Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies are not just any ordinary treat; they boast a wonderfully soft and chewy texture and a deliciously mild tang thanks to the cream cheese.
Perfect for those who love their cookies irresistibly soft with a touch of decadence. Cream cheese is the secret ingredient that enriches the flavor without making it too sweet and plays a key role in achieving that dreamy, melt-in-your-mouth feel.
Whether you are a seasoned baker or new to the kitchen, whipping up a batch of cream cheese sugar cookies will be gratifying and straightforward, perfect for the Christmas season.
These cream cheese sugar cookies are a delicious and festive addition to holiday cookie platters. You may also enjoy these homemade sugar cookies made without cream cheese and these Christmas Cookie Butter Cookies, some of my family's favorite cookies!
Another old fashioned Christmas cookie are these sand tart cookies, they're a Christmas cookie classic!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Rich Flavor: The addition of cream cheese to the traditional sugar cookie recipe provides a depth of flavor that is both rich and tangy.
- Perfect Texture: Your cookies will come out remarkably soft with a delightfully chewy bite every time.
- Simple Ingredients: Nothing fancy in this recipe!
- Versatility: Perfect for any occasion, these cream cheese sugar cookies are perfect for decorating.
Ingredients in Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
In this cream cheese sugar cookie recipe, the ingredients are straightforward. You will need:
- unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- cream cheese, room temperature
- 1vanilla extract
- large egg
- all purpose flour, spooned & leveled
- salt
Ingredients in Royal Icing
This royal icing recipe comes together easily and quickly.
- powdered sugar
- milk
- light corn syrup
- vanilla extract
How to Make Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese
In a large bowl, beat the butter and the granulated sugar together until well combined.
Beat in the cream cheese until fluffy.
Mix in the vanilla extract and beat in the egg.
Combine the all purpose flour and salt in a medium bowl, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until combined on low speed until a soft dough forms and the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Divide the sugar cookie dough, and shape, and flatten the dough into two discs.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill for about 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375ºF.
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to ¼ inch thickness and cut with desired cookie cutters.
Place cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, baking one sheet at a time for 8-10 minutes or until the edges begin to change to golden brown.
Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Decorate each cooled cookie as desired.
How to Make Easy Royal Icing
To make this sugar cookie icing, combine the milk and corn syrup in a small bowl.
Slowly mix the powdered sugar into the mixture to prevent clumps from building up.
Mix in the vanilla extract and the milk until smooth.
Divide and add food coloring as desired.
Add festive sprinkles while the icing is still wet.
HINT: An icing bag and cookie decorating tools are very helpful when decorating cookies.
Substitutions In Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Egg: If you're out of eggs or have an allergy, consider a quarter cup of unsweetened applesauce or a flax egg as a binding substitute. It is essential to have a binder for these cookies.
Vanilla: Should you run out of vanilla extract, try using an equal amount of almond extract for a different but equally delightful flavor profile. Or add just a bit of almond extract to alter the vanilla flavor in these cookies subtly.
Flour: These sugar cream cheese cookies use regular flour but you can use gluten-free measure for measure flour blend to make these cookies.
Butter: In place of unsalted butter, you can use an equal amount of salted butter, just leave out the additional salt in the recipe.
Storing Sugar Cookies
Before storing your baked cookies, it's important for them to completely cool to prevent condensation. If the cookies are frosted, ensure that the cookie icing has hardened completely before storing - this may take 2 to 3 hours depending on the icing thickness.
For short term storage:
- Place the cookies in an airtight container; this will help keep them chewy.
- If you’ve used cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting, it’s best to refrigerate the cookies to maintain freshness.
- If stacking your cookies, make sure the cookies are cool and the icing has hardened before doing so, also use parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
For long term storage:
Begin with completely cool cookies and if the cookies have frosting, make sure they have hardened completely before stacking and placing them in the freezer.
- Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, then transfer them to a freezer bag or am airtight freezer container.
- If your cookies have frosting, flash-freeze them first on a baking sheet before wrapping the icing from smudging.
When you're ready to serve or enjoy a sugar cookie that has been frozen, set the cookies out at room temperature before enjoying.
Freezing cream cheese sugar cookies is an excellent option if you're looking to get ahead of your Christmas and holiday baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make cream cheese sugar cookies that don't spread during baking?
How do you make drop-style cream cheese sugar cookies?
To make drop sugar cookies with cream cheese, allow the mixture to chill for at least 20 minutes before using a cookie scoop to portion out the dough into cookie dough balls and bake the cookies. Make sure the cookies have two inches of space between them as they will spread.
RELATED
📖 Recipe
Homemade Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter - softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 ounces cream cheese - softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Royal Icing
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and the granulated sugar together until well combined.
- Beat in the cream cheese until fluffy.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and beat in the egg.
- Combine the all-purpose flour and salt in a medium bowl.
- Stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until combined on low speed until a soft dough forms and the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Divide the sugar cookie dough, and shape, and flatten the dough into two discs.
- Cover with plastic wrap or wrap with parchment paper and chill for about 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- Roll dough out to ¼ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface and cut with desired cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, baking one sheet at a time for 8-10 minutes or until the edges begin to change to a golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Decorate each cooled cookie as desired.
Royal Icing
- To make this sugar cookie icing, combine the milk and corn syrup in a small bowl.
- Slowly mix the powdered sugar into the mixture to prevent clumps from building up.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and the milk until smooth.
- Divide and add food coloring as desired.
- Add festive sprinkles while the icing is still wet.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
LL says
I wanted to try a new “cut out” cookie recipe. These are delicious 😋! I love how they are not to crisp. Also, I never added Corn Syrup to my Cookie frosting before. Wow! It makes it nice and shiny and dries so quick. I will add these to my giveaway “Goody Boxes” for family and friends this Christmas 🎅.
Dana says
I'm so glad you liked these cookies! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas 🙂