Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

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Soft, chewy cream cheese sugar cookies. This easy cut out sugar cookie recipe stays soft because of cream cheese.

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.

This cream cheese sugar cookie recipe is perfect for every holiday and season.

overhead view of christmas cut out cookies without frosting

What readers are saying:

  • ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ “One word: DELICIOUS! Just made the. Great recipe, very forgiving dough! Super easy to work with. 👍👏” – Anna
  • ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ “These were super easy to make!! I like ‘cake’ cookies so I didn’t roll mine as thin. The icing was delicious as well!! I added an extra tablespoon of butter…I would definitely make again! Soooo delicious and easy!!” – Kara
  • ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ “Hands down, these are THE BEST sugar cookies in the world!!! Thank you so much for posting this recipe…These cookies will forever be my go-to sugar cookies.” – Nae

Ingredients

ingredients for cream cheese sugar cookies on a table
  • For best results use room temperature butter and cream cheese. Set it on the counter an hour or two before mixing. If it is too cold it will not mix in well, and if it is too hot and melted, it will affect the texture of the cookies.
  • 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 one simple change to a traditional recipe makes the cookies stand out. It’s like a secret ingredient that people love trying to figure out.

Sugar Cookie Dough in 4 Steps

There are 4 simple steps to mixing up cream cheese sugar cookie dough:

collage of how to make sugar cookie dough
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, blend butter and cream cheese with the paddle attachment on low speed. Mix until smooth and creamy.
  • Add sugar, egg and extracts. Mix again until combined.
  • Mix in remaining dry ingredients and blend into the creamed mixture, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Remove the soft dough and flatten the dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill the dough in the fridge for one hour.

Tips for Making Sugar Cookies

  • The butter and cream cheese should be at room temperature so they blend easily. They should not be melted at all.
  • Let the dough chill in the fridge 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. Chilling the dough is what makes these the perfect sugar cookie.
sugar cookie dough rolled out with a cookie cutter cut out
  • Roll the cookies on a pastry mat for easy cleanup.
  • When you are rolling the cookie dough on a lightly floured surface, don’t roll them too thin. You want the dough to have about ¼ inch thickness so that the cookies don’t get golden brown when they bake.
unbaked cream cheese sugar cookies on a pan
  • Don’t over bake the cookies.
cream cheese cut out cookies baked on a pan

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies Frosting

Because of the delicious flavor of this classic sugar cookie recipe, I didn’t want to add too much frosting to cover that sweet taste. An easy powdered sugar icing with just a few teaspoons on top of each cookie is perfect.

The cookies are also sturdy enough to hold up to royal icing or cream cheese frosting.

overhead view of colored sugar cookie icing and cut out cookies

I love these almost as much as the old-fashioned sugar cookies that my grandma used to make. If you like cut out sugar cookies, you’ll love those, too!

Make Ahead Sugar Cookies

This is a great make ahead cookie recipe. Here’s your options:

  • Make the sugar cookie dough up to 3 days in advance. Then roll out the day you want to bake ahead.
  • Make the sugar cookie dough and freeze in discs for up to 8 weeks. Thaw the discs in the fridge.
  • Bake the cookies and freeze them un-iced for up to 3 months. This cookie recipe is great for this!
  • If you’re frosting the cookies with a royal icing that sets firmly, you can decorate in advance and freeze. Freeze the cookies stacked, but place wax paper between the layers. Thaw in the fridge.
a stack of cream cheese sugar cookies on a pan
a stack of cream cheese sugar cookies on a pan

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

4.64 from 524 votes
Soft, chewy cream cheese sugar cookies. This easy cut out sugar cookie recipe stays soft for days and is perfect for every occasion.
Servings 24
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes

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Ingredients
 

Dough

Frosting

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soft butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • Milk to desired consistency

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, blend butter and cream cheese with the paddle attachment on low speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
  • Add sugar, egg and extracts. Mix again for 1-2 minutes. Scrape sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Mix in remaining dry ingredients and blend into the creamed mixture, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Remove the soft dough and flatten the dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill the dough in the fridge for one hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
  • Roll out sugar cookie dough on floured surface until ¼ inches thick (a must!) . Cut with desired cookie cutter shape, place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
  • Let cookies cool on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Mix all the frosting ingredients in a small bowl and add some food coloring if desired.
  • Frost cookies when they are fully cooled. Allow the frosting to set before storing in an airtight container.

Video

Notes

The key to making a good sugar cookie is to make sure that you cut the cookies thick enough and then don’t over cook them.
If you only have unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon salt to the cookie dough along with the flour and other dry ingredients.
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making 24 cookies, with 1 serving being 1 cookie. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
Course Cookies
Cuisine American
Calories 267
Keyword best sugar cookies, cream cheese cookies, cut out cookies, easy sugar cookies, rolled cookies
a stack of cut out sugar cookies
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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Peggy
5 years ago

Does this icing dry enough to stack the cookies in a container?

Eileen
4 years ago

I used lemon emulsion instead of the almond extract, delicious

Joyce
5 years ago

Very delish, soft and chewy. This ya going to be out cut out recipe for now on, Christma, Cakentines & Easter.

Julie
3 years ago

5 stars
I have been making these for over 30yrs! They are hands down the best cookies ever.
I should post a picture of my old worn recipe card

KP
5 years ago

5 stars
These cookies were amazing! My 5 year old loved making them with his super hero cut outs. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Anonymous
1 year ago

5 stars
Everyone loves this cookie. I have made them for several showers and holiday gatherings. It is my go to sugar cookie recipe.

Maria Lovato
4 years ago

5 stars
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.

Leah
4 years ago

5 stars
These cookies are AMAZING, I make them all the time! Soft and chewy and literally melt in your mouth.

Sam
5 years ago

5 stars
I am going to use this recipe from now on. These made the most perfect sugar cookies ever! Cream cheese must be the key. These will make beatiful snowflakes for Christmas time. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

Diana Widdes
5 years ago

Would it work to use almond flour instead to make it gluten free

molly
1 year ago

Do you bake and then freeze them or just freeze the dough?

Margaret
3 years ago

Hi are the nutritional information per cookie?

Carol
4 years ago

How long does the dough keep in the frig?

sue crenshaw
5 years ago

is this self rising flour or plain flour ?

Bobbie
5 years ago

5 stars
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.