Description
Delightfully soft and tender Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies with a smooth cream cheese-infused dough, perfectly complemented by a sweet almond-flavored frosting. These classic cookies are easy to make and ideal for any occasion, boasting a rich, buttery flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup salted butter (room temperature, 8 ounces)
- 8 ounces full fat cream cheese (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar (300 grams)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 grams)
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (2 grams)
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (455 grams)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (4 grams)
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar (260 grams)
- 2 tablespoons soft butter (28 grams)
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- Milk to desired consistency
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Cream Cheese: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend the room temperature butter and cream cheese on low speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy, ensuring the mixture is well combined.
- Add Sugar, Egg, and Extracts: Incorporate the granulated sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the creamed mixture. Mix again for 1-2 minutes until fully combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour and baking powder into the wet mixture. Blend until just combined and a soft dough forms, scraping the bowl sides to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Chill the Dough: Remove the dough from the mixer bowl and shape it into a disk. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for one hour to firm up the dough for easier rolling.
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven temperature to 375ºF (190ºC) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to approximately 1/4 inch (about 6 mm) thick. Use cookie cutters to cut dough into desired shapes. Place the cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft. Do not overbake to maintain tenderness.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.
- Prepare Frosting: In a small bowl, mix together powdered sugar, soft butter, almond extract, and milk until smooth. Adjust milk quantity to achieve desired frosting consistency. Optionally, add food coloring for decoration.
- Frost the Cookies: Once cookies are fully cooled, spread the frosting evenly on top. Allow the frosting to set before storing cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential for easier rolling and to help the cookies retain their shape during baking.
- Rolling the dough to 1/4 inch thickness ensures a perfect balance between soft and sturdy cookies.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing and better texture.
- Store frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Cookie cutters can be varied to suit any holiday or theme for personalized treats.
