Cream Cheese Cookies

These Cream Cheese Cookies are irresistibly soft and creamy, with a rich, buttery flavor that melts in your mouth. They taste almost exactly like a perfectly whipped shortbread cookie, but they’re seriously creamy and have an amazing cream cheese flavor that takes them to new heights.

I adore this recipe as it makes up to five dozen cookies. So, it’s ideal for a holiday cookie exchange, holiday tables, gifting, and everything in between! 

To make things even sweeter, you can easily place them in the freezer to enjoy past Christmas. Hey, there’s nothing like reviving a bit of Christmas cheer after a New Year’s Eve blowout!

And if you really want to jazz things up, it’s easy to whip up some colored frosting and let the kids go to town with decorating. If you’d rather keep them simple, just add a few red or green sprinkles to your cookies before popping them in the oven.

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Whether you’re planning a gift exchange or not, these fluffy and tangy cream cheese cookies are bound to be snatched up in minutes. 

Oh, and they’re not too sweet, so you can get away with having quite a few without feeling sick to your stomach!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• They’re the perfect flavor balance of sweetness and tang!
• Super easy to make.
• Ready in minutes.
• Ideal for holiday gift exchanges or a cookie exchange.
• Promise to spice up any holiday dessert table (without much effort!).

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps create the soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture these cookies are known for.
• Cream cheese: The star of the recipe! It gives the cookies their signature tangy flavor and creamy consistency.
• Vanilla extract: Infuses the dough with a warm, sweet aroma that enhances the other flavors.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies while helping them brown slightly in the oven.
• Egg yolks: Contribute to the richness and add structure, giving the cookies their tender crumb.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
• All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and forms the base of the cookie dough.
• Baking powder: Adds a little lift, keeping the cookies soft and slightly puffy.

How to Make Cream Cheese Cookies

Follow along to learn how to make cream cheese cookies!

• Step One: Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Step Two: Mix butter and cream cheese until smooth with an electric mixer in a large bowl.
• Step Three: Add sugar, vanilla, and egg yolks. Then, beat to combine.
• Step Four: In another bowl, stir together salt, flour, and baking powder.
• Step Five: Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir to combine.

• Step Six: Drop batter by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Step Seven: Bake for 13 minutes.

• Step Eight: Let cool on a cooling rack and enjoy!

What to Serve with Them

• Coconut Coffee Milkshake
• Cinnamon Roll Coffee Milkshake
• Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
• S’mores Coffee Milkshake

Variations and Substitutions

• Chocolate chips: Stir in mini chocolate chips to add a hint of chocolatey goodness to every bite.
• Lemon flavor: Brighten things up with some lemon zest or a splash of lemon juice for a tangy, citrusy twist.
• Red velvet: A touch of cocoa powder and red food coloring transforms these into festive red velvet cookies.
• Oreo pieces: Crushed Oreo cookies folded into the dough add a delightful crunch and a fun cookies-and-cream vibe.
• Powdered sugar or melted chocolate: Skip the frosting and sprinkles—dust your cookies with powdered sugar for a simple, elegant touch, or drizzle melted chocolate for a decadent finish.
• Low-fat cream cheese: Want to cut some calories? Swap in low-fat cream cheese, but stick with full-fat if you’re after the richest, creamiest results.
• Festive flavors: Add orange zest or a sprinkle of cinnamon for a cozy, holiday-inspired twist.

Storage Instructions

You can store these cream cheese cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 or 4 days. If you decide to add any frosting, make sure they’re kept in the fridge instead! Before eating, just bring them to room temperature for the ultimate soft bite.

Can I Freeze?

You sure can! If you want to freeze these cookies, put them in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat them.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Measure flour accurately: Too much flour can make your cookies dense, so use the spoon-and-level method or a kitchen scale for the best results.
• Avoid overmixing: Gently fold in the dry ingredients to maintain a light texture. Using a food processor or electric mixer here can overwork the dough, so stick to mixing by hand.
• Shape with precision: Roll and shape the dough by hand, and weigh each ball for even sizes. It’s a bit more effort but ensures your cookies bake evenly.
• Watch while baking: Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake—they’re ready when the edges turn a light golden brown.
• Use parchment paper: Baking on parchment paper prevents sticking and helps keep the cookies from spreading too much.

Cookie Recipes

• Fudge Cookies
• Whipped Shortbread Cookies
• Thumbprint Cookies
• Cinnamon Roll Cookies
• Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
• Sweetened Condensed Milk Cookies.

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