These Cream Cheese Cut Sugar Cookies are soft, tender, and perfect for decorating, making them an ideal treat for holidays and celebrations. With the richness of cream cheese and a simple dough recipe, you’ll have a delightful batch of cookies that are not only delicious but also fun to customize with your favorite icing, sprinkles, and designs!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These sugar cookies have the perfect balance of sweetness and softness, thanks to the addition of cream cheese. They’re easy to roll out, hold their shape beautifully when baked, and are perfect for any occasion where you want to impress with homemade treats. Whether you’re preparing for Christmas, birthdays, or any festive event, these cut-out cookies are sure to be a hit.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy and smooth.
Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until well combined.
Roll the dough out on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes.
Place the cookies on a baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are golden brown.
Allow the cookies to cool before decorating.

Servings and Timing

Servings: 24 cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 8-10 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Variations

Flavor Twist: Add a teaspoon of almond extract for a slight almond flavor to the dough.
Decorative Icing: Once cooled, decorate with royal icing, buttercream, or simple powdered sugar glaze for a festive touch.
Add-ins: Mix in colored sprinkles or mini chocolate chips to add texture and fun colors to your cookies.

Storage/Reheating

Storage: Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Freezing: Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and then decorate when ready.

FAQs

1. Can I use a different type of cheese?

Cream cheese gives the dough a soft texture, but you could try using mascarpone for a different flavor and richness.

2. How thick should I roll the dough?

Rolling the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness is ideal for soft, chewy cookies that hold their shape well when baked.

3. Can I refrigerate the dough before baking?

Yes, refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes can help make it easier to roll out and prevent spreading during baking.

4. Can I freeze the dough before baking?

Absolutely! Roll the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before rolling out and baking.

5. Can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?

Yes, all-purpose flour works just fine in this recipe.

6. How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure your dough is chilled before rolling it out. This helps the cookies keep their shape while baking.

7. Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Yes! You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, and the cookies will still turn out great.

8. Can I make the cookies in advance?

Yes, you can make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking. You can also freeze the baked cookies and decorate them later.

9. How do I know when the cookies are done?

The cookies are ready when the edges are golden brown. They will continue to firm up as they cool on the baking sheet.

10. Can I decorate these cookies with fondant?

Yes, fondant works beautifully for decorating cookies. Just make sure the cookies are completely cool before applying the fondant.

Conclusion

These Cream Cheese Cut Sugar Cookies are soft, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion. With their tender texture and easy-to-decorate surface, they’re sure to be a favorite in your cookie rotation. Whether you’re making them for the holidays or just because, they’re a sweet treat that’s simple to make and fun to customize!

Cream Cheese Cut Sugar Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Print Recipe

These Cream Cheese Cut Sugar Cookies are soft, tender, and perfect for decorating. The addition of cream cheese creates a rich, flavorful dough that’s ideal for any celebration. Easy to roll out and customize with icing and sprinkles, these cookies are perfect for holidays, birthdays, or just a fun baking session.

Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened

1 package cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking powder

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Beat together softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy and smooth.
Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until well combined.
Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
Place cookies on a baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
Allow cookies to cool before decorating.

Notes

If you prefer a slightly different flavor, add 1 teaspoon of almond extract to the dough.
For festive decorations, use royal icing, buttercream, or a powdered sugar glaze.
Feel free to mix in colored sprinkles or mini chocolate chips for added texture.

Author: Sophia
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
Category: Desserts, Holiday Baking, Cookies
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian