Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

I need to be blatantly honest here for a minute.  This morning was one of those mornings where I had to literally drag myself out of bed.  I woke up with all of my confidence drained and didn't want to go to work.  I literally slid out of bed because even Charles was telling me to go get ready.  Do you ever wonder why some days you honestly just want to stay in bed and not move...hide away from the world for just a day?  I mean this past weekend I was full of confidence gliding around New York, like I lived there and going for runs through Central Park like it was an everyday occurrence.  But today, today I just didn't want to face "it".  I did not feel like I had any right leading or having to give tasks to others when I didn't want to be doing anything myself.  Ultimately I did put my big girls pants, okay well skirt on and head to work.

But it left me thinking, am I the only one who has days of complete self doubt?  I honestly can't even say what brought it on.  I had a great four day weekend hanging out with my mom in DC and New York.  We ate delicious food, shopped and just strolled around New York.  (Pictures from New York) But then Monday morning came around and I had a serious case of the Mondays.

 

Before Monday came around and before heading to New York, for the 4th of July cookout at my office, there were these Oreo Cheesecake Cookies.  These cookies were originally made for Courtney and inspired by her favorite dessert.  I had done the cream cheese technique used in these cookies last fall for pumpkin cheesecake cookies, but I was a little nervous about how they would turn out in regular cookie dough.  Well, they turned out delicious!  Delicious as in I wish I had one right now, I may have had 3 or 4 in one day delicious.  Delicious as in I made the twice in 3 days.   Seriously, you kind of just need to try these if you like oreos and cheesecake.  Soft and chewy with bits of cream cheese and crunchy oreos; these cookies are the truly oreo cheesecake in cookie form.  Enjoy!

At the National's game on the 4th of July.  Our Nation's past time...

The most complicated part of these cookies is creating the cream cheese pieces.  Cut and then...

Coat with flour so they hold their form and don't melt into the cookies.

Butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla start these cookies.

Then in goes the flour, baking soda and salt.

Lastly fold in the oreos and cream cheese pieces.  You can also just dot the cream cheese once the cookies are scooped onto the baking sheet.

Ready for the oven.

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies:

*makes approximately 2 dozen cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 1/8 cups all purpose flour (plus 1/4 for cream cheese pieces)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

12 Oreos crushed into pieces

1/2 cup (or 1/2 block) 1/3 fat cream cheese

1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2.  Fill a small bowl with 1/4 cup flour.  Cut the cream cheese into less then 1 centimeter squares, and lightly coat with flour.  Discard remaining flour, and place cream cheese pieces into freezer until ready to use.

3.  In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and the sugars until fully combined.

4.  Then whisk in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

5.  In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. 

6.  Next in two additions, whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.   Then fold in the Oreo pieces. 

7.  Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie scoop or a tablespoon, spoon dough out on to parchment paper lined cookie sheet approximately 2 inches apart.  Press 2 to 3 cream cheese pieces into the top of the cookies.  Bake in the center of the oven for 10 -12 minutes until just golden brown and set in the middle.  Repeat process until all cookies are baked.  Enjoy!