Snowflake Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Cut-out cookies are a favorite during the holiday season. They are traditionally made with regular sugar cookie dough, which creates a thin and crispy cookie, but what if you prefer thick and soft cookies? These snowflake cream cheese sugar cookies are the perfect solution! They are simple to make and so pretty when decorated. Add some beauty to your holiday cookie platter with this easy cream cheese sugar cookie recipe.
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What ingredients do I need for the Snowflake Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies?
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 ounce package of cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 egg, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Snowflake cookie cutter
- Container white icing
- White sprinkles
- White jimmies
Looking for more delicious holiday cookie recipes? Give these reader favorites a try!
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies | Simple Walnut Snowball Cookies Recipe | Raspberry Shortbread Cookies | Peanut Butter M & M Cookies with Cinnamon
How do I make the Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies?
There are several steps to preparing the snowflake cookies, but don't let that intimidate you because they are all fairly simple. The most important thing to keep in mind when making these cookies is that the dough needs to chill overnight or for at least 6 hours. This will allow it to firm up enough to be rolled out and cut into stars. Here is what you will need to do to make the cream cheese sugar cookies.
Step 1: Prepare the wet ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese at medium speed until well-blended and fluffy. This will take about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Beat again until smooth and creamy for about 5 additional minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the dry ingredients and combine with wet ingredients
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, about ½ cup at a time and mix until combined.
Step 3: Shape dough and refrigerate
Shape the dough into a rectangle and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough for at least 6 hours or overnight.
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Step 4: Bake the Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
When ready to bake, preheat the oven 375 degrees. Prepare two or three (depending on size of cookies) large rimmed, baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out the cookie dough to ½ inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters and transfer to the baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or just until the edges are set and the cookies are puffed. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets. Decorate as desired.
Step 5: Prepare the Easy Royal Icing
Using a store bought container of white icing, spoon all of the icing into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds. Stir well. Repeat in 15 second increments if needed until icing has thinned out. Allow the icing to cool slightly before frosting the cookies.
Pro Tip: For piping a line around a cookie, leave the icing slightly thick so it pours from the spoon in steady drops. For an icing thin enough to coat the cookie, heat the icing until it is even and pourable.
Step 6: Decorate the Snowflake Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Ice and decorate the snowflake cookies as desired. I used white icing, white jimmies and white sprinkles.
Pro Tip: Make sure to ice the cookies first, then place decorations on the cookies while the icing is still wet.
How do I store the cream cheese sugar cookies?
These delicious snowflake cookies can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for 3 to 5 days. They can be stored longer if placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for up to 10 days with this storage method.
Snowflake Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie
Equipment
- Snowflake cookie cutters
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 ounce package cream cheese room temperature
- 1 egg room temperature
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 container white icing
- white jimmies
- white sprinkles
Instructions
For the cookies:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese at medium speed until well blended and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Beat again until smooth and creamy, about 5 additional minutes.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, about ½ cup at a time, stirring until mixed.
- Shape the dough into a rectangle and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven 375 degrees. Prepare two or three large rimmed, baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out the cookie dough to ½ inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters and transfer to the baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or just until the edges are set and the cookies are puffed.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets. Decorate as desired.
To make easy royal icing from store bought:
- Using a store bought container of white icing, spoon all of the icing into a medium-sized microwave safe bowl.
- Place the bowl in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds. Stir well. Repeat in 15 second increments if needed until icing has thinned out.
- Allow the icing to cool slightly before frosting the cookies.
- For piping a line around a cookie, leave the icing slightly thick so it pours from the spoon in steady plops. For an icing loose enough to flood the cookie, heat the icing until it is even and pourable.
To decorate:
- Apply frosting as desired to completely cooled cookies.
- While the frosting is still wet, apply desired sprinkles, candies, and decorations.
- Allow icing to completely dry before storing in an airtight container.
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