1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 large egg, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently fold in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, then set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg yolk and 1 tsp of vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet butter-sugar mixture, stirring until just combined. Then fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

5. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each scoop. Make a small indentation in the center of each dough ball using your thumb or the back of a spoon.

6. Carefully fill each indentation with a generous spoonful of the cream cheese mixture.

7. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set but still soft.

8. Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 18 cookies | Kcal: 180 kcal per cookie