1-First Step: Prepare the Mise en Place Gather all ingredients. Soften butter and cream cheese at room temp for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Measure dry ingredients into a bowl: 2 1/4 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt. Whisk to combine. This setup keeps you moving smoothly.

2-Second Step: Make the Cookie Dough In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened butter and 3/4 cup sugar with a mixer on medium for 2 minutes until fluffy. Scrape sides. Add 1 egg and 2 tsp vanilla; beat 1 minute. Gradually mix in dry ingredients on low speed until just combined. Dough will be soft. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.

3-Third Step: Chill the Dough Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, and chill 30 minutes. Or overnight for thicker cookies. Chilling firms butter, reducing spread. Pro tip: Portion into 24 balls now (about 2 tbsp each) for even sizes. Flash-freeze if making ahead.

4-Fourth Step: Prepare the Cheesecake Filling In a clean bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth, 1 minute. Add 1 egg yolk and 1/2 cup strawberry jam; mix until creamy. Spoon into a piping bag or zip-top bag, snip corner. Filling should swirl easily without lumps. Taste and add vanilla if desired.

5-Fifth Step: Assemble the Cookies Take a chilled dough ball, flatten slightly into a 3-inch disc on parchment. Pipe or spoon 1 tsp filling in center. Top with another flattened ball, pinch edges to seal. Gently roll into uniform ball. Place 2 inches apart on sheets. Repeat. Filling may peek out; that’s fine for pretty swirls.

6-Sixth Step: Bake the Cookies Bake one sheet at a time in middle oven rack for 12-15 minutes. Edges turn golden, centers stay soft. Rotate halfway for even baking. Do not overbake for chewy texture. Cool on sheet 5 minutes, then racks. Cookies firm as they cool, revealing strawberry cheesecake centers.

7-Final Step: Finishing Touches and Serving Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm or room temp. Store as below. Pair with milk or tea. Test bake one cookie first to adjust time. Enjoy your soft strawberry cheesecake stuffed cookies!