Cream Cheese Cookies (Best Ever Cookies) - Pizzazzerie (2024)

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Cream cheese cookies are the most heavenly little bites of sweetness! They’re addicting; you’ve been warned! If you love cream cheese recipes, you will love this cream cheese dessert!

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If you’re looking for cream cheese recipes and especially desserts with cream cheese, you’ve come to the right place.

Cream Cheese Cookies

If you have never tried cream cheese cookies, you’re in for a TREAT! Something magical happens when you add cream cheese to a cookie!

You get this soft, moist, chewy cookie that feels like you’re eating a cloud. They puff right up, and they’re addicting!

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I “fussed” quite a bit with this cream cheese cookies recipe to make it absolutely perfect. First, it was too dry and we can’t have that. Second, it wasn’t fluffy enough.

Finally, I found the perfect combination of all of the ingredients! Let me let you in on a little secret, there are THREE secrets in these cookies. Three. Pay close attention.

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The 3 Secrets to Cream Cheese Cookies

  1. The cream cheese. Naturally. It’s the “key” ingredient that makes these cookies so good! Don’t leave it out! Well, except out on your counter to come to room temperature before baking, of course. ;) I used Philadelphia brand, but any regular cream cheese should do just fine.
  2. Cake Flour. You can find in the regular flour section. I tend to buy Swans Down brand (red box). This is the key to making a soft cookie that feels like a cloud!
  3. Baking time! This will vary by a lot of factors for your oven from altitude to what type of pan you use but this trick will help you! Watch for the very edges of these cookies to begin turning a golden brown, then pull them!
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Now that we have the two secrets out of the way, let’s get on with more tips and reasons why I love these cream cheese cookies.

Recipe Notes for Cream Cheese Cookies

These cream cheese cookies are not an overly sweet cookie so they do lend themselves to being glazed or iced.

You can also keep it simple and just dust with powdered sugar. You don’t even have to do that, but if you want an extra touch of sweetness, go for it. You only live once.

You’ll notice I used vanilla and almond extracts in these cream cheese cookies. This vanilla and almond flavor combination is my personal preference, but play around with your favorite extracts. Stick to all vanilla, all almond, add in a little lemon or even cinnamon. You can’t go wrong.

Keep in mind that the dough DOES need to be refrigerated for at least an hour, so plan ahead! It’s worth the wait!

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My daughter helped me with this shoot, my little apprentice is home all summer. Not only did she help me bake these cream cheese cookies, but she stood over my shoulder to watch behind the camera so I could teach her about lighting and photography. She is also 4, so she was really doing all of this so she could get in on the “eating” action.

After we wrapped up the shoot, I let her frost some with buttercream frosting (and of course, her weight in sprinkles). I noticed that the flavor reminded me of the grocery store “Lofthouse Cookies”, do you know the ones I’m talking about?

Heavenly. These cream cheese cookies take just fine on their own, but we enjoyed the frosting! They are truly the best ever cream cheese cookies. We make these every Christmas too!

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What readers are saying:

Since I first published this recipe (3 years ago!) – Pizzazzerie readers have absolutely loved it!

“These cookies, with out a doubt, are the best I’ve ever made. My whole family absolutely raves over them.”

These cookies are amazing. Make a double batch if possible because they won’t last long!…I am making a double batch this morning and will hide half of them in the freezer to have some for Christmas. Everyone in my family loves these cookies.

Linda

This cream cheese cookies recipe is one of the BEST cream cheese recipes I’ve made.

How to Store Cream Cheese Cookies:

The dough stores very well in the refrigerator so you can prep it a couple of days in advance if needed. For the baked cookies, I keep them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days! I hope you enjoy these as much as my family does.

I am already looking forward to the Christmas baking season so we can add these cream cheese cookies to the rotation this year!

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Cream Cheese Cookies

Author: Courtney Whitmore

Pillowy soft cream cheese cookies that melt in your mouth!

SERVINGS 22 cookies

Print Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Chilling Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened - (1 stick)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 3/4 cup cake flour

Instructions

  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Cream together butter and cream cheese with electric mixer.

  • Add sugar and beat for 1 minute. Add egg and beat to combine. Add extracts and beat until combined. Add in baking powder and cake flour (in three sections), mixing to combine.

  • Once incorporated, refrigerate dough for at least an hour.

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Dough is sticky so use flour on your hands to roll out 1-2 inch balls. You can use the bottom of a cup/glass dipped in flour to gently flatten the balls. Don't flatten too much or the cookies won't puff up.

  • Bake for 9-11 minutes. Important: Pull them out when you see the underside edges turning golden! This might vary for your oven and altitude. Watch these cookies carefully.

Notes

If you want, you can cut back on the almond extract, leave it out, or swap it for vanilla or even a lemon extract! These cream cheese cookies are delicious frosted or not!

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 3mgPotassium: 23mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 11IUCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Find this cream cheese cookie recipe and more in my latest book, The Southern Entertainer’s Cookbook!

If you’re looking for even more dessert ideas, check out these other faves:

  • Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
  • Almond Pastry Cookies
  • Cinnamon Sugar Star Cookies

Post originally published June 5, 2018. Post updated, but same fabulous recipe!

Cream Cheese Cookies (Best Ever Cookies) - Pizzazzerie (2024)

FAQs

Why are my cookies never chewy? ›

Eggs bind the ingredients and make for moist, chewy cookies. Adding too many eggs can result in gummy, cake-like cookies. Adding too few eggs can result in dry, crumbly cookies. Beat each one in separately and thoroughly.

Does baked cream cheese need to be refrigerated? ›

According to the Philadelphia website FAQs again, "Baked cheesecakes that contain cream cheese must be refrigerated. Fillings and toppings should be kept refrigerated." It also states, "Dessert containing cream cheese, whether baked or unbaked, should be covered and stored in the refrigerator. Use within 5 days."

How do you make cookies soft and chewy? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

How can I make my cookies fluffier instead of flat? ›

Try using baking powder instead of baking soda. Baking soda encourages spreading while baking powder puffs the cookies up. If your recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of baking soda, you would use 3 to 4 teaspoons of baking powder. Caution: This could result in an unwanted flavor shift.

Should I use baking powder or baking soda for cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What makes cookies flat and crispy? ›

Melted butter – To achieve thin and crisp cookies, I've discovered that melted butter is really crucial. Melted butter helps the cookies to spread out and become flatter with crisp edges.

What flour is best for chewy cookies? ›

Bread Flour: For Chewy Texture

Bread flour contains a higher protein content (around 12-14%), leading to more gluten development. This makes it ideal for bakers seeking a chewier texture in their cookies. The extra gluten can help retain gas and moisture, producing a denser and chewier result.

Should I add cornstarch to cookies? ›

Starch is the magic ingredient that your cookie has been missing. in order to get that perfect chewy, gooey, cakey texture in the middle and really nice, thin, crispy texture on the outside. You will never have a cookie a different way again.

Is it safe to eat cream cheese left out overnight? ›

Cream cheese that has been left out for too long can be dangerous, and you run the risk of food poisoning. “While it will soften, it is not safe past the two hour mark,” Edwards says. “ If you need to soften cream cheese for a recipe, you can microwave it in a microwave safe dish for approximately fifteen seconds.

Is it safe to eat cheesecake that was left out overnight? ›

While we wish we had better news, if you accidentally went to bed and left your cheesecake cooling on the counter, it's best to not risk illness by consuming it. When you have cheesecake that's already baked and chilled, the absolute max time you could let it sit out to avoid the USDA's "danger zone" is two hours.

Can cream cheese filled cookies be left out? ›

Because these cookies contain cream cheese, they should be stored in the fridge in an air-tight container to prevent drying out. However, they can be left at room temperature for about 4 hours safely.

What is cookie secret? ›

Cookie Secret is the secret used to encrypt and sign session cookies. If you don't provide a cookie secret, Pomerium will generate one for you.

What makes a high quality cookie? ›

The Quality Ingredients

Ingredients like butter, eggs and sugar can either make sweet cookie perfection or something you wouldn't want to share with your friends and family. Always look for a cookie that's made with premium ingredients. If the cookie contains some organic ingredients even better.

How do you make the perfect cookie texture? ›

The ratio of brown sugar to white sugar determines the softness of your cookies. Using more white sugar makes your cookies thin, crisp, and more delicate. More brown sugar makes a softer, chewier cookie because it melts and caramelizes at a faster rate.

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