cream cheese, lemon & white chocolate chip cookies
If cookies aren’t at the top of your long weekend to-do list, I urge you to make room for these buttery soft pillows. After my first experience adding cream cheese to cookie dough, I became an instant convert; a second flavor variation of “cheesecake” cookies seemed inevitable.
Golden Meyer lemon zest cuts through the richness of the cream cheese and white chocolate chips, adding welcome brightness. For true indulgence, mix up a batch of Meyer lemon ice cream and make ice cream sandwiches – it’s the best way to celebrate the weekend.
Cream Cheese, Lemon & White Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 cups flour
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp Meyer lemon zest
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups white chocolate chips, divided
Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Place Meyer lemon zest and white sugar in a food processor and pulse for 1 minute. Beat butter and cream cheese in a large mixer bowl at medium speed until smooth; add lemon-sugar and brown sugar to cream cheese mixture and beat until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture; beat just until incorporated. Fold in 1 cup white chocolate chips. Cover dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper. Form 1 1/2″ balls of dough and place two inches apart on prepared baking sheets; flatten mounds slightly. Top cookies with remaining white chocolate chips (5 to 6 per cookie), pressing gently to adhere. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, for 8 minutes, until edges are set. Cool for 3 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.
Yield – 30 cookies
Calories – 130 (per cookie)
Carbs – 16
26 comments
I just recently started adding cream cheese to my cookies! Love it! I love that you paired lemon with white chocolate! Fantastic! Have a fabulous weekend, Laura!
I’m loving the Meyer lemon and cream cheese in cookie dough kicks you are on, Laura! Your cookies look divine and would be the perfect go-with for tea. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!
Oh these look so good! I am loving the cream cheese with the lemon. Sounds like a perfect combo!
I need to start trying/using cream cheese to my cookies! Luv these recipes you’re featuring with Meyer Lemons. Mmmm…white chocolate with the lemon and cream must be fantastic!! 😉
Oh man – I definitely need to get my baking sheets out for this weekend – I haven’t made cookies in forever! And I bet this flavor combo is absolutely amazing!
I’m going to dream about these cookies sandwiched around Meyer lemon ice cream!
Wouldn’t one (or two) of these gorgeous cookies be perfect right this minute!
I’d take a few of these beauties with my coffee now-good morning;)Love them, Laura!
Beautiful and I just bought some Meyer lemons yesterday. It was fate 🙂
My weekend definitely will include multiple cookie making sessions! These look like the perfect way to start! Love the addition of cream cheese, that’s genius!
Cookies always trump housework! These look great, Laura!
I’m a huge advocate for cream cheese in cookies now too; it’s a surefire way to make them thick, soft, and chewy! Love the combination of flavors you did here. It sounds sweet but bright and refreshing.
Lemon and white chocolate are quite a compelling pair! I imagine them to be the new black and white, silver and gold-a splash of tang and a burst of creamy, sweet goodness. What a voluptuous cookie!
I just made scones this week with lemon and white chocolate, such a wonderful combination. I’m all set for a cup of tea now and a stack your delicious cookies. To me, a perfect way to spend a cold winter afternoon.
GAWDGEOUS!! I can’t make these beauties this weekend because I’ve got this birthday cake thing going on… I’m turning 21! Again!!! 😉 BUT, I want to make them as soon as possible because you captured all my fave flavors in one!
Mmm I love lemons and cream together! How fabulous! 😀
I think I died and went to cookie heaven! Love these!!! They are so sunny and the cream cheese is awesome in cookies.
Can these cookies get any more appetizing? I love the pop of lemon flavor; bet the texture from the cream cheese is awesome!
Jeeez, these look fantastic!
I haven’t tried this combo yet, but I’m sure once I do I’ll be hooked. Too bad you don’t live closer, I’d be happy to take some off your hands.
-Gina-
I love cheesecake and white chocolate – and I bet the Meyer lemons make these cookies over the top delicious! Awesome flavor combination.
Cheesecake is my favorite dessert and enjoying in a cookie bite sounds heavenly!
i love white chocolate. these look yummy!
Cream cheese in cookies I bet these taste fantastic especially with lemon!
I bet these are pillows of goodness! I can only imagine how wonderful your house smelled while these were baking in the oven.
Oh my. I love these flavors together! Lemon and white chocolate is one of the best things ever. And then you went and added cream cheese. YUMMY! 😀
Which brand of white chocolate do you use, by the way? I like the shape of your chips. 🙂