Soft, chewy cream cheese sugar cookies. This easy cut out sugar cookie recipe stays soft because of cream cheese. If you love sugar cookies, see all of our recipes here.
Homemade sugar cookies are a classic. Everyone needs a good recipe and we’ve got several to share with you! These cream cheese sugar cookies are super soft and so easy to make. They’re so delicious topped with a simple powdered sugar frosting.
Although these are flat sugar cookies that don’t rise, we also have a recipe for soft, fluffy buttermilk cut out sugar cookies, and two types of sugar cookies that don’t require cookie cutters….bakery-style and Pillsbury copycat. Sugar cookies for every texture and taste!
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies with Almond Extract
Although this sugar cookie recipe calls for both vanilla and almond extract, you can use all vanilla if you’d like. Many times when I substitute almond extract for vanilla extract (or add a touch of both), people will ask for the cookie recipe. Why? Because often just one simple change to a traditional recipe makes the cookies just a little bit different. And people love “new” cookies!
How to Make Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
These cream cheese sugar cookies are so easy to mix up. Make sure the butter and cream cheese are soft, but not melted, for easy mixing.
It’s important to let the dough chill for at least an hour before you roll the cookies and bake them. Simply flatten the dough into a thick disc and wrap it in plastic wrap. This makes for easy fridge storage!
When you are rolling the sugar cookies, be sure not to roll them too thin. You want the dough to be about 1/4″ thick so that the cookies don’t get brown when they bake.
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies Frosting
Because the flavor of the cookies is simply delicious, I didn’t want to add too much frosting to cover that sweet taste. I mixed up an easy powdered sugar frosting…more like a glaze really, and dolloped a few teaspoons on top of each cookie. Color the frosting to fit the occasion!
These reminded me of old-fashioned sugar cookies that my grandma used to make. True comfort food!
Tools Needed to Make Sugar Cookies
- Silpat: For all of your non-stick, cookie-making needs. This is in the top 3 must-have kitchen tools. I don’t know what I’d do without them!
- Baking Sheet: I like to use flat baking sheets for easy removing baked goods easily.
- Pastry Mat: This silicone mat keeps your cupboard clean and makes rolling out pastries so easy.
- Cookie Plate Set: Display your homemade cookies in style. Everyone thinks this cookie plate is so cute!
OTHER SUGAR COOKIE RECIPES
- Chai Spiced Sugar Cookies
- Lofthouse Style Sugar Cookies
- Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Almond Sugar Cookies
- Refrigerated Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup soft butter (softened)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Frosting
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons soft butter
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- Milk to desired consistency
Instructions
- Blend butter and cream cheese.
- Add sugar, egg and extracts.
- Mix in remaining dry ingredients and blend into the creamed mixture. Chill for 1 hour.
- Roll out dough on floured surface until 1/4 inches thick (a must!) . Cut with desired cookie cutter shape and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.
- Let cookies cool.
- Mix all your frosting ingredients and add some food coloring if desired. Frost cookies when cool.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I used lemon emulsion instead of the almond extract, delicious
These cookies were amazing! My 5 year old loved making them with his super hero cut outs. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I would like to be able to email your recipe to myself and I would appreciate it if you would add this feature. Thanks for your consideration.
What is the shelf life of these compared to regular sugar cookies? Do they need to be refrigerated because of the cream cheese? Or does they be ok in an airtight container left out for 3-5 days? Thank you.
How long does the dough keep in the frig?
Hi are the nutritional information per cookie?
Hi, cant wait to try! Doing this upon clarification, The Ingredients: list 1t van 1/2t almond however in the instructions: it does not include them at all. Im thinking to add with egg but i know certain recipies calls for certain order . PLEASE HELP
Very delish, soft and chewy. This ya going to be out cut out recipe for now on, Christma, Cakentines & Easter.
Would it work to use almond flour instead to make it gluten free
Can these support Royal I icing
is this self rising flour or plain flour ?
Does this icing dry enough to stack the cookies in a container?
Thank you for the recipe; I followed it exactly and did not have any issues with it. Cookies turned out thick and soft (which is how I like them). However, I’m just not a fan of the flavor, so this isn’t my favorite sugar cookie recipe. But I’ve always wanted to try one with cream cheese.
Thank you so much for the recipes, webtried one in one of my cook books and they were the most horrible cookies ever so can’t wait to try these, just one question could you substitute another extract flavor for the almond flavor? My grand daughter is allergic to almonds?
Salted or unsalted butter?
These cookies are AMAZING, I make them all the time! Soft and chewy and literally melt in your mouth.
Going to try this recipe. Verifying that it’s 8oz cream cheese. Other similar recipes I’ve seen are 2-3 oz cream cheese. So want to make sure. I LOVE cc so I’m good with 8oz. Just wanted to make sure!!
OMG I made these and they are now my all time favorite and so easy to make, I only used vanilla do now I have to try other flavors. Thank you ladies!! Tried to post a pic because I did red and white on wheels but it won’t let me, sorry.
I loved the flavor of this recipe, and they were SUPER soft, but I wonder if I did something wrong. Everyone is describing these as soft and chewy, but mine came out rather cakey. I double checked the amount of baking power I used, ensured I added the right amount of flour. All the measurements were correct. The only thing I can come up with is maybe my flour wasn’t enough. So, here’s my question: how do you measure your flour? I fluff mine with a fork, then spoon it gently into the measuring cup, then level it. That’s how… Read more »
If my dough is refrigerated for two weeks is it still safe to use?
Can I substitute almond flour in this recipe?
Would these cookies hold up to royal icing decorating?
These cookies were super easy to roll out. I baked them for 11 minutes. They are so yummy.
Found these not sweet enough. My husband doesn’t like frosting so he didn’t particularly like them
Does the icing dry to hard?