This is by far my favorite cookie recipe. Cutout cookies aren’t necessarily my absolute favorite all the time, I love me a good chocolate chip, but this recipe is fool-proof. It comes out perfect every time, it can be adapted, and it’s always wowed my friends and family. I’ve been making these classic cream cheese cutouts with my mom every christmas since I was a kid and it brings back great memories of the holidays and all our time together. I also love this recipe because it isn’t super sweet, so adding icing or sugar doesn’t make them overwhelming and the cream cheese keeps them super moist!
For some extra flair try using some unique cookie cutters, a cookie press, or roll sprinkles into the dough before cutting and baking, then you don’t even need to ice them!
Classic Cream Cheese Cutouts
Ingredients
- 1 Cup butter 2 sticks
- 8 oz package cream cheese
- 1 ½ Cup Sugar
- 3 ½ Cups flour
- 1 Teaspoon baking powder
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Teaspoon almond extract
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine butter and cream cheese. Beat until well combined. Next, add sugar and beat until fluffy
- Next, add egg, vanilla and almond extracts
- In a separate medium bowl stir together flour and baking powder
- Add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture and beat until well mixed
- Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for around 1 ½ hours or until easy to handle
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to about a ⅛ th inch thickness. Be careful not to roll it out too thin or your cookies may be too fragile or burn.
- Cut your dough with desired cookie cutters and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. I prefer to line with a silpat or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until just done. Be very careful as these cookies cook quickly and can easily burn if you’ve chosen a small cookie cutter. Err on the side of caution and take them out early!
- When finished remove from the oven and put them on cooling racks to cool and frost if desired!
