Kue Jahe Isi Kue Keju

Instructions

1. Add 8 ounces cream cheese, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract to a medium-sized bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth.
2. Place parchment or wax paper on a large plate or baking sheet and use a small cookie scoop to scoop 1 ½ teaspoon portions of the cream cheese mixture onto the paper. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
3. While the cheesecake filling chills, prepare the cookie dough by sifting 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, beat ½ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ¾ cup dark brown sugar, and ¼ cup molasses together. Add 1 large egg and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla and beat until combined.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and beat until just combined. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
6. Make the spiced sugar coating by whisking together ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves in a small bowl. Set aside until needed.
7. When the dough and cheesecake filling is nearly done chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
8. Remove the dough from the fridge, and for each cookie, use a medium cooking scoop to scoop two 1 ½ tablespoon portions of dough. Gently press them each out into discs that are about 1 ½ inches wide. Keep the center thicker and the edges a bit thinner. If the dough rips or tears, use your fingers to pinch it back together. Use your thumb to make the disc slightly bowl-shaped.
9. Place one of the chilled cheesecake filling scoops into the center of one of the discs and top with a second one. Very carefully but firmly pinch just the very edges of the two discs together to create a seal around the filling. Be careful not to pinch too much of the dough, otherwise the filling will squeeze out the other side. If the dough cracks on the edges or on the tops, use your fingers to smooth it out. This dough is very pliable, and it’s alright to warm it up a bit with your fingers to make it smoother.
10. Once the two discs are sealed together, gently round out the pinched edge with your fingers and give a light roll of the dough to form a uniform and smooth circle where it was sealed.
11. Roll the dough in the spiced sugar and place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 2 ½-3 inches between cookies. Bake for 10 minutes.
12. Let the cookies cool on the baking rack for 3-4 minutes before transferring to a baking sheet or serving while they are still warm.