Fluffy Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies Recipe: Sweet Bliss

Soft, pillowy, and utterly irresistible, these cream cheese sugar cookies dance between classic comfort and modern deliciousness.

The secret ingredient of cream cheese creates a magical texture that sets these cookies apart from ordinary recipes.

Every baker dreams of a cookie that melts in your mouth with perfect sweetness and tenderness.

Rich butter and smooth cream cheese blend together to create a treat that promises pure indulgence.

The delicate balance of ingredients ensures each bite delivers a luxurious experience.

Butter-soft edges and a subtle tang make these cookies an instant favorite for anyone who loves a truly memorable sweet.

You’ll fall in love with this simple yet extraordinary recipe that turns an ordinary afternoon into a delightful celebration.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus overnight chilling)

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes (plus overnight chilling)

Calories: 256 kcal

Servings: 22

What Goes Into Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

• Butter: Adds rich, velvety texture and enhances buttery flavor; choose high-quality, unsalted butter for best results.
• Cream Cheese: Provides tangy depth and smooth consistency; select full-fat, room temperature cream cheese for optimal mixing.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create delicate cookie structure; use fine, pure sugar for even distribution.

• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structure; select fresh, large eggs at room temperature.
• Almond Extract: Adds sophisticated, nutty undertone; use pure extract for authentic flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Delivers classic, warm sweetness; opt for pure vanilla extract over artificial versions.

• All-Purpose Flour: Forms cookie's foundation; sift to prevent lumps and ensure smooth texture.
• Baking Powder: Creates gentle lift and softness; check expiration date for maximum rising potential.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies overall flavor; use fine table salt for even distribution.

Tools You’ll Use for Sugar Cookie Success

• Hand mixer: Essential for beating butter, cream cheese, and sugar to a light, fluffy consistency.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining wet ingredients and mixing dough.
• Separate mixing bowl: Used for whisking dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Plastic wrap: Needed to wrap and refrigerate dough disks overnight.
• Rolling pin: Helps roll out dough to an even ½-inch thickness.
• Cookie cutters: Creates fun shapes for cookies.
• Baking sheets: Provides surface for baking cookies.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Measuring cups: Accurately measures dry and wet ingredients.
• Whisk: Combines dry ingredients smoothly.
• Spatula: Helpful for scraping bowl sides and transferring cookies.

Instructions to Bake Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

• Soft Ingredients Gathering

Pull out butter, cream cheese, and sugar from the refrigerator to reach room temperature. This helps create a smooth, creamy cookie base that blends effortlessly.

• Mixing Magic

Combine butter, cream cheese, and sugar in a large bowl. Whip them together using a mixer until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and looks like soft clouds. This process creates the perfect foundation for deliciously tender cookies.

• Flavor Boost

Add egg and extracts to the creamy mixture. Blend everything until the ingredients dance together seamlessly, creating a rich and aromatic cookie dough.

• Flour Power

Gently fold in flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Mix until the dough comes together without overmixing, which keeps the cookies tender and delicate.

• Chill Time

Shape the dough into two smooth disks. Wrap them in plastic and let them rest in the refrigerator overnight. This waiting period allows the flavors to mingle and develop a deeper taste.

• Cookie Creation

Remove dough from refrigerator and let it warm slightly. Roll out on a lightly floured surface and cut into playful shapes using cookie cutters.

• Baking Moment

Slide cookies into a preheated oven at 375°F. Bake until edges are just golden and centers look soft, about 8-10 minutes. Let cookies cool completely before decorating.

• Decorative Finale

Warm store-bought frosting in the microwave until smooth and pourable. Drizzle or pipe designs onto cooled cookies, transforming them into edible works of art.

Sugar Cookie Tips to Elevate the Flavor

• Refrigerate the dough overnight to develop rich flavors and prevent spreading during baking. Cold dough ensures cookies maintain their shape and create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Experiment with different cookie cutters like hearts, stars, or seasonal designs to make these sugar cookies match any celebration or holiday theme. Mix and match shapes for a playful, personalized cookie collection.
• Control icing consistency by adjusting microwave time – shorter heating creates thick piping icing, while longer heating produces smooth flooding icing. Use small squeeze bottles or piping bags for precise decorating control.
• Swap almond extract with other extracts like orange, lemon, or peppermint to create unique flavor profiles. Add citrus zest or ground spices like cinnamon to the dough for an unexpected taste twist.
• Store decorated cookies between parchment paper layers in an airtight container at room temperature. Undecorated cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months, allowing you to prepare ahead for spontaneous sweet moments.

Fun Ways to Present Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

• Holiday Cookie Platter: Create a festive display with these cream cheese sugar cookies alongside other classic holiday treats like gingerbread men, chocolate crinkles, and peppermint snowflakes for a stunning dessert centerpiece.
• Colorful Decorating Adventure: Transform these tender cookies into personalized masterpieces by using different food coloring shades, sprinkles, and decorative icing techniques to match seasonal themes or party color schemes.
• Tea Time Companion: Pair these delicate, buttery cookies with your favorite hot beverage like Earl Grey tea, hot cocoa, or a smooth latte for a delightful mid-afternoon sweet moment that feels like a warm culinary hug.
• Kids' Baking Project: Invite children to help cut out fun shapes, decorate with colorful icings, and create memorable family baking memories while developing their kitchen skills and creativity.

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Storage Basics

• Fridge-Friendly Delight: Store these cream cheese sugar cookies in an airtight container, layered between parchment paper. They'll stay fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature or can be refrigerated for maximum freshness.
• Freezer Magic: Wrap unbaked cookie dough disks tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling and baking for fresh, homemade goodness.
• Make-Ahead Masterplan: Prepare cookie dough up to 2 days before baking. Keep wrapped disks in the refrigerator, ready to roll out and create delicious treats whenever you want a sweet moment.
• Decoration Strategy: Cool cookies completely before adding icing. Room temperature cookies absorb decorations best, ensuring smooth, professional-looking results that will impress family and friends.

Velvety Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 40 minutes (plus overnight chilling)
• Yield: 22 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Sweet cream cheese sugar cookies blend classic comfort with delicate richness. Home bakers can create these simple yet elegant treats that delight taste buds and bring warmth to any gathering.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
• 3 ½ cups (438 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (227 grams) butter, room temperature
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cans store-bought frosting or homemade icing

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Instructions

1. Mixing Base: Blend butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar in a spacious mixing bowl using a hand mixer until the mixture transforms into a voluminous, airy texture. Thoroughly scrape the bowl’s sides to ensure uniform blending.
2. Wet Ingredient Integration: Fold in egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract, mixing until completely integrated with the creamy base.
3. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl until uniformly combined.
4. Dough Formation: Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, adding in increments and mixing minimally. Pause to clear bowl’s edges between additions, creating a cohesive dough.
5. Dough Chilling: Divide dough into two symmetrical disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate overnight to enhance flavor development and structural integrity.
6. Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Dough Rolling and Cutting: Remove one dough disk, allowing slight softening at room temperature. Roll to ½-inch thickness on flour-dusted surface and use cookie cutters to create desired shapes.
8. Baking Process: Arrange cookie shapes on prepared sheets, maintaining 2-inch separation. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set and cookies appear slightly puffy.
9. Cooling and Decoration: Cool cookies completely on baking sheets. Prepare icing by microwaving frosting in 15-30 second intervals, stirring until achieving a pourable consistency.
10. Final Embellishment: Allow icing to cool momentarily, adjusting thickness for precise piping or complete cookie coverage.

Notes

• Chill Strategically: Refrigerate dough overnight to develop complex flavors and improve cookie structure, preventing excessive spreading during baking.
• Soft Butter Matters: Ensure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smooth, airy creaming that creates tender, delicate cookies.
• Handle Dough Gently: Minimal mixing prevents tough cookies; mix just until ingredients combine to maintain a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Temperature Precision: Use exact oven temperature and avoid overbaking; cookies should have barely golden edges and soft centers for optimal taste and texture.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus overnight chilling)
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 22
• Calories: 256
• Sugar: 17 g
• Sodium: 83 mg
• Fat: 13 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 42 mg