Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies

These soft Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies are infused with the creamy richness of cheesecake and the sweet, juicy flavor of fresh strawberries. The best part? They are healthy and nutritious!

If you’re a fan of strawberry cheesecake and cookies, get ready to have your taste buds tantalized! The rich and creamy taste of cheesecake complements the vibrant sweetness of fresh strawberries, creating a symphony of flavors that’s hard to resist. Strawberry cheesecake cookies are a heavenly treat that blend the best of both worlds into a single, irresistible bite. You will never guess they are also healthy and good for you!

Why these are healthy cheesecake cookies?

Cheesecake cookies…healthy? How can it be? Utopian as it may sound, I gave the original cheesecake cookie recipe a twist and make it healthier. Here are three reasons why:

1. These cookies are high in nutrients. Oat flour and almond flour enrich the cookies with dietary fibers, nutrients like manganese, magnesium or vitamin E, and plant-based protein. The fresh strawberries also contributes, packing each single cookie with fibers, vitamin C and other plant compounds.
2. This recipe only uses natural ingredients; no refined flour, no sugar. Instead of white flours and confectionery sugar, I opted for a mix of oat flour, almond flour, and coconut sugar as a sweetener.
3. These strawberry cookies have little added fats. Compared to traditional cheesecake or cookies, strawberry cheesecake cookies contain less fat. By using ingredients like oil, cream cheese or Greek yogurt in moderation, the fat content is controlled without foregoing taste and texture.

The ingredients

Here is all you need to make cheesecake cookies with strawberries, along with details and substitutes:

• Egg: This helps bind the dough and hold the cookies together
• Vegetable oil: The oil adds moisture and improves the texture of your cookies. For the best taste, use a vegetable oil with neutral flavor. My recommendations are canola oil, avocado oil, a mild olive oil or deodorized coconut oil. If you prefer, use melted butter.
• Cream cheese: Full fat or low fat, cream cheese is what turns simple strawberry cookies into “Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies“, giving a creamy texture and improving the taste. As an alternative, substitute with Greek yogurt.
• Oat flour: Both store-bought and homemade oat flour works. If it is not available, replace with whole wheat flour, spelt flour or all purpose flour.
• Almond flour: Almond flour adds a subtle nuttiness and improves the texture. You can replace it with more oat flour or all-purpose flour.
• Coconut sugar: This ingredient is a healthier alternative to sugar because it is less processed and contains more nutrients. You can replace with brown sugar, cane sugar, date sugar, white sugar or with any granular sweetener.
• Baking powder and baking soda: Besides working as leavening agents, these ingredients improve the texture of the strawberry cookies, making them soft. If you don’t have baking soda, feel free to omit it.
• Vanilla extract: The vanilla extract enhances the strawberry flavor, providing a delicate sweet aroma.
• Lemon juice: This ingredient complements the sweetness of strawberries and adds a refreshing twist. For the best taste, I encourage squeezing the juice of a fresh lemon. But for more convenience you can also use lemon juice in bottle.
• Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the tastes and balances the sweetness. 
• Fresh strawberries: A key ingredient for cheesecake cookies, make sure you use red and juicy fresh berries. Also frozen strawberries may work, but you’ll need to thaw them ahead and remove the excess water.

Healthy cheesecake frosting

These are not simple strawberry cookies. These are Strawberry Cookies with a Cheesecake Frosting. A healthy frosting made with Greek yogurt, cream cheese and powdered sweetener. For fewer calories, I used low fat yogurt and cream cheese. But any other option works, also dairy-free alternatives. If you don’t have calorie-free powdered sweetener, replace with common powdered sugar.

Cheesecake cookies with Greek yogurt

For cheesecake cookies with fewer calories, you can replace regular full-fat cream cheese with low fat alternatives or Greek yogurt (either full-fat or low fat). Although still delicious, the result will slightly change, as Greek yogurt cheesecake cookies are less rich and tasty.

High protein cheesecake cookies

Looking for ways to sneak in protein powder into your dessert? Then keep on reading. To make high protein strawberry cookies, replace part of the oat flour with protein powder. But do not exaggerate, otherwise the texture of your cookies will change.

For the best result, substitute no more than 30 grams (1/3 cup) of the flour with a protein powder of your choice, vanilla flavored or unflavored. My recommendation is to choose vegan protein or casein, as they do not dry out like whey.

How to make strawberry cheesecake cookies

Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients

Start by beating in a large mixing bowl the egg together with oil, vanilla extract, lemon juice and salt. Add to the egg mixture the softened cream cheese and the coconut sugar, then whisk until all is smoothly combined.

Step 2: Prepare the cookie dough

Once smooth and lump free, stir into the mixture the oat flour, the almond flour, the baking powder and the baking soda. Using a fork, mix to combine into a cookie dough. Fold in the diced strawberries, then refrigerate the dough for at least 15 minutes.

Step 3: Make the cookies

Scoop out some cookie dough balls and shape the cookies, I got 10. Transfer to a parchment paper covered baking sheet, spacing them apart. Bake in hot oven for 8 to 15 minutes and let cool at room temperature before serving.

Step 4: Frost the cookies

In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese with Greek yogurt, powdered sweetener (or powdered sugar) and vanilla extract until creamy. Frost the cookies only before serving, with sliced strawberries on top.

Storage instructions

In the unlike event of leftovers, you can store them for later. As these cookies contain fresh ingredients like cream cheese and strawberries, they must be stored in the fridge. Here are some guidelines on how to store strawberry cheesecake cookies:

1. Allow the cookies to cool completely: This step prevents any condensation that may lead to sogginess or spoilage.
2. Store in an airtight container, glass container or ziplock bag: The airtight seal helps maintain the soft texture and protects leftover cookies from air exposure.
3. Layer with parchment paper: If you’re stacking the cookies in the container, prevent them from sticking together by placing a sheet of parchment paper between each layer.
4. Keep in the refrigerator for a maximum of 4 days: As these are cheesecake cookies with cream cheese, they must be stored in a cool place.

For a longer storage, you can seal leftovers in a zipper bag or airtight food container and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. Before serving, reheat in hot oven for a few minutes until the cookies reach their original texture.

Tips for the best cheesecake cookies

• Use softened cream cheese. Softened cream cheese is more manageable and mixes in the dough very smoothly, without forming lumps. To soften the cheese, make sure you remove it from the fridge about 30 minutes in advance.
• Opt for a neutral vegetable oil. If the oil has a strong flavor, it will alter the taste of your cookies. Great picks are canola oil, avocado oil or deodorized coconut oil.
• Don’t replace almond flour. Almond flour gives these strawberry cookies a delicious nutty flavor and enhances their texture.
• Let the cookie dough rest. After sitting in the fridge for about 20 minutes, the dough will be firmer and more manageable. This will make it much easier for you to shape the cookies afterwards.
• Don’t overbake. Keep an eye on the baking time, or your cookies will get dry. And don’t worry if they feel too soft, the cookies get firmer after cooling.
• Frost only before serving. Make sure you frost your cookies only before serving, otherwise they will absorb moisture and get soggy.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

More healthy cookie recipes

• Banana bread cookies
• Blueberry oatmeal cookies
• Oatmeal protein cookies
• Oatmeal chocolate chip bars
• 3 ingredient breakfast cookies
• Oatmeal protein cookie dough bars