Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Additional sugar for sprinkling
Softened butter and cream cheese, plus sugar, egg, flour, baking powder, and salt follow the same structure as other cream cheese sugar cookie recipes built for soft, rich cookies.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Prep the oven and pans
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even browning.
350°F is a standard temperature for cream cheese sugar cookies to bake through while staying soft and light in color.
Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until combined.
- Set aside.
Whisking dry ingredients first ensures the leavening and salt are evenly distributed in the dough.
Step 3: Cream butter and cream cheese
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.
- This step usually takes 1–2 minutes on medium speed.
Beating butter and cream cheese together until smooth is the same technique used in other cream cheese sugar cookie recipes to ensure a lump-free base.
Step 4: Add sugar, egg, and vanilla
- Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy; the mixture should look slightly lighter in color.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Creaming until light and fluffy helps incorporate air, contributing to the cookie’s tender, melt-in-mouth texture.
Step 5: Combine wet and dry
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low just until combined.
- Stop as soon as there are no visible streaks of flour; overmixing can toughen cookies.
Most cream cheese sugar cookie recipes emphasize mixing dry ingredients in gently to maintain softness and prevent overdeveloping gluten.
(Optional) Step 6: Chill the dough
- For extra flavor and to help the cookies hold their shape, you can cover the bowl and chill the dough for about 30 minutes before baking.
Chilling cookie dough is widely recommended to control spread and develop flavor; even 30 minutes can make a noticeable difference.
Shaping and baking
Step 7: Shape the cookies
- Scoop dough by tablespoonfuls and roll into balls between your palms.
- Place them onto the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass or your hand.
- Sprinkle a little sugar on top of each cookie for a light crunch and sparkle.
Flattening the balls and sprinkling with sugar is a common method in drop-style cream cheese sugar cookie recipes to get even shapes and a sugary top.
Step 8: Bake
- Bake the cookies at 350°F (175°C) for 12–15 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden and the centers look set.
- Avoid overbaking; cream cheese cookies should stay fairly pale with only a hint of color at the edges to keep them soft.
Step 9: Cool
- Remove from the oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes; this allows them to firm up slightly.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Most cream cheese sugar cookie recipes recommend a brief cooling time on the sheet so the tender cookies don’t break when moved.