Description
These Soft Sugar Cookies are tender, buttery, and delightfully sweet with a hint of cream cheese for extra softness. Perfectly rolled in sugar or festive sprinkles, they bake up beautifully golden and chewy, making them a perfect treat for holidays or any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
Dry Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Topping
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar (or holiday sprinkles)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter, Sugar, and Cream Cheese: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, and cream cheese. Beat well for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add Vanilla and Eggs: Stir in the pure vanilla extract, then beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Slowly mix in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until fully combined into a soft dough.
- Form Dough Balls: Create 1-inch balls from the dough and roll each ball in the white granulated sugar or holiday sprinkles to coat.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the coated cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading while baking.
- Add Extra Topping: Sprinkle additional sugar or sprinkles on top of each cookie for an extra festive look and crunch.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-9 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Eight minutes tends to yield a perfectly soft cookie.
- Cool Cookies: Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For chewier cookies, do not overbake; remove them as soon as the edges start to brown.
- You can substitute sprinkles with colored sanding sugar for different occasions.
- Make sure the butter is melted but not hot to avoid cooking the eggs when mixing.
- These cookies freeze well; freeze dough balls on a tray, then store in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months.
- If you prefer crisper cookies, extend baking time by 1-2 minutes but watch closely.
