Description
Soft, buttery sugar cookies made with a touch of cream cheese for extra tenderness. These easy grandma sugar cookies are festive with colored sugar and perfect for holidays or anytime you want a classic homemade treat.
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Red and green sanding sugars (for decorating)
Instructions
- Beat softened butter and cream cheese together with the sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract until light and fluffy (about 4–5 minutes).
- Scrape down the bowl and slowly mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt just until a dough forms.
- Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours to prevent spreading.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Press each cookie gently with a fork in a crisscross pattern and sprinkle generously with sanding sugar.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes, until edges are set but not browned, keeping them soft.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential for thick, soft cookies.
- For a classic flavor, omit the almond extract.
- Use pastel sanding sugars for a softer color theme.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a holiday twist.
- Dough or baked cookies freeze well for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
