Imagine the comforting scent of cinnamon wafting through your kitchen, mingling with the creamy richness of cheese—there’s a unique allure to Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies that words can barely capture.
These cookies are a delightful blend of textures and flavors, with creaminess from the cheese, warmth from cinnamon, and the perfect touch of sweetness.
They’re wonderfully versatile, making them a hit at holiday gatherings, casual parties, or even as an indulgent everyday treat. This recipe offers a seamless way to bring these cookies to life, showing you how simple it is to whip up these delicious bites.
Ingredients:
Essential Ingredients for Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies
To make these delightful cookies, you’ll need:
- Butter: 1/2 cup, unsalted and softened to room temperature
- Cream Cheese: 4 ounces, softened to room temperature
- Powdered Sugar: 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- Egg: 1, at room temperature
- Baking Powder: 1/2 teaspoon
- Vanilla: 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or high-quality vanilla extract
- Salt: A pinch of kosher salt
- Flour: 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Granulated Sugar and Cinnamon: 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon for coating
These ingredients come together to create cookies that are irresistibly soft and full of flavor, just what you need to wow your friends and family.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Preparing the Dough
Creaming the Butter and Cream Cheese
- In your mixing bowl, use an electric mixer or a trusty wooden spoon to cream together the unsalted butter and cream cheese until the mixture is smooth and lump-free. Patience here will lay the foundation for your cookie’s texture.
Adding Powdered Sugar
- Gradually integrate the powdered sugar into the butter and cream cheese mix. Monitor the texture to ensure it’s uniformly combined, forming a deliciously creamy base.
Incorporating Egg and Dry Ingredients
- Now, introduce the egg, baking powder, vanilla, and salt into the mixture, ensuring all elements are well harmonized. This step imbues your dough with essential flavors and growth.
Adding Flour
- Slowly fold in the all-purpose flour, ensuring that it’s fully blended into the dough. Scrape the bowl’s sides to capture every bit of mixture, a tip I learned after encountering uneven baking results.
Chilling the Dough
Importance of Chilling
- Place your dough in the refrigerator for about one hour. This may seem like a waiting game, but trust me; it allows the dough to rest and firm up, making it easier to handle and shape later.
Preparing the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
Mixing Cinnamon and Sugar
- Create your coating by combining granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a smaller mixing bowl. This blend not only adds a delightful crunch but also that signature cinnamon layer that makes these cookies sing.
Forming and Baking the Cookies
Shaping the Dough Balls
- After chilling, scoop the dough into 1-inch spheres. Roll them between your hands to form smooth balls, each destined to become a delicious cookie.
Coating with Cinnamon-Sugar
- Roll each sphere in the cinnamon-sugar mixture before strategically placing them on your prepared cookie sheets, ensuring at least 1-inch space for expansion during baking.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and bake these beauties for 7-8 minutes, until just set. Take care not to over-bake—they should be soft in the center with slightly golden edges.
Cooling and Storing the Cookies
Cooling
- Once out of the oven, let them sit on the sheet for a moment before transferring to a wire cooling rack. This keeps them intact as they finish setting, a step sometimes overlooked in the rush of baking.
Storage
- Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days or freeze for up to three months, making them a handy treat for unexpected guests.
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Cookies
Achieving Soft and Fluffy Texture
- Beat the butter and cream cheese for at least 3 minutes. This aeration step ensures your cookies are light and fluffy—a small effort for big results.
Adjusting Cinnamon Sugar Ratio
- Play with the cinnamon to sugar ratio until it’s just right for your taste. More cinnamon gives a spicier kick, perfect for true cinnamon lovers.
Baking and Cooling
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet before moving them to a rack to avoid breaking. I’ve learned through experience how fragile freshly baked cookies can be.
Final Thoughts
These Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies are a favorite for their soft centers and cinnamon-kissed exteriors, capturing the essence of a cozy kitchen. Whether you’re enjoying them fresh or sharing them with others, this recipe brings joy and warmth to any occasion.
Give them a try, and share your experience—I’d love to hear how they made your gatherings memorable!
