PERFECT VALENTINE CREAM CHEESE SUGAR CUT OUT COOKIES

Imagine biting into a soft, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie, subtly tangy from cream cheese and perfectly shaped into a heart – that’s exactly what these Valentine Cream Cheese Sugar Cut Out Cookies deliver. Forget dry, bland sugar cookies; this recipe creates a truly special treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. I promise you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to bake up a batch of these delicious and festive cookies!

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

For the Frosting:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2-4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Food coloring (gel or liquid), optional
• Sprinkles, optional

Tools You’ll Need

Before we dive in, let’s make sure you’ve got all the essentials. Having the right tools makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable, trust me!

• Mixing bowls (large and medium)
• Electric mixer (stand or hand-held)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters (heart-shaped, obviously!)
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
• Wire cooling rack
• Piping bags or ziplock bags

Why Cream Cheese Makes All the Difference

Okay, let’s talk about the secret ingredient: cream cheese! Adding cream cheese to your sugar cookie dough isn’t just a whim; it’s a game-changer. It brings so much to the table.

• Softness: Cream cheese adds moisture, resulting in a delightfully soft cookie that practically melts in your mouth.
• Tang: The subtle tang of cream cheese balances the sweetness of the sugar, creating a more complex and interesting flavor.
• Texture: It gives the cookies a slightly chewy texture that’s just irresistible.

Trust me, once you try cream cheese sugar cookies, you’ll never go back to the regular kind!

Step-by-Step Instructions: Baking Your Masterpiece

Alright, friend, let’s get baking! Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through each step. Remember, baking should be fun, so put on some music and let’s get started.

Making the Cookie Dough:

1. Cream Together: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. Make sure your butter and cream cheese are properly softened; otherwise, you’ll end up with lumps!
2. Add Sugar and Egg: Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue creaming until well combined. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
3. Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can result in tough cookies.
4. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This is crucial! Chilling the dough prevents it from spreading too much in the oven, and it also makes it easier to roll out.

Cutting and Baking:

1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
2. Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Keep the other disc in the fridge while you work.
3. Cut Out Shapes: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters (or any Valentine’s themed cutters you like!) to cut out cookies. Re-roll scraps as needed.
4. Bake: Place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each cookie. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
5. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Making the Frosting:

1. Cream Butter: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter until smooth and fluffy.
2. Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined.
3. Add Liquid and Vanilla: Add the milk or heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Color (Optional): If desired, add food coloring to the frosting. Gel food coloring is best, as it won’t change the consistency of the frosting as much as liquid food coloring.

Decorating Like a Pro (Even if You’re Not!)

This is where the magic happens! Decorating your Valentine Cream Cheese Sugar Cut Out Cookies is a chance to get creative and have some fun. Here are a few tips to help you achieve stunning results:

• Piping Bags: For precise decorating, use piping bags fitted with various tips. If you don’t have piping bags, you can use ziplock bags with a small corner snipped off.
• Outline First: Start by outlining the edges of your cookies with a thicker frosting. This will create a border to contain the flood frosting.
• Flood Frosting: Thin out some of your frosting with a little more milk or cream until it’s a runny consistency. This is your flood frosting. Use it to fill in the outlined areas of the cookies.
• Sprinkles: Add sprinkles while the frosting is still wet so they’ll stick.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Don’t be afraid to experiment! If you’re not happy with your first attempt, just scrape off the frosting and start over.

Troubleshooting: Common Cookie Problems and Solutions

Let’s be real, baking isn’t always perfect. Here are some common cookie problems and how to fix them:

• Cookies Spread Too Much: Your dough wasn’t chilled enough, or your oven temperature is too low. Make sure to chill the dough for at least an hour, and double-check your oven temperature.
• Cookies are Too Dry: You may have overbaked them, or you used too much flour. Keep a close eye on the cookies while they’re baking, and measure your flour accurately.
• Frosting is Too Thick: Add a little more milk or cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
• Frosting is Too Thin: Add a little more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.

Variations: Making These Cookies Your Own

Want to put your own spin on these Valentine Cream Cheese Sugar Cut Out Cookies? Here are a few ideas:

• Flavor Extracts: Add different extracts to the dough or frosting, such as almond, lemon, or peppermint.
• Citrus Zest: Add lemon or orange zest to the dough for a bright, citrusy flavor.
• Chocolate: Add cocoa powder to the dough for chocolate sugar cookies.
• Different Shapes: Use different cookie cutters to create different shapes, such as hearts, stars, or animals.

Perfect Pairings and Valentine’s Day Treats

These cookies are amazing on their own, but why stop there? Make it a Valentine’s Day feast! Serve them alongside other delicious treats like Heart Shaped Pizza Roses for a savory and sweet balance. Or, consider offering Mini Grilled Cheese Hearts for a fun appetizer before diving into the cookies. If you’re looking for something sweet and sophisticated, Pink Champagne Cupcakes would be a fantastic addition. For a chocolatey treat, consider adding Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine Hearts to your dessert spread!

Beyond Cookies: Valentine’s Day Appetizers

Thinking beyond just sweets? Consider whipping up a batch of Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Appetizer for a quick and easy appetizer that your guests will love. And for another great cookie option, try these Hershey Red Velvet Blossoms Cookies!

Storage Tips

To keep your cookies fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. You can also freeze the baked and decorated cookies for up to 2-3 months. Just make sure to thaw them completely before serving.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it: the perfect Valentine Cream Cheese Sugar Cut Out Cookies! With a little patience and these tips, you’ll be creating edible masterpieces in no time. These cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a symbol of love and affection, perfect for sharing with your loved ones. So, go ahead, bake up a batch and spread the love this Valentine’s Day!

Lady Maria

Perfect Valentine Cream Cheese Sugar Cut Out Cookies

These Valentine Cream Cheese Sugar Cut Out Cookies are soft, subtly tangy, and perfectly shaped for the holiday. The addition of cream cheese creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a balanced flavor, making them a delightful and festive treat to bake and share.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 150

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup 1 stick
• 2-4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Food coloring gel or liquid
• Sprinkles, optional

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Medium mixing bowl
• Electric mixer (stand or hand-held)
• measuring cups and spoons
• Rolling Pin
• Cookie cutters (heart-shaped or Valentine’s themed)
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
• wire cooling rack
• Piping bags or ziplock bags
• Spatula

Method

 

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
2. Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue creaming until well combined.
3. Beat in the egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
6. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
7. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
8. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Keep the other disc in the fridge while you work.
9. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters (or any Valentine’s themed cutters you like!) to cut out cookies. Re-roll scraps as needed.
10. Place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between each cookie.
11. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
12. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
13. In a large mixing bowl, cream the ½ cup softened butter until smooth and fluffy.
14. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined.
15. Add the milk or heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
16. Stir in the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
17. If desired, add food coloring to the frosting.
18. Decorate the cooled cookies with frosting and sprinkles.

Notes

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days, or freeze for up to 2-3 months. To avoid spreading, ensure the dough is well-chilled before baking. Add different extracts or citrus zest to the dough or frosting for flavor variations.