Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

By Hklbrries

From Eva Roberts, Just American Desserts. Roberts shared this recipe during a cooking class she taught at the bakery a couple of years ago. These cookies are delicious and stay soft if they’re not overbaked. They can be frosted and decorated, dressed up with sprinkles or partially dipped in chocolate.

The perfect recipe for holiday gift giving can be almost anything, as long as it comes from your kitchen – and from the heart. A favorite family recipe is a good place to start. A jar of jam or chutney canned when the fruits were at their peak is always welcome. A simple sugar cookie can look elegant with a dusting of sprinkles, especially if it’s tied up in a small bag with a pretty ribbon.

The treats don’t have to be expertly decorated. If you can wield a pastry bag like a pro, that’s perfect. But giving a child a zip-top sandwich bag full of frosting with a snipped corner works just as well. Let them have fun shaking seasonal nonpareils onto the cookies; they’re easy to clean up.

Include the recipe on the gift tag if you like, or at the very least, add a note about how your treat should be stored and when it’s best enjoyed

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• Pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
• 3 cups all purpose flour

Details

Servings 40

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, beat together butter, cream cheese, sugar, egg, salt, vanilla extract and almond extract until light and fluffy. Add flour, beating until well blended. Divide dough into two equal portions. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, several hours or overnight. Prior to baking, allow dough to stand at room temperature until soft enough to roll out easily.

To bake cookies, preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a floured surface, roll dough to 3/16- to 1/4-inch thick. Cut with floured cookie cutters.

Bake 7 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake.