Crumbl Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cookies (Copycat)
These Crumbl Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cookies are soft, thick, bakery-style cookies made with a rich cream cheese cookie base, topped with fluffy cheesecake frosting, and finished with a decadent salted caramel drizzle and flaky sea salt. This easy Crumbl copycat recipe delivers the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and salty flavors with a melt-in-your-mouth texture—ideal for anyone craving gourmet cookies at home.
Servings 8 large cookies
Calories 560kcal
Cost $12 for entire recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Large cookie scoop (⅓ cup size)
- Cooling rack
- Round cookie cutter or glass (for shaping)
- Piping bag or spatula (for frosting)
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2¾ cups + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp salt
Cheesecake Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1¾ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- pinch of salt
Salted Caramel Topping
- ¾ cup thick caramel sauce
- Flaky sea salt for topping
Instructions
Make the Cookie Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing just until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a thick dough forms.
Chill the Dough
- Scoop large portions of dough (about ⅓ cup each), roll into balls, and slightly flatten. Chill for 45–60 minutes.
Bake the Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Bake cookies for 11–12 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers look slightly underbaked.
- Immediately after baking, use a round cutter or glass to gently shape the cookies into perfect circles.
- Cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the Cheesecake Frosting
- In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and salt. Beat for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy.
Assemble the Cookies
- Once cookies are fully cooled, spread or pipe a thick layer of cheesecake frosting on top of each cookie.
- Drizzle with thick caramel sauce and finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea sal
Notes
- Chill the cookie dough for at least 45–60 minutes to create thick, bakery-style cookies that closely mimic Crumbl’s signature texture and prevent excess spreading during baking
- For the best results, use full-fat cream cheese in both the cookie dough and frosting—this ensures a rich cheesecake flavor and a smooth, stable consistency
- Do not overbake the cookies. The centers should look slightly underdone and soft when removed from the oven—this is key for achieving that soft, melt-in-your-mouth Crumbl-style texture
- Use a round cookie cutter or glass immediately after baking to gently shape the cookies into perfect circles for a professional bakery-style appearance
- Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before adding the cheesecake frosting to prevent melting and maintain a thick, clean layer
- Use a thick, high-quality caramel sauce (not thin syrup) so it stays on top of the cookies and creates that rich salted caramel finish
- Add the flaky sea salt after drizzling the caramel so it sticks properly and enhances the sweet-and-salty flavor balance
- Beat the cheesecake frosting for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy to achieve that classic Crumbl-style whipped texture
- For best flavor and texture, store the cookies in the refrigerator and allow them to sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before serving
- These cookies can be made ahead by baking the cookie bases in advance and frosting just before serving for the freshest presentation