Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pre heat the oven to 350°F.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Chill the filling while you make the dough.
In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, molasses, and egg until smooth.
Stir in flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Chill 30 minutes.
Scoop cookie dough with a large cookie scoop on a baking sheet. Flatten slightly into a disk. *** See notes below for cookie scoop**
Scoop the cheesecake filling with a small cookie scoop ( about 2 teaspoons) and place in the center of each cookie.
Fold dough around it, pinching seams to seal. Roll gently into a smooth ball.
roll the dough balls lightly in granulated sugar.
Arrange on baking sheet lined with parchment and bake at for 15 minutes, until edges are set and tops are slightly cracked. Cookies should look soft in the center , they’ll finish setting as they cool.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack. Serve once cooled to enjoy the creamy cheesecake center.