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–+ servings
Frosted cookies on baking rack with string of twine twirled in between.
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5 from 1 vote

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Soft and thick cream cheese sugar cookies with a perfected sweet cream cheese frosting.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Chilling time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 38 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookies, cream cheese, frosting, sugar
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 258kcal
Author: Erin
Cost: $4

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter softened
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 ¾ cups sugar
  • 3 egg whites whites only
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups all purpose flour

Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  • Cream together butter, shortening, sugar, vanilla, and eggs whites.
  • Add cream cheese and mix; batter may have small lumps at this point.
  • Add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; mix until thick dough is formed.
    A glass mixing bowl with sugar cookie dough on light colored counter top.
  • Wrap dough and chill for at least 60 minutes to overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • Roll half the dough between two pieces of parchment paper with a rolling pin to between ½ inch thick.
    Sugar cookie dough rolled between parchment paper with a wooden rolling pin.
  • Flour a round biscuit cutter, cut out circles and place on baking sheet.
    Circle shaped cookie dough cut out and placed on baking sheet.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, removing from the oven before tops crack, and before edges become golden. (Use a toothpick to test that the centers are not raw, by inserting the toothpick and verifying that no wet crumbs are stuck to it when it's removed from the cookie.)
    cookie sheet with baked sugar cookies
  • Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling scraps until all the circle have been created and baked.
    Round circles cut in sugar cookie dough with a biscuit cutter.
  • Mix frosting ingredients: cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, milk, until smooth; color as desired. Wait until cookies are completely cooled to frost.

Notes

  • Soften both butter and cream cheese at room temperature until soft. 
  • Roll dough between parchment paper or use a Silpat mat or nonstick rolling pin. 
  • Wait until cookies are completely cooled to frost. 
  • Dough may be chilled overnight, but a minimum of 1 hour before rolling. 
  • Frosting may be made in advance and stored, covered in the fridge. 
  • Store cookies covered, at room temperature for 2-3 days or in fridge for up to 1 week. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 143mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 254IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg