Picture this: you’re in the kitchen with your favorite little helpers, the oven is warming and the air is already carrying that sweet, buttery promise of cookies. But these aren’t just any sugar cookies—they’re the melt-in-your-mouth, delightfully rich version thanks to one surprise ingredient: cream cheese!
Why We Love Them
Sugar cookies made with cream cheese might sound like an interesting choice at first—but just wait until you taste the perfectly moist, buttery result! They work beautifully as a standalone treat, and they’re especially fun when you bring out the cookie cutters, colored sugar, decorator icing and make the whole baking session into a memory-maker. (Seriously: once word gets around about these, you’ll be fielding requests left and right!). Shout out to Pillsbury for this fantastic recipe: Pillsbury.com
What You’ll Need
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1 cup sugar
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1 cup butter, softened
How to Make Them
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Preheat your oven to 375 °F. (Yes, we’re going for that slightly higher temperature so the edges get a light golden edge—yum!)
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In a large bowl, beat together the sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, almond extract, vanilla and the egg yolk until the mixture is light and fluffy.
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Add the flour and mix well. Then divide the dough into three disks, wrap each in plastic or parchment, and refrigerate for about 1 hour. (This chill time helps make the dough easier to roll and cut.)
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On a floured surface, roll out one disk at a time to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use lightly-floured 2½-inch cookie cutters (or your favorite shapes!) to cut. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Decorate with colored sugar if you like!
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Bake at 375 °F for about 6 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are light golden brown. Remove immediately from the cookie sheet and allow to cool. (Then—go ahead—decorate with icing if you love that extra flair!)
Baking & Decorating Tips
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Because there’s cream cheese in the dough, it will be a bit stickier than your typical sugar cookie dough. Be sure your work surface and rolling pin are well-floured so things don’t get messy.
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The dough chill is key. It makes the cookies easier to handle, and keeps their shape as they bake.
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These cookies are a blank canvas! Use colored sugar to match holiday themes (red/green for Christmas, pastel for Easter, bright for birthdays), or let the kids decorate with icing and sprinkles.
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If you skip the icing and keep them plain, you’ll really let that rich dough flavor shine.
Why This Recipe Works for Family Time
When you bake with your family, you’re not just making cookies—you’re building moments. The sweetness of the dough is matched by the laughter as little hands roll, cut and sprinkle. And the reward? Those warm cookies that feel like a hug for your tastebuds and your heart.
Final Thoughts
So pull out those cutters, pick your sugar colors or decorator icing, and let the oven do the heart-warming magic. These Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies aren’t just another recipe—they’re a family memory in the making. Get ready for “Can we bake these again?” because yes… you absolutely will.