Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies (Chocolate Golden Girls Cookies)

Is it a chocolate cookie, a tea cake, or cheesecake cookie? Yes, to all of the above. And this simple recipe is going to be a favorite, because it starts with a box of cake mix! 

What is a Golden Girl Cookie? 

My most-requested cookie (after my cut-out sugar cookies) is my Golden Girls cookie. Folks just can’t get enough of that soft cheesecake-like treat. To me, they taste like little tea cakes. You can thank the cream cheese for that! It adds “fluff” you normally don’t find in a cookie.

Today I got to thinking about that. I wanted to make a chocolate version of the Golden Girls cookies, but I’m short on flour. (I know! That never happens around here!) 

I did happen to have a box of chocolate cake mix on hand. And I had chocolate chips, as well. So, I decided to tweak the recipe for my Golden Girls cookies and make them using the chocolate cake mix. The result? Well, it’s out of this world! 

Cake Mix Cookies are Delicious!

This isn’t the first time I’ve made cookies out of cake mix. I’ve got some great recipes, including my Lemon Crinkle Cookies and my Easy Carrot Cake cookies.This is such a simple and fun way to bake up a big batch of cookies. Best of all, they’re basically foolproof. 

That said, I’ve never used a cake mix in combination with cream cheese in a cookie before. I wasn’t sure how they would turn out. 

I’ll tell you more about the outcome of the cookie recipe below but let’s take a look at what you’re going to need. These are simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. 

Chocolate Golden Girls Cookies

• 1 block (8 ounces) room temperature cream cheese
• 1/4 cup (half a stick) of room temperature butter (salted or unsalted, your choice)
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 15.25 ounce box chocolate cake mix (flavor of your choice) 
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (or chips of your choice)

How to Make Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies

This is such a simple recipe, y’all! 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Place parchment paper on cookie sheets and set aside. 

In a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) place the cream cheese and butter. Mix until light and creamy. Make sure there are no lumps. 

Now it’s time to work in the egg. You’ll have to mix until it’s fully incorporated. 

Slowly work in the cake mix, a little at a time. You’ll have a thick batter. 

Now add the chocolate chips. 

Scoop into balls. (I used a cookie scoop but you can use whatever method you like, as long as the balls are about the size of a golf ball.) 

Press down gently with your palm. 

Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 – 11 minutes at 375 until done. 

Remove and allow to cool. 

Serve and enjoy! 

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay fresh for 3 – 4 days. You can freeze these to eat later, if you like. 

What to Expect from These Cookies

They’re light, they’re fluffy, they’re rich, they’re loaded with flavor. These chocolate cheesecake cookies are absolutely divine. I wasn’t sure what impressed me more—the gooey chocolate chips or the tea cake texture. They were perfect, regardless! 

I’m pretty sure my friends and family are going to flip over this chocolate version of a Golden Girls cookie. In fact, I can hardly wait to share these with them! 

Variations on this Recipe

If you can do it with a box of chocolate cake mix, you can do it with a variety of others. Here are some flavors to try: 

Red Velvet: I have a great red velvet cookie recipe from cake mix already, but adding cream cheese? Yes, please! 

Lemon: I mentioned that I have a lemon crinkle cookie recipe but they’re made with whipped cream. Substituting cream cheese would be delicious! 

Funfetti: Looking for a light but colorful cookie to serve kids at a birthday party? Start with a box of Confetti cake mix! 

Other additions to use with chocolate: Try chopped pecans, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or any number of other add-ins. The choice is totally up to you! 

Five Reasons to Add Cream Cheese to Your Cookies

Rich and Creamy Texture: Cream cheese adds a luxurious, creamy texture to cookies, making them soft and tender. If you’ve tried my original Golden Girls cookies, you know this is true! They’re truly luxurious! People always ask for that recipe because it’s a “stand out” recipe. I credit the cream cheese!

Moisture: Cream cheese adds moisture to cookie dough, resulting in a moist and chewy cookie. If you’ve ever had a dry or crumbly cookie you can see the benefit of making them more moist.

Flavor Depth: Cream cheese has a subtle tanginess. This adds depth and complexity to the flavor of your cookies. You won’t be able to place it, but the cream cheese really does add more flavor.

Structure and Stability: Cream cheese helps improve the structure of cookies, making them thicker and less likely to spread too much during baking. This results in a more uniform and visually appealing cookie. I was actually really surprised by this, y’all! I actually thought the soft cookie dough would be more apt to spread. Just the opposite! They held together great!

Versatility: Cream cheese can be used in various cookie recipes, from classic chocolate chip cookies to more elaborate creations like red velvet or carrot cake cookies. It pairs well with many different flavors, making it a versatile ingredient in your cookie-baking. I plan to try adding it to some of my favorite recipes soon, like my Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies and even my Peanut Butter Cookies!

That’s it for this post, friends!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. I sure did!

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.