Description
Delightfully soft and sweet sugar cookies topped with a smooth and creamy cream cheese frosting, perfect for holidays, celebrations, or any day you crave a classic treat.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar (coconut sugar or white)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups flour (1:1 gluten free or all purpose)
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tsp baking powder
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is hot and ready for baking your cookies.
- Mix Butter and Sugar: Using a hand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar together for 4 minutes until light and fluffy. This aerates the mixture for tender cookies.
- Add Vanilla and Egg: Slowly add in the vanilla extract and then the egg while continuing to mix, incorporating them fully for flavor and structure.
- Combine Dry Ingredients and Form Dough: Add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients. Beat until a dough ball forms, ensuring all ingredients are well integrated.
- Knead and Roll Out Dough: Dust your work surface with flour to prevent sticking, knead the dough a couple of times to bring it together, then roll it out evenly to about 1/4 inch thickness for uniform baking.
- Cut Cookies: Use a cookie cutter or a mason jar rim to cut circles from the rolled dough, arranging them on a greased and lined baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 7-9 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Remove and cool on a wire rack completely.
- Prepare Frosting: While the cookies bake and cool, combine the softened cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar in a mixer. Beat until smooth and creamy, ready for spreading.
- Frost and Decorate: Once cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting generously on each cookie and sprinkle with your choice of decorative sprinkles for a festive finish.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother dough and frosting.
- You can substitute regular sugar with coconut sugar for a slightly different flavor.
- For a gluten-free option, use a 1:1 gluten free flour blend in place of all purpose flour.
- Keep the cookie thickness consistent to ensure even baking.
- Cookies should be soft out of the oven; they will firm up as they cool.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
