Prepare the Cookie Dough

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Prepare the Cheesecake Filling

1. Mix the Filling: In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
2. Scoop Filling: Using a spoon or small cookie scoop, scoop a small dollop of the cheesecake filling. Set aside.

Assemble the Cookies

1. Scoop Cookie Dough: Use a medium cookie scoop to portion out the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the dough balls about 2 inches apart.
2. Flatten the Dough: Gently flatten each cookie dough ball with the back of a spoon or your fingers to create a small indent in the center.
3. Add the Cheesecake Filling: Place a dollop of cheesecake filling in the center of each flattened cookie dough ball.
4. Seal the Cookies: Take another portion of cookie dough and place it over the cheesecake filling. Pinch the edges of the dough together to seal in the filling, forming a cookie dough ball.
5. Bake: Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the cookies are set. Keep an eye on them, as baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven.
6. Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Drizzle with Caramel

1. Prepare Caramel Sauce: If you’re using store-bought caramel sauce, simply heat it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it easier to drizzle. If you’re using homemade caramel, warm it up gently on the stove.
2. Drizzle Caramel: Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle the caramel sauce over the top of each cookie. Feel free to add extra caramel for an extra indulgent treat.