• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Skip to content

Preppy Kitchen logo

  • About
    • Meet John
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Breads
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Casseroles
    • Instant Pot
    • Appetizers
    • Drinks
    • Holiday
  • Cookbook
  • Shop
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Press
  • All Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Follow us on

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Cookies » Cream Cheese Cookies

    Cream Cheese Cookies

    Published: April 22, 2020 · Modified: Apr 22, 2020 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    These delicious, fluffy cream cheese cookies MELT in your mouth and have the most delightful flavor; perfectly sweet with a nice tang from the cream cheese and a hint of vanilla.

    Cream cheese cookies stacked next to a glass of milk.
    18060 shares
    • Share
    • Reddit
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    cream cheese cookies stacked on a plate
    cream cheese cookies stacked on a paper
    cream cheese cookies on a wire rack
    cream cheese cookies on a wire rack
    cream cheese cookies on a wire rack
    cream cheese cookies stacked on paper
    cream cheese cookies stacked on paper
    cream cheese cookies on a wire rack
    cream cheese cookies stacked on a plate
    cream cheese cookies on a wire rack
    cream cheese cookies stacked on a plate
    cream cheese cookies stacked on a plate
    cream cheese cookies on a plate
    cream cheese cookies stacked on a plate
    cream cheese cookies stacked on a plate

    I love everything with cream cheese from Carrot Cake to Red Velvet Cupcakes and Homemade Red Velvet Cake so it will come as no surprise that I am OBSESSED with these cookies. So soft, like clouds and the flavor is just on point, not too sweet, just right with lovely notes of cream cheese and vanilla. 

    How to Make Cream Cheese Cookies

    Dry and wet ingredients being mixed separately to make easy cream cheese cookies.

    1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set the bowl aside. You can always sift the dry ingredients out (I do) but it’s not a must for this recipe.

    2. Cream the butter and cream cheese together in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer. 

    Wet and dry mixtures are combined in a stand mixer to make cream cheese cookies.

    3. Add sugar to butter mixture and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract then scrape the bowl down and mix once more.

    4. Dump the flour mixture into the bowl and beat until just combined. You can use a spatula to give one final mix, scraping the bottom and making sure there are no unmixed bits hanging around. Cover bowl and chill for at least an hour. 

    Cream cheese cookies are rolled out and placed on a baking sheet lined with silicon before going into the oven.

    5. Preheat oven to 375F and portion out pieces of dough about two tablespoons in size. Dampen your clean hands and roll into a ball.  The cookie dough will be sticky and you may need to wash your hands halfway through but they will bake perfectly!

    6. Place each ball about two inches apart on a parchment paper or silicone-lined baking sheet. Transfer cookie sheet to the middle rack of you oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. The cookies are done when the edge is set and just starts to turn color. The cookies will continue to set as they cool so just let them come to room temperature before enjoying.

    cream cheese cookies dusted with powdered sugar on a copper cooling rack.

    Pro Tips for this recipe

    • Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
    • Scrape the bowl down before beating the dry mixture in, you want a nice homogenous mixture without beating for too long.
    • These balls of dough will be sticky but worth it! Dampen your hands before rolling and take a wash up break if they get too caked with cookie batter.
    • You can dust cookies with powdered sugar after baking or drizzle lightly with melted white chocolate for a bit of visual interest.

    Two cream cheese cookies on a porcelain plate ready to be eaten.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do they need to be refrigerated?

    This type of cookie can be stored in a sealed container at room temperature for two days. Things with lots of cream cheese like cheesecakes and baked goods with cream cheese frosting should definitely be refrigerated. 

    Can you freeze them?

    These cookies can be frozen just like other cookies. Wrap well and keep in an airtight container. I will say like all other cookies there taste best warm out of the oven. 

    Can you use cream cheese instead of butter in cookies?

    Cream cheese will work instead of butter in most cookie recipes! You can even sub in some cream cheese in pie crusts. I would recommend a subbing in half of the butter for cream cheese but in a pinch you can do a full swap out. Keep an eye on the oven as bake times will differ. 

    If you love this recipe try these out!

    • A group of butter cookies on parchment paper

      Butter Cookies

    • A group of shortbread cookies. some are stacked while others are on crumpled paper.

      Shortbread Cookies Recipe

    • A stack of peanut butter cookies on a small wooden board

      Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

    • An Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookie next to a glass of milk

      Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

    • Red velvet cookies arranged on a copper wire rack.

      Red Velvet Cookies

    If you’ve tried this Cream Cheese Cookies recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    Print
    5 from 1091 votes

    Cream Cheese Cookies

    These easy cream cheese cookies MELT In your mouth and have a perfect balance of sweetness, tang and vanilla.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Chill Time 1 hour
    Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings 28 Cookies
    Calories 74kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter 113g, room temperature
    • 4 ounces cream cheese 113g, room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
    • 1 egg room temperature
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract 10mL
    • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 210g
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp salt

    Instructions

    • Whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.
    • Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or an electric hand mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add the sugar in and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla in and mix until combined. Scrape the bowl down and mix one more time to combine.
    • Add the dry mixture into the wet and mix on low until just combined. Use a spatula to scrape the bottom and give the mixture one last mix then cover and chill for at least an hour.
    • Heat oven to 375F then portion out roughly two tablespoon-sized pieces and roll into a ball. The dough will be sticky so It's best to dampen your hands a bit and just wash them when they get a bit covered. Place about two inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat and bake for 10 minutes or until the edges are set and just turning golden.

    Video

    Notes

     
    • Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don't have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
    • Scrape the bowl down before beating the dry mixture in, you want a nice homogenous mixture without beating for too long.
    • These balls of dough will be sticky but worth it! Dampen your hands before rolling and take a wash up break if they get too caked with cookie batter.
    • You can dust cookies with powdered sugar after baking or drizzle lightly with melted white chocolate for a bit of visual interest.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 15mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 164IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!
    « Black Forest Cake
    Macaron Recipe »

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Preppy Kitchen!

    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

    Search

    Follow Us On

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Preppy Kitchen Newsletter

    Sign up to receive recipes, recommendations and tips straight to your inbox!

    Buy My Book

    As Seen On

    As seen on Elle Décor, People, Food Network and more

    Top recipes This Month

    • A stack of peanut butter cookies on a small wooden board

      Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

    • An Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookie next to a glass of milk

      Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

    • Lemon bars dusted with powdered sugar on a green and white plate.

      Lemon Bars

    • A group of pink macarons on a serving tray next to flowers

      Macaron Recipe

    • An Espresso martini on a gray surface with coffee beans scattered around

      Espresso Martini

    • A cake stand with a slice of red velvet cake cut out and placed on a plate in front.

      Red Velvet Cake

    • A group of shortbread cookies. some are stacked while others are on crumpled paper.

      Shortbread Cookies Recipe

    • A photo of a vanilla cupcake on a cupcake stand with vanilla buttercream frosting beautifully piped on top.

      Buttercream Frosting

    • A plate with multiple cake pops on it with one with a bite taken out.

      Cake Pops

    • photo of moist Vanilla Cupcakes in pink paper wrappers

      Moist Vanilla Cupcake Recipe

    Footer

    As Seen On:

    Elle Décor, People, Country Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Food Network, Woman's Day, forkly, Yummly, the Bump, Buzz Feed, Home and Family and New York magazine.

    The Brand

    • About John
    • Press

    Preppy Kitchen Logo

    Dessert Recipes

    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Pies
    • All Desserts

    Main Course Recipes

    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Casseroles
    • InstantPot
    • Soups
    • Salads

    COPYRIGHT © 2015 - 2020 PREPPY KITCHEN | PRIVACY POLICY

    18060 shares