Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 1 C Unsalted Sweet cream butter (softened)
  • 1/2 C light brown sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 C flour
  • 4 tsp red-red food coloring
  • 2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 C holiday sanding sugar
  • Cream Cheese filling
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 C sugar
  • 1/8 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instruction

  • Preheat oven to 300 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
  • Using a standing mixer, beat together the butter, brown sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
  • Gradually mix in the flour, food coloring, and cocoa powder until soft dough forms.
  • Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop some dough into your hands and roll into a ball
  • Pour the sanding sugar into a bowl
  • Roll the dough ball into the sanding sugar and set aside onto the cookie sheet
  • Repeat steps for about 11 more cookies
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • While the cookies are baking, using an electric mixer beat together the cream cheese, egg yolk, sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth.
  • After the first 10 minutes of baking, use the back of a round teaspoon to create an indentation in the cookies.
  • Spoon a teaspoon of the cheesecake filling into each indentation.
  • Bake for an additional 12 minutes, until filling is set.
  • Let cool completely before enjoying!