Description
Cream Cheese Cookies bring sweet comfort straight from your kitchen, melting perfectly with a cup of afternoon tea. Grab your mixing bowl and prepare for a delightful treat that comes together faster than you can grab a second serving.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Finishing Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Optional: festive sprinkles
- Optional: sanding sugar
- Optional: icing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures even heat distribution and prevents cookie sticking.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine 1 cup softened butter with 3 oz softened cream cheese. Use an electric mixer to blend for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add 1 cup granulated sugar to the butter mixture. Beat until completely smooth and integrated.
- Mix in 1 large egg yolk and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Blend thoroughly until the ingredients are well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until a soft dough forms. Stop mixing as soon as ingredients are combined to prevent tough cookies.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion 1-tablespoon balls of dough. Place them 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Optional: Gently press cookie tops with your fingers or a glass bottom for flatter shapes. Sprinkle with decorative sugar if desired.
- Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Watch for golden edges and soft centers.
- Remove from oven and let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
Notes
- Softening cream cheese and butter at room temperature ensures a smooth, creamy texture that blends easily and creates a tender cookie.
- Chilling the dough for 15-20 minutes helps prevent spreading and makes the cookies hold their shape better during baking.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to make these cookies accessible to more people.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container keeps them soft and fresh for up to 5 days, making them perfect for make-ahead treats.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 55 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg