal parts delightful, dazzling, and downright delicious, then you’re in the right place. We’re making these Cheesecake Cookie Cups!

These bite-sized beauties are the perfect answer anytime you need a quick but impressive dessert recipe. If you need a customizable last-minute sweet treat suited to any holiday or celebration, these are it!

Looking for additional bite-sized dessert treats? Then don’t miss out on these: No-bake Bourbon Balls, Salted Chocolate Turtle Candies, and Cherry Walnut Snowball Cookies.

cheesecake cookie cups decorated with Christmas sprinkles.

cookie cups filled with cheesecake and red and green sprinkles.

TABLE OF CONTENTS hide

1 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

2 Ingredients

3 How To Make

4 Recipe Variations

5 Frequently Asked Questions

6 More Easy Desserts You’ll Love

7 Cheesecake Cookie Cups

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These are so quick and easy to make! Trust me, these Cheesecake Cookie Cups come together in no time. Perfect for spontaneous sweet cravings or surprise guests.
The beauty lies in their adaptability. Swap out the sprinkles to fit any occasion. Whether it’s a cheerful birthday with rainbow sprinkles or the cozy Christmas vibes with red and green ones, you’ve got options!
These little treats don’t just taste great, they look it too! They’re sure to steal the spotlight at any dessert table. Also, If you’re new to baking, they’re a great place to start. This simple recipe yields impressive results – a definite confidence booster!
They’re the perfect bite-sized treat, so if you just need a small sweet treat to serve without going over the top, these little Cheesecake Cookie Cups could be the answer.

One thing that I want to mention is that these Cheesecake Cookie Cups do need to be kept refrigerated. They are more like a mini dessert rather than a cookie.

If you love this idea but want something that can be left unrefrigerated, then be sure to check out these Sprinkle Cookie Cups. They are made with frosting instead of cheesecake. I made mine for Christmas, but like this recipe, you can change up the color of your sprinkles to suit any holiday or celebration. Similarly, I also have recipes for S’mores Cookie Cups and Peanut Butter Cookie Cups.

cookie cups filled with cheesecake and topped with sprinkles.

Ingredients

And with that, we’re ready to bake and assemble these Cheesecake Cookie Cups. Let’s gather up the ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: I went with Nestle Tollhouse cookie dough for this recipe. It’s reliable and delicious, and it saves so much time.
Cream Cheese: It’s the star of the filling! It brings that creamy, tangy flavor we all adore in cheesecake. Ensure it’s softened for easy mixing.
Softened Butter: Adds that rich, velvety texture to the filling. It blends beautifully with cream cheese, enhancing its creaminess.
Vanilla Extract: A dash of this gives our cookie cups that aromatic sweetness. It’s like a warm hug for your senses.
Powdered Sugar: It’s not just for sweetness; it also contributes to the silky texture of our filling. Sift it if you can, to avoid any lumps.
Sprinkles: The fun part! Whether it’s rainbow for a lively touch or festive colors for the holidays, sprinkles add a dash of joy and a playful finish to our cookie cups.

cheesecake cookie cups with colorful rainbow sprinkles.

chocolate chip cookie cups filled with cheesecake and topped with sprinkles.

How To Make

As promised, these Cheesecake Cookie Cups are so easy to make! I’ll walk you through the steps below. For your convenience, I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.

Roll about one tablespoon of the dough in your hands to form a ball. Add the ball to an ungreased mini muffin pan. Continue with the rest of the dough. Press the dough balls into the bottom and up the sides of each muffin cup. Bake at 350° until lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.

balls of cookie dough in mini muffin pans.

chocolate chip cookie dough pressed into mini muffins pans.

Immediately after removing them from the oven, use the end of a wooden spoon handle to reshape the center of the cookie cups. Allow them to set and cool for about five minutes in the tin before transferring them to a cooling rack.

making a hole in cookie dough with the back of a wooden spoon.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar.
Once smooth, transfer the mixture to a piping bag and pipe into the cups. (If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a plastic bag or just use a spoon to add the mixture to the cups.)

filling cookie cups with cheesecake filling.

adding sprinkles wot cheesecake cookie cups.

If desired, add sprinkles to the top of the cream cheese mixture.

And that’s it. I told you they were easy! As I mentioned above, you’ll want to store these in the refrigerator and then take them out approximately 30 minutes before serving time to allow them to soften up a bit.

cheesecake cookie cups with rainbow sprinkles on a platter.

Recipe Variations

As I was making these, I was thinking about all the possible flavor twists and recipe variations. If you want to try this recipe in different ways, here are some ideas to get you thinking.

A Change In Flavor: Swap out the vanilla extract for almond or even peppermint extract (and top with crushed candy canes) for a fun flavor change. It’s a subtle switch that can give these cookie cups a whole new vibe.
Cookie Base Options: Not a chocolate chip fan? No problem! You can easily use oatmeal, peanut butter, or snickerdoodle dough as your base. Different cookie, same delightful outcome.
Fruity Fillings: Before you add the sprinkles, drop in a small spoonful of your favorite fruit jam or preserve atop the cream cheese mixture. Raspberry, apricot, or even blackberry fillings can add a sweet and tangy surprise.
Chocolate Lover’s Delight: Mix in some cocoa powder to the cream cheese filling or drizzle the finished cookie cups with melted chocolate (for those days when double chocolate just feels right).
Nutty Notes: Add crushed walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the cookie dough for a delightful crunch, or sprinkle some on top for a decorative touch.

Feel free to mix and match these variations or come up with your own!

mini cheesecake cooke cups with colorful sprinkles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! If you have a go-to cookie dough recipe, feel free to use it. Just ensure it’s chilled properly to maintain the shape of the cups.

Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for up to five days. Just be sure to let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving for the best texture.

Can I freeze these for later?

Definitely. Once they’re fully set, place them on a baking sheet to freeze individually. After a couple of hours, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They should be good for up to a month. Just thaw in the fridge before enjoying.

What other fillings can I use?

The cream cheese filling is a classic, but feel free to get creative! Think chocolate ganache, lemon curd, or even a dollop of raspberry jam for a fruity twist.

I don’t have mini muffin tins. Can I make them larger?

Yes, you can use regular-sized muffin tins. Just adjust the baking time and keep an eye on them. The result will be bigger cookie cups, perfect for a more substantial treat.

My filling is a bit lumpy. What did I do wrong?

No worries! It’s likely that the cream cheese wasn’t softened enough. Next time, let it sit out longer or give it a quick zap in the microwave. For now, continue mixing; it should smooth out with a bit more time. If you’re not using an electric mixer, try that.

platter filled with cheesecake cookie cups for Christmas.

chocolate chip cookie cups with cheesecake filling.

More Easy Desserts You’ll Love

And there you have it! These Cheesecake Cookie Cups are sure to be a hit at any gathering, be it big or small. I hope you enjoy making this easy dessert recipe. If you give it a try, be sure to come back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.

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