Name: Soft & Fluffy Cream Cheese Cookies – Melt-In-Your-Mouth Holiday Favorite
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ½ cup white chocolate chips; ½ cup holiday sprinkles; Powdered sugar for dusting; Lemon or almond extract for flavor variation

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Optional Add-Ins

½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup holiday sprinkles
Powdered sugar for dusting
Lemon or almond extract for flavor variation

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough Base

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth, fluffy, and completely blended. This step is essential because the cream cheese gives the cookies their signature soft and velvety texture. Mix in the granulated sugar and continue beating until the mixture becomes creamy and pale.

Step 2: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Crack in the egg and add the vanilla extract. Beat again until fully incorporated. The mixture should be silky, thick, and slightly glossy. This liquid stage forms the flavor foundation of the entire cookie.

Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry mixture into the wet mixture in two or three batches, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix, as that can make the cookies dense instead of soft and airy.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling helps the dough firm up, prevents spreading, and ensures thick, pillowy cookies. If you skip this step, the cookies will bake flatter and lose their signature fluffy texture.

Step 5: Shape and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out tablespoon-sized balls of dough, roll them gently, and place them on the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are just lightly golden. The centers should remain soft and pale—this is what makes them melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Notes

Cream cheese softens cookie dough naturally, so avoid over-baking. The cookies should look slightly underdone when you take them out, as they continue firming up while cooling. This is the secret to keeping them ultra-soft and delicious.