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Why You’ll Love These Funfetti Cheesecake Sandwich Cookies
A Perfect Blend of Textures
These cookies combine a soft, chewy base with a smooth and creamy cheesecake filling. The contrast between the slightly crisp edges of the cookies and the velvety filling makes every bite satisfying.
Festive and Fun for Any Occasion
The colorful sprinkles add a playful touch, making these cookies ideal for birthdays, celebrations, or even just as a cheerful pick-me-up treat. The bright colors make them visually appealing for kids and adults alike.
Homemade Bakery-Style Cookies
With a rich, buttery flavor and a professional-looking finish, these sandwich cookies taste like they came straight from a high-end bakery. The graham cracker crumbs give them a unique flavor twist, elevating them beyond standard sugar cookies.
Key Ingredients Breakdown
Cream Cheese in Both the Cookies and Filling
Cream cheese is the star ingredient that makes these cookies different from regular funfetti cookies. It gives the cookies a soft, slightly tangy taste and makes the filling smooth and rich.
Graham Cracker Crumbs for Extra Flavor
Instead of relying only on flour, this recipe includes finely ground graham crackers. This adds a subtle crunch, a deeper sweetness, and a slight caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with the cheesecake filling.
Sprinkles for the Fun Factor
Choosing the right sprinkles is important. Jimmies (the long, rod-like sprinkles) work best because they hold their shape when baked. Avoid using nonpareils (small round sprinkles), as they can bleed color into the dough.
Tips for the Best Results
Chill the Dough for Perfect Cookies
Refrigerating the dough for at least 2 hours is crucial. It helps the flavors develop and prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking. If you skip this step, the cookies may turn out too thin and lose their ideal chewy texture.
Don’t Overbake the Cookies
These cookies should be slightly underbaked when they come out of the oven. They will continue to cook as they cool, giving them a soft and tender bite. Overbaking can make them dry and crumbly.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients
For both the cookies and the cheesecake filling, using room temperature butter and cream cheese ensures a smooth consistency and helps them mix evenly. Cold ingredients can lead to lumpy batter or filling.
Pipe the Filling for a Professional Look
To make the sandwich cookies look neater, transfer the cheesecake filling into a piping bag (or use a plastic bag with the corner snipped off). This makes it easier to spread evenly without mess.
Customization Ideas
Flavor Variations
- Chocolate Lovers: Add mini chocolate chips to the cookie dough.
- Lemon Twist: Add ½ teaspoon of lemon zest to the cheesecake filling for a citrusy touch.
- Almond Touch: Swap vanilla extract for almond extract for a nutty depth of flavor.
Different Sprinkle Colors for Holidays
- Red and green for Christmas
- Pastel colors for Easter
- Orange and black for Halloween
- Red, white, and blue for Independence Day
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
How to Store
- Store the assembled cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Let them sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before eating to bring back their soft texture.
Can You Freeze Them?
- Cookies Only: Baked cookies (without filling) can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw before filling.
- Assembled Cookies: Can be frozen, but the filling may change in texture slightly. Wrap individually for best results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using Soft Dough Without Chilling
Skipping the chilling step leads to cookies that spread too much and become thin instead of holding their shape.
Overmixing the Dough
Mixing too much after adding the flour can develop too much gluten, making the cookies tough instead of soft and chewy.
Not Measuring Flour Correctly
Too much flour can make the cookies dense and dry. Spoon and level the flour instead of scooping directly from the bag.