Perfect Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

By Ellie

30 Person

90 Minutes

146 Calories

Christmas Cookies is one of the holiday traditions I look forward to the most! and when we prepare the Christmas tree, we find the best cookies for Santa.Now share with us the best recipe for Christmas cookies!

Ingredients

FOR DECORATING:

Other decorations as desired
Colored sugar
Sprinkles
Food coloring

FOR THE FROSTING:

3/4 tsp. almond extract
2 tbsp. light corn syrup
3-4 tbsp. milk
3 cups powdered sugar

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE SUGAR COOKIES:

1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese — at room temperature (do not use fat free)
1 large egg — at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter — at room temperature

Method

01

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl, then add the egg and beat until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add the cream cheese and beat for 1 minute, scrape down the bowl once more, then beat in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and lemon zest until incorporated, about 30 seconds.
02

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing just until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.
03

Divide the dough into quarters. If using the dough within 24 hours, roll each quarter to a 1/4-inch thickness in between two sheets of parchment paper (alternatively, you can store the dough in a ball or disk and roll out when ready to cut and bake). Be careful not to roll the dough any thinner or the cookies will not be as soft. Keeping the dough flat, transfer it to the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight. Repeat with the remaining dough (it is fine to stack the dough "flats" on top of each other to save space). If you will not be using the dough within 24 hours, divide the dough in half, pat each into a disk, then wrap each disk tightly in plastic and freeze in a ziptop bag for up to 1 month. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then proceed with the recipe as directed.
04

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Remove one of dough flats from the refrigerator. (If you stored the dough in a ball or disk, roll it to a 1/4-inch thickness now, between two layers of parchment paper.) Remove the top layer of parchment paper, then with cookie cutters, slice the cookies into desired shapes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
05

Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes, until barely lightly golden brown and the edges are dry. The cookies will look slightly underbaked. Let cool completely.
06

To make the frosting: In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons milk as best as you can (the frosting will be very solid at this point). Beat in the corn syrup and almond extract until the frosting is smooth and glossy. If the frosting seems too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. If making colored frosting, add a few drops of food coloring until you reach your desired color intensity. Frost and decorate the cookies as desired. Let the frosting set for a few minutes, then enjoy!

Related Tags

Perfect Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

4.5

( By Ellie )

01 Information

Grade easy
Serving 30 servings
Calorie 146 Kcal
Prep Time 30 Mins
Cook Time 60 Mins
Total Time 90 Mins

02 Ingredients

FOR DECORATING:

Other decorations as desired

Colored sugar

Sprinkles

Food coloring

FOR THE FROSTING:

3/4 tsp. almond extract

2 tbsp. light corn syrup

3-4 tbsp. milk

3 cups powdered sugar

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE SUGAR COOKIES:

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. lemon zest

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese — at room temperature (do not use fat free)

1 large egg — at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsalted butter — at room temperature

03 Method

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl, then add the egg and beat until fully incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add the cream cheese and beat for 1 minute, scrape down the bowl once more, then beat in the vanilla extract, almond extract, and lemon zest until incorporated, about 30 seconds.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing just until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.

Step 3

Divide the dough into quarters. If using the dough within 24 hours, roll each quarter to a 1/4-inch thickness in between two sheets of parchment paper (alternatively, you can store the dough in a ball or disk and roll out when ready to cut and bake). Be careful not to roll the dough any thinner or the cookies will not be as soft. Keeping the dough flat, transfer it to the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight. Repeat with the remaining dough (it is fine to stack the dough "flats" on top of each other to save space). If you will not be using the dough within 24 hours, divide the dough in half, pat each into a disk, then wrap each disk tightly in plastic and freeze in a ziptop bag for up to 1 month. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then proceed with the recipe as directed.

Step 4

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Remove one of dough flats from the refrigerator. (If you stored the dough in a ball or disk, roll it to a 1/4-inch thickness now, between two layers of parchment paper.) Remove the top layer of parchment paper, then with cookie cutters, slice the cookies into desired shapes. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.

Step 5

Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes, until barely lightly golden brown and the edges are dry. The cookies will look slightly underbaked. Let cool completely.

Step 6

To make the frosting: In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons milk as best as you can (the frosting will be very solid at this point). Beat in the corn syrup and almond extract until the frosting is smooth and glossy. If the frosting seems too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. If making colored frosting, add a few drops of food coloring until you reach your desired color intensity. Frost and decorate the cookies as desired. Let the frosting set for a few minutes, then enjoy!

04 Author