Dreamy Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

Enchanting Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe: Soft & Sweet Treats

Soft, buttery cookies with cream cheese elevate this classic treat to a whole new level of deliciousness.

These melt-in-your-mouth delights combine rich cream cheese with simple pantry ingredients.

Each bite promises a tender, moist texture that sets them apart from ordinary cookies.

The subtle tang of cream cheese adds unexpected depth to a sweet, comforting dessert.

Bakers of all skill levels can whip up these cookies with ease and confidence.

A batch of these cookies brings warmth and joy to any gathering.

You’ll love how quickly they come together and how irresistible they are straight from the oven.

For Base Ingredients:
  • Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor and helps create a tender cookie texture.
  • Cream Cheese: Adds tangy softness and ensures a moist, delicate crumb with a luxurious mouthfeel.
For Sweetening and Binding:
  • Granulated Sugar: Delivers sweetness and helps create a crisp cookie edge.
  • Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to the cookie's structure.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, aromatic profile.
For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Creates the cookie's fundamental structure and provides a soft, delicate texture.
  • Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light and fluffy.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies the other flavor notes in the cookie.

Baking Tools for Soft Cream Cheese Cookies

  • Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining ingredients and creating smooth cookie dough.
  • Electric mixer or stand mixer: Perfect for beating butter, cream cheese, and mixing ingredients quickly and evenly.
  • Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, and salt uniformly.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
  • Baking sheet: Used for placing and baking cookie dough.
  • Parchment paper or silicone baking mat: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
  • Cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly after baking, maintaining their texture.
  • Spatula: Helps scrape down bowl sides and fold ingredients together.
  • Whip Creamy Base

Grab your mixing bowl and blend butter with cream cheese until they transform into a silky, cloud-like mixture that looks irresistibly smooth.

  • Sweeten the Blend

Sprinkle in sugar and whisk everything together, watching the texture become light and dreamy with each gentle turn of your mixer.

  • Boost Flavor Profile

Crack in a fresh egg and splash of vanilla extract, stirring until the batter becomes glossy and fragrant with rich undertones.

  • Create Cookie Dough

Sift together dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then slowly fold them into your creamy mixture, gently stirring until a soft, pillowy dough emerges.

  • Shape and Bake

Roll small rounds of dough onto a baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie. Slide into a preheated oven and bake until edges turn golden and centers look delicately set.

  • Softening Secrets: Let butter and cream cheese sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to ensure ultra-smooth, lump-free cookie dough.
  • Chilling Magic: Refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours before baking to prevent spreading and create perfectly shaped cookies with crisp edges.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
  • Flavor Boosters: Experiment with add-ins like mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or citrus zest to elevate the basic cream cheese cookie recipe.
  • Storage Wisdom: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer preservation without losing their delicate texture.

Serving These Cookies Fresh or Frozen

  • Cozy Coffee Companion: Pair these cream cheese cookies with a steaming mug of freshly brewed coffee for a delightful afternoon treat. The rich, tangy notes of the cookies perfectly complement the robust coffee flavor.
  • Sweet Breakfast Upgrade: Serve these cookies alongside your morning yogurt or as a delectable side to a fruit smoothie bowl. They add a touch of indulgence to your breakfast routine without overwhelming the meal.
  • Elegant Dessert Platter: Arrange the cookies on a beautiful serving tray with fresh berries, chocolate shavings, or a light dusting of powdered sugar. Create an Instagram-worthy dessert spread that will impress guests and satisfy sweet cravings.
  • Thoughtful Gift Idea: Package these homemade cookies in a charming mason jar or decorative tin for a heartwarming gift. Tie with a ribbon and include a handwritten note for a personal touch that shows you care.

Keeping Cream Cheese Cookies Tasting Great

  • Smart Fridge Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  • Freezing Magic: Wrap unbaked cookie dough balls in plastic wrap, store in freezer-safe bag for 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 2-3 extra minutes to cooking time.
  • Room Temperature Trick: Allow cookies to cool completely before storing to maintain crisp texture and prevent moisture buildup.
  • Make-Ahead Strategy: Prepare dough up to 48 hours in advance, refrigerate in sealed container. Let dough sit at room temperature 15 minutes before shaping and baking for best results.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 24

Print
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Dreamy Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

Dreamy Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe


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4.6 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 25 1x

Description

Classic cream cheese cookies blend tangy dairy richness with delicate sweetness. Crisp edges and tender centers make these treats irresistible for home bakers seeking simple, elegant dessert perfection.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ cup (113 grams/1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 oz (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ¾ cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • Powdered sugar (for dusting)
  • Sprinkles or sanding sugar
  • Melted chocolate (for dipping)

Instructions

  1. Creaming: Whip softened cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, creating a smooth, aerated foundation for the cookies.
  2. Sweetening: Thoroughly blend granulated sugar into the creamy mixture, ensuring complete incorporation and a consistent texture throughout.
  3. Liquid Integration: Gently mix egg and vanilla extract into the base, creating a silky, homogeneous batter with a rich aromatic profile.
  4. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, eliminating potential clumps and ensuring even distribution of dry components.
  5. Dough Formation: Delicately fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, using minimal strokes to maintain the dough’s tender structure and prevent gluten development.
  6. Chilling: Wrap the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and ingredients to settle, which enhances the cookie’s ultimate texture and taste.
  7. Preparation and Baking: Line baking sheets with parchment paper, portion chilled dough into uniform rounds with adequate spacing, and bake in a preheated oven until edges achieve a delicate golden hue.

Notes

  • Chill Dough Strategically: Refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes helps prevent spreading and enhances flavor development, creating more structured and flavorful cookies.
  • Handle Mixing Gently: Overmixing can develop tough gluten, so fold ingredients softly and stop mixing once the dough comes together for tender, delicate cookies.
  • Control Moisture Balance: Use room temperature cream cheese and butter to ensure smooth integration and consistent texture without compromising the cookie’s structure.
  • Portion Uniformly: Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to create evenly sized cookies, ensuring consistent baking and professional-looking results with uniform golden edges.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 25
  • Calories: 130
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg
William Hawkins

William Hawkins

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

  • Modern American and Southern Cuisine
  • Farm-to-Table Practices
  • Restaurant Concept Development
  • Culinary Education and Mentorship​

Education

Sullivan University, Louisville, KY

  • Degree: Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Focused on mastering culinary methods and food science, immersive externships, hands‑on training in industry‑standard kitchen labs, and equipping graduates for roles in restaurant operations.

William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary. 

With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist. 

When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.

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