Description
These Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies are soft, tender, and packed with a rich, creamy flavor from the cream cheese. Perfectly thick and lightly crisp on the edges, these cookies are topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting and festive sprinkles, making them a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (224g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 6 oz (170g) full fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 3 1/2 cups (450g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for dusting
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup (112g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 oz full fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 cups (220g) powdered sugar, spooned and leveled
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles, for decorating
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large bowl using a hand or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Add the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract to the bowl, mixing until smooth and well combined.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Add the kosher salt, baking powder, and cream of tartar to the batter, mixing until evenly combined. Then, gradually add the flour. When the mixer struggles with the thick dough, stop and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing thoroughly. The dough will be very thick and sticky.
- Chill the dough: Turn the dough onto a large sheet of plastic wrap dusted with flour. Flour your hands and gently pat the dough into a 1-inch thick rectangle. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight to firm up the dough.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll and cut cookies: On a floured surface, roll the chilled dough out to about 1/4 inch thickness, maintaining a thick cookie profile. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them about one inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Store leftover cutouts in the refrigerator.
- Bake the cookies: Bake for 8-10 minutes, with 9 minutes being ideal, until the surface looks dry and the centers are just set. Meanwhile, re-roll any scraps and keep extra cut cookies chilled until baking.
- Cool the cookies: Let the cookies rest on the pan for about one minute after baking, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting: In a clean bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth using a paddle attachment. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, then mix in vanilla extract. Add gel food coloring if desired and blend until smooth and thick.
- Frost and decorate: Spread the frosting on each cooled cookie and immediately add sprinkles to ensure they stick. Frost one cookie at a time for best results.
- Serve and enjoy: Your Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies are now ready to be enjoyed fresh or stored for later.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and to achieve thick cookies.
- Use room temperature butter and cream cheese for easier mixing and better texture.
- Be careful not to overbake; cookies should be set but still soft in the middle.
- For best frosting adherence, apply sprinkles immediately after frosting each cookie.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze uniced cookies for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Cream Cheese Frosting, Soft Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Baking, Dessert
