Red Velvet & Green Tea Cheesecake Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour, divided
• 1 tsp. baking powder, divided
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda, divided
• 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. red foor color
• 1 1/2 tbsp. matcha green tea powder
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract, divided
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups white chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Line a large baking sheet with a silicon mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 of the flour, baking soda, powder, salt, and cocoa powder for your red velvet cookie dough. Set aside.
3. Lightly beat 1 egg in a small bowl and add the red food color. Set aside.
4. In another medium bowl, mix together 1/2 of the flour, baking soda, powder, salt, and matcha green tea powder for your green tea cookie dough. Set aside.
5. Lightly beat 1 egg in a small bowl. Set aside.
6. In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter until it comes together in one lump, about 1 minute (you can also do this by hand). Add in the brown sugar and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and beat for another 1-2 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves into the butter. Divide the butter mixture in half, and set aside half of the butter mixture in another medium bowl.
7. Mix in the red-colored egg and a 1/2 tsp. of the vanilla with the butter mixture and beat until mixed (the batter will be lumpy). Gradually add in the cocoa powder-flour mixture to create your red velvet cookie dough, beating until a little flour remains. Fold in the white chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
8. Take the other half of the butter mixture and mix in the other egg and 1/2 tsp. of the vanilla with the butter mixture and beat until mixed (the batter will be lumpy). Gradually add in the matcha powder-flour mixture to create your green tea cookie dough, beating until a little flour remains. Fold in the white chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
9. Combine the softened cream cheese, remaining 1 tsp. of vanilla, and 1/4 cup of granulated sugar until smooth.
10. Divide each set of dough into 6-10 even pieces, depending on how large you want your cookies. Shape the dough roughly into a ball, but do not roll it.
11. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing at least 1 inch apart.
12. Use your finger to make an indentation in the top of each cookie, and use a knife or piping bag to fill the each indentation with the cream cheese mixture.
13. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes but up to 12 hours before baking.
14. Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake cookies for 18-22 minutes, until the outside of the cookies are hardened but the cookies are still soft inside. When in doubt, take your cookies out early. The cookies will continue to cook as they cool.

Notes