Cream Cheese Cookies: Delicious & Easy Christmas Treat
Decorate Your Christmas with Homemade Cream Cheese Cookies!
The festive Christmas season is just around the corner! With a lively household, this Christmas promises to be exceptionally joyous and bustling. To share in the excitement, I decided to bake special Christmas cookies at home while we eagerly await the big day! These are based on a simple cookie recipe, but with a delightful twist: the addition of cream cheese for an extra layer of richness and a wonderfully tender texture. Gather your loved ones and enjoy a fun baking session together!
Cookie Dough Ingredients
- 60g unsalted butter, softened
- 60g cream cheese, softened
- 55g sugar
- 150g cake flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 20g milk
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, ensure your butter is softened to room temperature so it’s easy to work with. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter with 60g of cream cheese. Cream them together using a whisk or spatula until smooth and well combined, creating a creamy base.
Step 2
Add 55g of sugar and 20g of milk to the bowl. Continue to mix until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is uniformly smooth. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
Step 3
Sift 150g of cake flour (or all-purpose flour) into the wet ingredients. Gently mix with a spatula or scraper until just combined and a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
Step 4
If the dough feels a bit sticky or difficult to handle, you can place it into a resealable plastic bag and knead it by hand within the bag. This is a quick and easy method to bring the dough together into a cohesive ball.
Step 5
Once the dough is formed, flatten it slightly, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This chilling step firms up the dough, making it much easier to roll out and cut into shapes.
Step 6
Prepare your work surface by laying down a sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Lightly dust the surface and your rolling pin with a bit of flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
Step 7
Take the chilled dough out of the refrigerator and place it on the prepared surface. Use a rolling pin to evenly roll out the dough to about 0.5cm to 0.7cm thickness. Aim for a consistent thickness to ensure even baking. Avoid rolling it too thin.
Step 8
This is the ideal thickness for your cookies. Rolling them too thick might require a longer baking time, while too thin could make them brittle. Maintaining this thickness helps achieve a pleasant texture and shape.
Step 9
Using your favorite cookie cutters, press out shapes from the rolled-out dough. Christmas-themed cutters are perfect for this festive occasion, especially if you’re baking with children! Place the cut-out cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each one.
Step 10
Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (338°F) for approximately 15-20 minutes. Oven temperatures can vary, so keep an eye on the cookies. They are ready when they turn lightly golden brown. Adjust baking time as needed based on your oven and cookie thickness.
Step 11
Your delicious cream cheese cookies are out of the oven, but they’ll be soft while warm. Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. This cooling process is crucial for them to develop their signature crispiness.
Step 12
Once the cookies have cooled down entirely, it’s time for the fun part: decorating! Use icing pens, edible markers, sprinkles, or a dusting of powdered sugar to bring your cookies to life. Get creative with Christmas themes like trees, snowmen, or Santa Claus!
