Description
Cream Cheese Cookies are my absolute favorite treat that never fails to bring smiles to family gatherings. These tender, crumbly cookies deliver rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth goodness that everyone adores.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Finishing Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange two baking sheets with parchment paper. Softened butter and cream cheese (1 cup/2 sticks and 4 ounces) transform into a silky, aerated mixture when creamed thoroughly for 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate 1½ cups granulated sugar into the butter mixture. Beat until the color lightens and texture becomes fluffy. Add 1 large egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, mixing until completely smooth.
- Combine 2½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in a separate bowl. Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until integrated. Overmixing creates dense cookies.
- Form dough into tablespoon-sized spheres using your palms. Space cookie balls 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Lightly press each ball to create slight disk shapes if desired.
- Slide trays into the 350°F oven. Bake precisely 10-12 minutes until cookie edges turn golden blonde. Centers should appear slightly underdone for maximum tenderness.
- Remove sheets from oven. Allow cookies to rest 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. The residual heat continues gently cooking the centers.
- Once completely cooled, store cookies in an airtight container. These cream cheese cookies maintain softness for 3-4 days when sealed properly.
Notes
- Room temperature ingredients are crucial for creating a smooth, well-blended cookie dough that bakes evenly.
- Do not skip creaming the butter and cream cheese, as this process incorporates air and ensures a tender texture.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the cookie’s soft structure.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container keeps them soft for 3-4 days, and freezing the dough allows for fresh-baked cookies anytime.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg